Viewers of the reality show Scared of the Dark criticised the episode from Tuesday after seeing the stars ‘prodding’ a rabbit during a task.
Eight celebrities spend eight days living in complete darkness while being continuously recorded for the action-packed show presented by actor Danny Dyer. In order to keep their spot on the show and receive food or treats, the gang must take part in tasks.
The celebs must yell “I’m Scared of The Dark” in order to exit “The Bunker” in true I’m A Celebrity style. They are then led into the light at this moment.
Football icon Paul Gascoigne and former Love Island star Chloe Burrows participated in the first task on tonight’s episode, which required putting their hands in a glass cage.
The celebs had to guess which animal was in the cage, which included a rabbit.
In the gloomy setting, viewers complained that the rabbit “looked terrified” and threatened to file a complaint with Ofcom.
One viewer fumed: ‘Loving the programme but it is WRONG that that poor rabbit was frightened s*****ss!’
Another tweeted: ‘I can’t believe I have just seen a live rabbit be treated like that on TV in 2023.’
A third person echoed: ‘Just can’t believe someone at@channel4 thought it was a great idea to put a rabbit in a box in the dark that’s gonna be whacked and prodded with hands.’
This comes as experts voiced their worries about the celebrity-studded show.
Psychotherapist Lucy Beresford told MailOnline: ‘It starts to make things up, starts to say there is something out there that might harm or hurt you.’
‘You might start to behave like a child, becoming more tearful, more unstable and insecure, which of course from a TV perspective that’s TV gold, but if you’re in it that can start to trigger some dark thoughts, why I think is Chris Eubank had the experience he did.’
A Channel 4 spokesperson said: ‘All contributors underwent a rigorous mental health screening before being cleared to take part in the show, while extensive welfare measures were in place throughout filming. Cast members were constantly monitored by a mental health practitioner to ensure their wellbeing, with support available to them before, during and after filming.’
Scared of the Dark returns tomorrow at 9pm on Channel 4.
Source My Celebrity Life.