Yvonne Orji Responds to ‘Pop the Balloon Live’ Backlash and Fan Feedback: EXCLUSIVE

Yvonne Orji, the actor, shared a message with fans of “Pop the Balloon” who expressed their dissatisfaction with Netflix’s live adaptation of the show: “Just keep watching.”

After the success of the YouTube series “Pop the Balloon or Find Love,” Netflix joined forces with its creators — married duo Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu “B.M.” — to create their version of the dating experiment, featuring some unique twists. The show, titled “Pop the Balloon Live,” debuted on April 10, with Orji stepping in as host, taking over from Amuli. The contestants included reality TV personalities such as “The Challenge” veteran Johnny Bananas and boxer Chase DeMoor, known from Season Two of “Too Hot to Handle.”

Social media buzzed immediately after the premiere, with many viewers sharing their disappointment.

One user on X described the streaming service’s version as “not only inauthentic but corny.”

“Honestly shocked at how Netflix missed the mark. All they needed to do was copy & paste,” another tweeted.

Another fan expressed their intention to revert to the original series, writing on X, “Chileeeeeee let me go watch my regular Pop The Balloon on YouTube.”

Prior to Episode Two, Orji spoke with TODAY.com about potential modifications for upcoming episodes and clarified that fans shouldn’t expect a direct replication of the original digital series.

“I believe some fans might expect it to be a carbon copy of the show. However, because it’s live, that’s not going to happen,” she says. “It’s more of an adaptation while still retaining some original elements. Also, being on Netflix allows for additional enhancements.”

This doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges ahead. She indicates that following the premiere, she, the producers, and the streaming platform discussed ways to enhance “Pop the Balloon Live” in future episodes.

“We’re all trying to find our balance since the dynamics shift when it’s live. We’re asking ourselves, ‘Did that work?’ I appreciate the producers and the network because we’re all unified in our goal to refine and maintain the essence of the show,” she explains.

When addressing the criticism directed at the premiere, Orji acknowledges that things didn’t unfold as expected.

“I was right in the middle of it,” she admits. “I thought, ‘This isn’t what we prepared for. This is not the show we envisioned.’”

She adds, “On stage, I had to inform a couple of contestants, like, ‘Hey, this isn’t what we’re here to do.’ But, it’s live. We can’t reset or stop. The train had already left the station, so as the conductor, I needed to navigate us to our destination.”

Orji mentions that the team has been in discussions all week to improve Episode Two.

“It’s constantly being refined and rejuvenated,” she assures. “So just keep watching.”

What were some key discussion points? Orji wants to ensure the show embodies the core reasons she agreed to host: love and joy.

She states, “I cherish love. I had dialogues with the producers and the network about the tone. Are we genuinely aiming for love? Because that’s why I agreed to participate. They affirmed they want people to find their matches, if possible. However, they understand it’s live, and they needed someone who can convey that aspect of the show as well.”

With her experience as a comedian, she felt prepared for the role, although she acknowledged it would be challenging. She has been collaborating closely with the creative team and Netflix to ensure future episodes maintain a focus on kindness and joy.

“Everyone agrees that’s the tone we strive for. Obviously, we cannot control what others say or do, but I can adjust in real-time,” she explains.

The “Insecure” star praises Amuli and B.M., who serve as executive producers for the Netflix iteration. The duo continues to release new YouTube episodes of their original series each week while their Netflix show airs. Orji expresses that the couple has been “supportive” of her role in leading the live show.

As the host, Orji aims to leverage her comedic talent to alleviate tension during awkward moments and guide the contestants uniquely.

“That’s where things diverge from the YouTube show,” Orji remarks. “I think the comments reflected it, saying, ‘She’s funny.’ Yes, I’m a comedian! I can only be myself, right? So if you expect me to mimic someone else, all I can be is Yvonne Orji.”

While she isn’t an executive producer on the show, the “Insecure” star has had conversations with the producers about being involved in contestant casting. Orji expresses that if she had more insight into the cast, she could better anticipate potential matches, but she would refrain from pushing any specific narratives. She admits it was challenging to see some contestants overlook others prematurely when they might have been a great match.

“My tagline for the show is, ‘We listen, we don’t judge, but I do have follow-up questions,’” she adds with a laugh.

Fans can watch the evolution and see how Orji manages the next group of contestants when new episodes of “Pop the Balloon Live” stream on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.