Bas Smit Under Fire for Sexist Grandfather Joke on Instagram
“Best ironically,” former Miss Universe Netherlands Nathalie Yasmin Mogbelzada said on TikTok, pointing to Bas Smit’s new role hosting Netflix’s Love Is Blind after he previously shared an unconsented photo of her and her grandfather on Instagram with a sexist poll.
TikTok Revelations About Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs
The incident dates back to 2018 when Mogbelzada visited Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs with her grandfather, mediacourant.nl reported. Smit, who is an organizer of the winter event, captured a photo of the pair without their knowledge. He posted the image to his Instagram account—which holds nearly one million followers—alongside a poll featuring the options “Father” and “Bought her.”
Mogbelzada shared her account of the event on TikTok, noting that the suggestion that her elderly relative might have purchased her was insulting. Shownieuws noted that users across social media quickly condemned the post, labeling it vile, sexist, and deeply inappropriate. According to sources, juice sensation Sarah Posh also joined the discussion surrounding the post, which many users felt went beyond all boundaries.
Irony Surrounding the Netflix Datingshow Appointment
The resurfacing of the 2018 post gained traction because of Smit’s recent appointment as a presenter for the Netflix dating series Love Is Blind, where singles attempt to connect without seeing one another. Mogbelzada highlighted the contradiction in an individual being chosen to host a show premised on looking past physical appearances when he previously judged her based on a snapshot with her grandfather.
According to Shownieuws, Mogbelzada stated that neither she nor her grandfather appreciated seeing the story online at the time. While she initially let the matter drop, recent publicity surrounding the Netflix series prompted her to speak out about the double standard. Shownieuws noted that Shownieuws has asked Bas for a reaction, and earlier coverage showed both Bas and his wife Nicolette van Dam feeling extremely enthusiastic about their new Netflix series Love is Blind.
Private Apologies Follow Public Backlash
Following the online backlash, Smit reached out directly to Mogbelzada. Mediacourant.nl reported that Smit sent a private direct message acknowledging that his actions were unkind and foolish. Mogbelzada noted the private nature of the apology, questioning why the retraction remained hidden from the nearly one million followers who originally viewed the humiliating post.
This incident adds to a broader pattern of public criticism surrounding Smit’s humor. Mediacourant.nl noted that Smit faced prior controversy in 2022 for an inappropriate joke about a deceased individual, and encountered additional backlash alongside his wife, Nicolette van Dam, regarding their behavior in Spain during a period of mourning following a disaster.
Additional Online Reactions
Social media users expressed widespread shock over the posting. One viewer wrote, “Wow how incredibly anti-women!!! Bizarre!” Another commenter voiced disbelief that Smit not only photographed the two without permission but then shared his personal assumptions with a large audience.