Being ghosted sucks, there’s no two ways about it. But sometimes, the ghoster has a legitimate reason for the ghosting, and as much as the ghostee would like closure — sometimes it’s better to leave well enough alone. An upcoming MTV reality series however, Ghosted: Love Gone Missing, encourages people to track down those who have ghosted them and demand answers.
Ghosting, as most are aware, is the practice of “ending a relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication.” It’s most commonly associated as a dating term, and typically occurs early into a relationship or after a couple of dates — however it can extend to friends, family, and other personal relationships. (See also: benching and breadcrumbing.)
The new series, in the same vein as the network’s other dating series, Catfish, and hosted by former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay and artist Travis Mills, will supposedly help “distraught individuals track down and confront former lovers, family members or friends, all in an effort to get to the bottom of why these people suddenly disappeared.”
One would have to imagine that MTV will assume the due diligence of obtaining the consent of all parties involved, before potentially shoehorning potentially dangerous or toxic people back into the lives of those who are trying to move on. Yet on paper, the message being presented is, shall we say, not great.
Soon after the announcement of the upcoming series, many took to Twitter to express concern and skepticism.
https://twitter.com/CentristsHateMe/status/1164212695803019266
https://twitter.com/sarion_gamer/status/1164210339032043522
https://twitter.com/ChunaLuna/status/1164286957775675392
Have I been ghosted? Yes
Have I ghosted someone? YesWould I want to have cameras pointed in my face about why I or someone I know ghosted me? Absolutely not. #Ghosted
— houze with a Z. (@TravisHouze) August 21, 2019
Getting ghosted sucks, I get it.
But if your getting pissed because you got ghosted after the first date and calling a tv show to find out why you got ghosted is childish #Ghosted— houze with a Z. (@TravisHouze) August 21, 2019
Never understood why folks get so worked up over being #ghosted. Regardless of the reason – and I understand sometimes it’s deeply personal – this person has let you know there is no space in their life for you, at this time. Sometimes you have to be okay with no closure. https://t.co/l6s2aWnyNz
— BG, X-Men ‘97 (@TheBGates) August 21, 2019
That #Ghosted show reminds me why I’m not on dating apps anymore. I had guys make MULTIPLE accounts just to talk to me once I block them to ask “why did you block me?” So fucking creepy. Take a clear hint, buddy.
— Maddy #PLUR (@SheisMaddyN) August 21, 2019
This is frankly the worst premise for a show imaginable. Simply awful. There's a reason (good or bad) someone ghosts: they don't want you in their life. That's not a cue to stalk them (with the help of MTV!) to get answers. You won't get any. Move on and live your life. #Ghosted
— Mike (@Mike_P_Williams) August 22, 2019
As a private investigator, I regularly refuse men wanting me to locate women who’ve ghosted them. That is a woman’s right to so, and usually done for their own safety. https://t.co/WO1S4HzNsS
— Mr. Nick Charles🍸 (@MrNickCharles) August 22, 2019
If I ghosted you, don’t track me down with a camera crew.
I’ll embarrass both of us. https://t.co/1jurifnP7F— Bobby Burnout 🫠😵💫 (@SilasNotSilence) August 22, 2019
That said, at least one person is looking forward to it!
https://twitter.com/jimmyyadig/status/1164313622933319681
For those who can’t contain their curiosity, you can find out just how messed up this might be when Ghosted: Love Gone Missing premieres on September 10 at 9:00 p.m. on MTV.