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Britain's Got Talent Audition Draws 108 Ofcom Complaints After Contestant's Self-Injury Performance
Leroy Patterson's audition on Britain's Got Talent, aired on ITV on Saturday, involved self-inflicted injuries using mousetraps, carpet tacks, nails, and weed strimmers, resulting in visible bleeding. The performance prompted 108 complaints to Ofcom from viewers concerned about its suitability for family viewing.
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Britain's Got Talent received 108 formal complaints to Ofcom following a contestant's audition that aired on ITV on Saturday. The complaints focused on the performance by Leroy Patterson, a 42-year-old from Los Angeles, which involved self-inflicted injuries. Viewers contacted the regulator after observing the act during prime-time family viewing hours.
Patterson began his routine by removing his clothing on stage in front of judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, KSI, and stand-in panelist Stacey Solomon. He then demonstrated what he described as three safety tips. First, he pressed his torso onto a collection of mousetraps, which snapped onto his skin.
For the second part, Patterson lowered himself onto carpet tack strips. He followed this by sitting on a chair with hundreds of protruding sharp nails. The act concluded with him activating weed strimmers and moving through the spinning tools, resulting in lacerations across his body.
the end of the routine, Patterson was visibly bleeding and had a mousetrap still attached to him as he returned to center stage.
Presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly reacted with visible discomfort, and the audience gasped during the stunts. Stacey Solomon pressed her red buzzer to attempt to stop the performance, but Patterson continued.
“Is he still alive?”
Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon voted no, while KSI encouraged the audience to chant in support. The studio audience's response led to three yes votes from the panel, allowing Patterson to advance to the next round of the competition.
media posts after the broadcast included criticisms of the content's suitability for children and elderly viewers. " (sic). Others described it as showing self-harm, with a post stating: "So we've just seen a man self-harm on #BritainsGotTalent and you are voting him in.
