Britain’s Got Talent has been hit with over 700 Ofcom complaints after its season 18 premiere. Viewers expressed outrage at two acts they deemed inappropriate for a family show. Auzzy Blood, a sword swallower, received 681 complaints for his extreme performance.
It involved inserting metal objects into his face and having judge Simon Cowell drink liquid through a tube from his mouth to nose. Auzzy then climbed a rope using a hook in his mouth. Many viewers found the act “morally repugnant” and unsuitable for the pre-watershed timeslot.
One said on social media, “Auzzy Blood on BGT was disgusting, not entertainment, pre-watershed and a terrible example to children watching a supposed family show.”
However, the judges had mixed reactions.
Viewer outrage over bgt acts
Cowell called it “one of my favourite acts of the day, genuinely.” Amanda Holden, though shaken, deemed it “horrifically brilliant.”
The other controversial act was from Akira Ohashi, a Japanese performer.
He stripped nude on stage, using objects to barely cover himself. This drew 90 complaints for pushing censorship limits. Ohashi defended his act, saying, “Those who watch the whole act realise there’s nothing dirty about it.
It’s just a middle-aged guy with a tray, a bow tie, and no other clothes.”
An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed the majority of the 771 total complaints were about Auzzy Blood. Around 90 objected to Ohashi’s nudity. While some appreciated the acts’ boldness, the backlash suggests many found them improper for the family-oriented talent show.
It’s unclear if BGT will address the concerns or if similar boundary-pushing acts will continue.