Ryan M

Positively Negative

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

Those same people rioting oppose every and any step towards a degree of sharing NI to reflect other peoples culture - Irish language signs damaged and a court case to prevent dual signs in a Central station. If people don’t see the irony then they are seriously lacking in insight

[Philip Smith @1PhilipSmith]

Appalling cartoon in @IrishTimes. How did this make it past editorial?
Promoting the 'planter' jibe is hardly helpful.
Or is this the real view behind the 'new Ireland' schtick?

[Sean Devlin @SeanDev50409859]

Unionism was complaining about the £150,000 Irish signage at grand central station when loyalist thugs burn a bus worth £800,000 so I don’t want to hear about the cost of Irish signage again

[Dr Órfhlaith Campbell @drorfh]

Just seen someone claim that immigration issues are now dominating their lives. Let's look at the numbers:

2379 asylum seekers.
12,500 active loyalist paramilitaries who hold this place to ransom every year.

People need to be serious & stop with the ridiculous claims.

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@AnMailleach @DavQuinn Happy to debate virtues of asylum processes and immigration policies but don’t apply RoI or GB concerns to NI cause it’s hysterical BS here and when we talk about ‘security checks’ we should recognise limitations of that given countries ppl are coming from and abilities of MI5/6

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@AnMailleach @DavQuinn You mention no requirement to integrate in NI those same loyalists get hysterical and threaten violence at the suggestion of dual language (English and Irish) signs. What prey tell, security checks could/should be done on asylum seekers were there exists no records?

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@AnMailleach @DavQuinn Absolutely Eoin, do you want me to point to recent loyalist violence over the past few decades or reports indicating their active recruitment? 3rd year in a row such violence has occurred and PSNI are on the record saying loyalist paramilitaries have directed it

[Michael Pierse @michaelpierse]

If you're a international journalist new to northern Irish politics, it might be worth rewinding the local newsreel a few days.

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@DavQuinn @AnMailleach Interesting that you both think loyalist paramilities which directed a lot of this trouble over the past few years would be pacified by politicians in London dealing with immigration. The brainrot goes far and wide on this island it seems.

[Sarah Creighton 🍂 @Saraita101]

Like I do need the people overseas to understand that a lot of this happened because of organized crime gangs.

[Sara O'Neill 🐚 @SaraONeillArt]

A culture of burning families out of their houses, a culture of politicians standing in the wings using language that whips people up (but god forbid they get their hands dirty) is definitely ‘alien’ to me.

[Allison Morris @AllisonMorris1]

Was up at Kinnaird earlier, I reported there in 2019 when Frances Murray, and Joseph Dutton were stabbed to death, their killer was running around the Antrim Road covered in blood before being caught, not only is knife crime not new to NI it isn’t even new to that street

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

The same people complaining about immigrants not integrating become hysterical at the mention of a street sign showing Irish. The bunker mentality that infects so much of this place is an untreatable sickness.

[Oisín @OisinMul_]

Next month Belfast will be full of people chanting about being “up to their knees in fenian blood”. Tonight Belfast will be full of those same people pretending to care about a “fenian” being brutally attacked in violent attack to promote their racism and other even more people.

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@timcairns @ashstronge It’s a non story for what it is - but much like subsidised canteen why is Stormont giving anything away for free. Should open for more fundamental discussion around things like mileage claims tho - they are to cover more than fuel but is it right those on EVs get same as ICE

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@AnMailleach @KarlBrophy @DSMooney Such a priority he bizarrely handed it to FG when it was created….

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

It’s worrying but telling that people who work in British media make the comparison to America on racial representation. Casting directors often get representation wrong but that’s more often than not because of the lack of British Asians - the largest ethnic minority in the Uk.

[Raf Thompson @RafThompson]

I’ve worked on #LoveIsland UK since Series 5, producing Series 5-10, before moving on to Love Island USA and Love Island Australia. I’m incredibly proud to have been part of a show that has become embedded in British culture. The twists, drama, and unforgettable cast members have created some of the best reality television of the last decade.

But if we’re being honest, one issue has persisted for years: casting.

Time and time again, Love Island UK has failed to truly reflect the diversity of modern Britain. Representation matters, and no group has been more consistently let down than Black women. Ironically, Black women have been some of the show’s most loyal supporters, driving conversations online, creating viral moments, and helping keep the show culturally relevant.

Yet year after year, we continue to cast Black women alongside men who openly or implicitly don’t date Black women. The result is a cycle that viewers have watched repeatedly: rejection, exclusion, and disappointment. For young Black girls watching at home, that’s a damaging message. For audiences generally, it’s become predictable and exhausting.

When I left after Series 10, things were improving. Contestants like Tyrique, Ella, Catherine, Whitney & previous series with Dami, Indiyah, Kai, Sanam, Kaz, Samira, Yewande and others helped create some of the show’s most memorable storylines.

However, working on Love Island USA showed me how powerful genuine representation can be. Seeing contestants from different racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds authentically connect created richer stories, stronger characters, and ultimately a bigger audience.

My role on Love Island was in edit producing, not casting despite my vast experience in casting on other shows I raised concerns about casting throughout my time on the show.

If Love Island UK wants to reverse its ratings decline, it needs to listen to viewers. Audiences are asking for fresher casting, more authentic representation, and a creative reset. If those changes don’t happen, I genuinely worry about the long-term future of a show that so many of us care deeply about.

For the culture.

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@calciferion Can’t believe you missed him.

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@KeithMillsD7 Perhaps if we go back in time to 2007 we could ask the then Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[Ryan M @Lightyear_87]

@calciferion What a curious statement. Given the Minister in question hasn’t been in that post in nearly 20 years not sure I’d get too worked up about it either way.

[William Atkinson @WTMAtkinson]

Like Lee Harvey Oswald posting about missing JFK