One Maltese man’s warning to a UK gameshow host about visiting Malta has lit up a local social media debate on how and when a person should criticise their own country.
On the show, Darryl says he moved to England six years ago and now works in London. When The Chase’s Bradley Walsh responds warmly with an “oh really” to Darryl’s comment that he is from Malta, the contestant replies: “don’t tell me you like it”.
Walsh tells the contestant he has always wanted to visit the island, but never had the opportunity to, and asks him whether he has flown over since leaving.
“No, I haven’t been back since… and I dont plan to return either.”
The two then go on to joke about whether Darryl is on the run.
It was former Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi who flagged Darryl’s comments to Walsh, with the former PL MEP referring to the contestant as a “douche bag”.
“Who the f*#**! is this douche bag ?? 🤬 His name is Darryl and he is a contestant on ITV The Chase of 2/12/25. He introduced himself as coming from Malta, and said he is glad to have left. Will never go back. When the presenter said “I always wanted to go to Malta”, this Darryl replied “ Na don’t bother!!!” Would you believe it ?? Douche bag”
Mizzi’s reaction received praise and backlash in equal measure, with Maltese language content creator Kurt Rumbajsa among others urging all to “calm down”.
Kurt notes that Malta reeks of a post-colonial complex: “At some point, we decided that every single reference to Malta has to be in good light. Even the words we overuse: ‘finest’ (l-iprem), ‘the best of time’ (l-aqwa żmien), ‘top quality’ (l-aqwa kwalita)… It has to be perfect.”
Kurt, an interpreter by profession, added that it was normal for a small country that gained independence in recent times to want to prove itself and be defensive.
But somewhere along the way, the islanders developed a “self-victimisation fetish” where just an iota of criticism equates to treason, he said. Malta, he urged, was neither hell nor heaven on earth, and if someone criticises the island, just try to understand where they are coming from or simply do not say anything.
Mizzi’s original post received hundreds of reactions and even more comments, opening up a debate on whether the contestant’s comments merited her reaction. The discussion spilt over onto other Facebook pages, such as Malta Dizastru Totali.
Several said both Darryl and Mizzi had a right to their opinion, while some social media users praised the former MEP for being “brave” enough to call out the game show contestant.
Others just backed Darryl.
“Have you experienced summer with overtourism effects everywhere and overdevelopment casting a crane shadow over most places? Yeah, there’s that reason. I don’t blame him,” one said.
When another social media user pointed out that Mizzi’s comment was not “nice” and insensitive, the former MEP told her to “get off your high horse and your excuses for a sorry spectacle of an idiot”.
“If he had an opinion, he should have kept it for himself… whatever the circumstances. He came through as an arrogant person looking down on his country just because he lives in London,” Mizzi said.