HipHopDX has heard exclusively from an insider very close to Charlie Murphy, that due to the uproar over the negative depiction of Black people, his new show “Hot Ghetto Mess” lost the majority of its sponsors and will be pulled from BET‘s lineup. “He’s really messed up over it,” our source tells us, “this backlash (after the Don Imus incident) is outta control.”
“Hot Ghetto Mess” combines viewer-submitted home videos and “man-on-the-street” style interviews that BET claims are intended to challenge and inspire viewers “to improve themselves and their communities.”
“Is my goal to discuss these issues in a format and context that makes people who don’t watch the channel comfortable or do it in a way that engages the 18- to 34-year-old viewer and makes them really think about these things?”Reginald Hudlin, BET entertainment president, told the Hollywood Reporter.
Critics of the show have slammed the idea of HGM saying that it exploits the Black community, and that there are much more constructive ways to attempt to “improve their communities” than to showcase ignorance and stupidity. Numerous online petitions have sprouted up in an attempt to halt the show’s release.
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Earlier this week BET confirmed that some sponsors asked to be removed from the show but declined to specify the companies involved.
Our source recognizes that while some of the content on BET (and “Hot Ghetto Mess” for that matter) is not a “positive” influence for society; he whole-heartedly believes in everyone’s right to free speech. “It’s not about taking shows like this off of the air,” he says, “It’s about finding a balance.” Our source then went on to say, “BET had a great balance in the beginning; so no one complained…they just need to get back to that… (but) if you don’t like it, then don’t watch it….but it shouldn’t be taken off of the air just because some people don’t want to see it”
