Angry viewers have promised to refer Channel 4 to Ofcom after an episode of Scared Of The Dark prompted complaints about “animal cruelty” following a challenge involving a live rabbit.
The celebrity contestants prodded and poked the pet rabbit as part of tonight’s show (Tuesday, April 18).
Gazza and former Love Island contestant Chloe Burrows were the first two to take on the challenge, which involved them having to stick their hands into five boxes and trying to guess what was inside them.
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In the first one was the cute white bunny, and it appeared to jump as they started to prod it around.
(Image: Channel 4)
Even before celebs had started the challenge a loud klaxon sounded, making Gazza and Chloe jump, and then they both screamed as they started to touch the rabbit – an animal that is naturally frightened.
Watching the challenge from outside, presenter Danny Dyer said: “Poor little Thumper.”
And social media immediately went bonkers with criticism about the show.
“Who made that decision @Channel4 to do that to the poor Rabbit? #AnimalCruelty #ScaredOfTheDark” said one Twitter user.
(Image: Channel 4)
Another said: “@Channel4 #ScaredOfTheDark why the hell is there a rabbit in a box being smacked about by people who can’t see? This is animal cruelty?! Disgusting”
Chris McCausland and Scarlett Moffatt were next to take the challenge, followed by Nicola Adams and Donna Preston and then by the pairing of Max George and Chris Eubank.
And while there was no suggestion any of the contestants meant any harm to the poor animal, angry viewers blamed Channel 4 for allowing the stunt to be included in the show.
(Image: Channel 4)
“Honestly I’m about to complain to @Ofcom. Disgusting,” said one of the furious tweets.
And another tweet went further, with the Twitter user including a link for people to use to contact Ofcom, alongside a post that said: “Anybody who is feeling as sick as I am seeing that poor rabbit go through this, please complain to Ofcom.”
An opposing view was tweeted by someone who said “And the snowflakes are in full anti rabbit mood now, Jesus” (although none of the criticism was “anti-rabbit”).
(Image: Channel 4)
But there was a quickfire response from someone else, who said: “Sorry but a scared animal being pinched and pawed at by celebs isn’t my idea of fun so yeah I’m a snowflake for caring about living things.”
Other items in the boxes that the celebs had to identify during the challenge were a feather duster, a string of sausages, gherkins and a living human hand.
Channel 4 has been contacted for comment.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
