Reality show ‘made woman watch own rape’
DOZENS of companies have said they will no longer advertise on Gran Hermano, the Spanish version of the TV reality show Big Brother, after it emerged that a contestant had been shown footage of her alleged rape.
Carlota Prado was sent to the diary room to watch a video of how a fellow contestant apparently had sex with her when she was unconscious after drinking.
“Please, stop now, please,” a tearful Ms Prado asked. But the tape continued to play, with the voice saying: “We think you need to see this, Carlota.” The scene was never broadcast but was leaked to the Spanish press this week.
Until being asked to enter the diary room, Ms Prado had no idea of what had happened the previous night after she had been helped to her bed by José María López, her fellow contestant with whom she had started a relationship in the house.
According to footage of the alleged rape, she said “no, I can’t” to Mr López. But he then got into bed with the prone Ms Prado and allegedly had sex with her for several minutes before the show’s production team spoke over the bedroom speaker to interrupt him.
After the diary room treatment of Ms Prado was revealed by the digital newspaper El Confidencial, a series of advertisers including Telefónica and Ferrero Rocher pulled their support for Gran Hermano.
Endemol Shine Group, the company that owns the rights to the Big Brother format, said: “With hindsight we regret that the conversation where Carlota was informed took place in the diary room environment,” adding that Mr López was expelled from the show and that Ms Prado was given psychological support after the diary room experience.
Ms Prado spent several days in a hotel before returning to the show.
Representatives of Zeppelin, the Spanish production company that makes Gran Hermano, reported Mr López to the police and Ms Prado later added her own complaint.
An investigative judge recently concluded that there were grounds to put Mr López on trial for alleged sexual abuse. His lawyer has said he denies the charge.