Montoya Takes 'The Island of Temptations' to Global Fame

José Carlos Montoya (Seville, 1993) exclaimed, "You've torn me apart inside!" in a scene that has become iconic on television. The participant of 'The Island of Temptations' witnessed his girlfriend Anita Williams being unfaithful with her tempter, Manuel. He saw the video of them having sexual relations in bed, and what followed is now well-known to viewers: he tore his shirt in a fit of rage, threw himself onto the beach sand, and ran along the shore. The program's cameras followed him, capturing a scene that went viral, accompanied by a memorable phrase from host Sandra Barneda as she tried to stop him: "Montoya, please!"

The video, shared on social media, has become a viral phenomenon that crossed borders. It has garnered millions of views in France, the UK, Italy, and the USA. According to 'The Guardian', it is a moment that "could change reality TV forever." Even Whoopi Goldberg commented on it on her show 'The View'. "It's the most wonderful two minutes of reality TV I've ever seen," they said on the American talk show. "It deserves an honorary Emmy for all of this. The waves, the drama, the shirt tearing," expressed another panelist, impressed by the Sevillian's performance.

But why has Montoya's escape drawn so much attention? Journalist Borja Terán suggests that one of the keys lies in the show's editing: "It's a thrilling series. It keeps you on edge. It ends like 'Lost', leaving you wanting more," says the TV critic, who also believes 'The Island of Temptations' achieves viewer identification. "It's a format that appeals to the audience's most basic instincts," he adds. "There's a cocktail of cruelty, unfiltered intimacy, cringe-worthy moments, and unexpected twists, but also a lot of relatable love. It's emotional exhibitionism that spreads contagiously."

During the viewing moment when Montoya discovers the infidelity, the show had five camera operators, plus a standby person always present during recordings to act on the unexpected. Because when it comes to feelings, rationality can sometimes explode. The contestant broke all the rules, ran towards Villa Playa, and the director ordered him to be followed. The result? It was first seen on Telecinco on February 5th by over 1.5 million viewers and a 12.4% audience share. But the moment spread like wildfire on social media.

The viral and global phenomenon of Montoya's escape also boosted the show's linear broadcast success. In its latest episode, aired on Telecinco on Monday, February 10th, 'The Island of Temptations' broke its season record with a 21.4% share and 1,641,000 followers (3,344,000 unique viewers). It achieved its best audience share since March 25, 2021, and its highest viewer count since April 24, 2023. The show particularly stood out among young people aged 13 to 24, where its share rose to 52.6%; numbers soared especially in Catalonia (85.9%), Andalusia (65.4%), Navarra (61.6%), Castile and León (59.5%), and Aragon (58.2%). On Telecinco's website and Mitele, it has already accumulated 37.3 million video views, solidifying itself as the most-watched content of the season on Mediaset platforms.

With these numbers, Telecinco is already looking for ways to capitalize on a contestant who has many more hours of television ahead. The Sevillian could even be one of the star participants of 'Survivors', the reality show hosted by Jorge Javier Vázquez, which will air in March on the network.

Moreover, the final bonfires where Montoya and Anita will reunite are yet to be aired on 'The Island of Temptations'; a television moment that could further boost an audience that seems to have no ceiling.

In fact, Montoya has already started to capitalize on his viral success. He appeared recently alongside streamer Ibai Llanos and also in an advertising campaign for a well-known fast-food restaurant for Valentine's Day.

Before 'Temptations', the 31-year-old Sevillian had already dabbled in television: he auditioned for 'The Conqueror' in its transition to TVE; participated as a bachelor on the now-defunct 'Women, Men, and Vice Versa', and even competed in a British reality show.

Montoya, the great-nephew of Enrique Montoya, a copla and flamenco singer born in Utrera, tried his luck in music, presenting his songs on 'What a Happy Time!' or 'The Jugones Chiringuito'. He also failed in his political venture, where he ran for councilor in the Utrera City Council for the 'Utrera+' coalition, formed by Ciudadanos and a local party.