The Voice star Jessie J has hit out at the treatment of children on rival show Britain’s Got Talent â€" claiming it should be ILLEGAL.
She joined the growing controversy this week over young children taking part in auditions, accusing Simon Cowell and Co of demeaning young contestants.
She said: “I cannot agree with kids having to go through three or four auditions when it’s purely for ridicule.
“I don’t understand why it’s legal, I think it’s wrong.
"I watched Britain’s Got Talent auditions and there are these kids getting laughed at by the audience. I’m like, ‘Woah, why?’’’
She added: “I get very uncomfortable seeing young kids on stage because I know what it’s like.â€
The 25-year-old Voice judge spoke out after fellow BBC star Sir Bruce Forsyth warned children are subje cted to an “ordeal†on the ITV show.
Speaking ahead of rehearsals at The Voice’s studios, Jessie said she thinks viewers have grown tired of seeing Âyoungsters exploited for Âentertainment.
She said: “They need to be children. I think the public, thank God, have finally realised that it’s wrong.â€
And the Do It Like A Dude singer warned that the youngsters could be subjected to even more Âpressure after appearing on screen, from vicious and bullying jibes online, via social networking sites.
Flanked by her three show finalists â€" Ash Morgan, Sarah Cassidy and Matt Henry â€" she said: “I know however much greatness there is in this world there are also a lot of mean people behind computers.â€
Her warnings echoed the thoughts of Strictly Come Dancing host Sir Bruce, who was labelled “Mr Grumpy†by Cowell after he said: “I don’t like to see children exploited or made to feel uncomfortable.â€
A youngster in dance group Pre-Skool, made up of 13 five-to-eight-year-olds, was seen crying as she waited for a BGT verdict, while many members of Youth Creation â€" a group of 33 seven-to-14-year-olds â€" also became visibly emotional.
And more than 10 million viewers watched teenagers Jack Duff and Cormac Connell become distressed as Cowel l told them their nerves had hampered their performance.
Sir Bruce, 85, said: “I like Britain’s Got Talent. As a variety artist myself, how could I not? But I really do think he should stop putting young children under the immense and possibly damaging pressure of performing on national television, not just in front of a live audience, but also before four very sharp judges.
"You can see that many of the adult performers find the experience traumatic, so what sort of emotional damage could it be doing to children?â€
The veteran entertainer also suggested that a show formatted specially for children might be the answer â€" to prevent them just being voted through to the final rounds because of sympathetic viewers.
He added: “It is not fair on the older performers up against the kids because kids as soon as they come on, they get the ‘ahh factor’.â€
Sir Bruce said he had found some episodes of the show unpleasant viewing, as several youngsters were seen in tears.
He added: “People are so careful about using animals in entertainment and we want to be more careful about what we expose children to.â€
There was further controversy for BGT this week after a raunchy routine by guest star Jennifer Lopez sparked hundreds of complaints.
Jessie J said she understood criticism of the performance on the supposedly family-orientated show, saying producers and artists need to be aware of their Âaudience and should “keep it classyâ€.
She added: “Being a woman and having whatever you’re given in life is something you should celebrate and not be afraid of â€" but don’t ever let it become bigger than your morals. It’s about understanding the boundaries in different situations â€" adapting yourself to the situation.
“It’s about getting the balance right.â€
Explaining how she adapts her own routines depending on her audience, she added: “You can play on the sexy thing but let it be a performance, be classy with it.
“It’s hard to get the balance right, if you’re too confident then you’re a slag, but if you’re not confident then people think, ‘She thinks she’s got it all’.
“It’s weird. In my new video people are like, ‘You’ve got no clothes on’ â€" but it’s tasteful and I’m 25 years old.
“I try and have the right balance between my six-year-old niece watching it, but it still being sexy.â€
The Voice, which returns tonight at 8.30pm, has enjoyed a new lease of life this series with growing audiences of up to eight million per episode.
BBC bosses have confirmed plans for the singing contest, which also stars Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am and Danny O’Donoghue, to return in 2014 for a third series.
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