Government inquiry rumored

From the [UK] Telegraph, Associated Press, and Reuters/Washington Post:

Producers of the television program, “Britain’s Got Talent,” are getting public criticism for failing to provide support to contestant Susan Boyle, who has learning disabilities.

Boyle received global approval for her first performance on the show in April, but struggled in recent weeks under mounting media attention and pressure. On Sunday, after placing second in the final show, Boyle was hospitalized at the Priory Clinic in London with “emotional exhaustion.”

… John Whittingdale MP, chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, said the programme-makers had questions to answer about their duty of care to such a vulnerable contestant.

“There is at the very least an argument that it could be investigated by Ofcom [UK Office of Communications] as a potential breach of the broadcasting code — that they failed to protect her. If such things are not part of the code, then perhaps they should be. When you are dealing with people who find it difficult to cope with media pressure, then the programme-makers who have brought it about have a responsibility to ensure they are properly looked after,” Mr Whittingdale said.

… Mencap, the learning disability charity, said the makers of Britain’s Got Talent should have provided Boyle with extra support.

“Anyone who shoots to international fame would need support, whether they have a learning disability or not, but if you have a learning disability you would need extra help in dealing with the new situations that Susan found herself in. From the reports we have seen, that bit of extra support would probably have helped her through,” a spokesman said.

See also:

Susan Boyle: ‘It’s a blessing she didn’t win Britain’s Got Talent’ says Amanda Holden — Telegraph

Desperately Seeking Susan — New York Times

Earlier post here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 12:37 pm and is filed under celebrities, entertainment, learning disabilities, television. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post