Bisexuality exists

Zeudi Di Palma is braver than a U.S. Navy officer. Why? Because she dared to be openly bisexual while participating in a Mediaset show—a reality show, no less. She developed a major crush on a woman (Helena Prestes, for the record) and, perhaps even unintentionally, simply by existing, she has sparked an online and on-screen debate that sheds light on and challenges the countless ways in which bisexuality is ignored, dismissed, misunderstood, and sometimes even completely denied. This is especially true for women, who are often accused of sexualizing themselves or seeking attention from men. What are we talking about? The Grande Fratello 2024, of course—an edition that’s going largely unnoticed, except for the occasional unfortunate homophobic remark.

Theories about Zeudi and Helena on Grande Fratello 2024

Speculation about the two is running wild, and their initial closeness has made them famous and widely discussed even outside of Italy, reaching an international social media audience. With contestants coming and going—Javier and Tommaso, for instance—some believe that Helena used Zeudi to win over the audience and secure a spot at the center of the show's gossip and drama. Essentially, they argue she orchestrated a sophisticated queerbaiting strategy. Now that she has succeeded, some suspect the producers are pulling new strings, steering the narrative toward more “traditional” (read: heterosexual) relationships to stir up scandal and, in turn, boost ratings.

Public opinion beyond gossip: queerbaiting and reality shows that aren’t real

Whether these theories hold any truth or not, one thing is certain: in Italy, public opinion is still not ready to have a real conversation about bisexuality. And even if it were, this is hardly the right way to address an identity that is so often dismissed and misunderstood. Frequently confused with indecisiveness, an inability to choose, a phase, a weakness, or mistakenly equated with polygamy (which is completely different) and promiscuity (which has no connection whatsoever), bisexuality is being reduced to just another plot twist in a reality show that, in truth, has little reality to it. It is being discussed in a way that is both inappropriate and offensive—just look at what happened on Pomeriggio Cinque, where Zeudi’s mother had to defend her daughter against comments like: “Bisexuality is just a phase,” “People play the bisexual card to get noticed,” and “She’s pretending to have feelings for a woman,” among other absurdities. These harmful statements may not carry much weight on social media, but they do influence mainstream audiences, who often lack the tools and exposure to unlearn this form of discrimination. Biphobia is insidious because it relies on erasure—a largely silent form of violence.

If Grande Fratello (or any reality show, for that matter) wants to take on the responsibility of showcasing love and attraction, of bringing non-traditional crushes to the small screen, of donning rainbow socks and pretending to be progressive, of welcoming narratives that break away from heteronormativity, then it should also take on the responsibility of doing so properly. Instead of inciting controversy and preying on the audience’s basest instincts for a ratings boost—which, so far, doesn’t even seem to be happening—it should help the mainstream audience truly understand these identities.