Did you swipe right for this programme? Me too.
Enter: Simon Leviev, or is it David Sharon, or… is it Shimon Hayat. The new Netflix documentary, The Tinder Swindler, follows three women– Cecilie Fjellhøy, Pernilla Sjöholm, and Ayleen Charlotte– who all swiped right at the expense of their bank accounts, all falling for Simon’s swindling spells. Throughout the twists and turns of the show we find out that they may not be the only women that the supposed ‘King of Diamonds’ used, and that he is the opposite of Prince Charming too.
For me, it was a success, the documentary falls perfectly into one of my favourite genres of true crime. The scandal that unfolds in front of the audience’s eyes is so gripping and so unlike anything else in day-to-day life and relationships. Well, at least mine that’s for sure, and that’s what reeled me in. It makes you think… is the Tinder Swindler a true reflection of modern dating? Is everyone really who they say they are or do we need to credit check everyone? The programme combines every fear about online dating and relationships in the 21st century: catfishing, financial burden, and cheating… that old chestnut. If this show didn’t reinstall some fear into you of the perils of online dating, then I don’t know what will.
The show begins and we believe these women are gold-diggers, and they are getting what they deserve for seeing materiality and wanting it. I didn’t like how the programme framed these women badly for wanting high standards and to be treated nicely. They all fell for Simon’s swift and romantic gestures that gained their trust; from jetting privately across borders to constant reassurance of his love for them – because who wouldn’t like that life? For two-thirds of the show, women on dating apps are depicted negatively. Perhaps, the documentary is a vehicle to emphasise the stereotypes surrounding Tinder and online dating. Not only does it render Tinder a scary place full of trickery and manipulation but shows these women as too vulnerable. It leaves us as the audience feeling a little hopeless for our ladies on the screen.
During the documentary, you couldn’t help but cringe watching these ladies fall further into financial debt because they were blindfolded by love. It’s crazy what love can make someone do. As an audience, we can watch this con artist’s work from the comfort of our home, disconnected from the harsh reality that these women have found themselves in. After reading more on Simon, it is still hard to come to terms with how he does not feel guilty about the $10 million he stole. Since the show’s release on February 2nd of this year, he admits in an interview for Inside Edition that all claims about his fraudulent activity are false, (who wouldn’t believe him?).
Although the plot stems from the fact the women are used as a financial buoy for Simon, nearing the end of the documentary we rejoice for them. The narrative is turned on its head! The initial morals for the documentary flip for the better, we feel empowered on behalf of the women. It highlights to modern society that Tinder needs to be reclaimed. The dating app should be a place of confidence, a platform we shouldn’t overlook when we want something more than a one-night stand… or to be conned of hundreds of thousands.
The programme was produced by ‘Raw TV’, who also did the thrilling 2019 docuseries ‘Don’t F*** With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer’, which I class as a must-watch series too. When I saw they were producing this series, it was inevitably going to be an entertaining watch, and they didn’t fail. It’s a documentary that views like fiction. Overall, the show has a lot of curb appeal; from being about online dating and relationships on Tinder, to being a two-hour limited docuseries (a perfect excuse for a break from uni work). This show was certainly a gem to watch, but ‘Simon’ himself is far from a diamond.
I rate this an 8.5/10!