“Under Fifteen” Cancels Broadcast After Controversy Over Sexualizing Minors

The production team of MBN’s ‘Under Fifteen’ has announced the cancellation of its upcoming broadcast, originally scheduled for March 31st. The reality survival show was heavily criticized for child abuse and sexual commercialization.

As the name implies, the show features participants under the age of 15. What enraged audiences was that many of the “Under Fifteen” contestants were between the ages of 8-9 years. 

When the trainees were introduced, they were presented with mature styling and made to pose as if they were adults. To address the growing backlash, producers held a press conference and released a 25-minute video of the show.

The producers shared that they wanted to give the alpha generation an opportunity to show their talents and chase their dreams. They expressed that it was never their intention to be associated with themes of “sex and prostitution.” While they responded to the allegations, they did not announce the cancellation of “Under 15” at the press briefing on March 25.

On March 28, “Under Fifteen” production staff announced, “After much deliberation and discussion, we have decided to cancel the scheduled broadcast on March 31st. We have decided that protecting the participants and restructuring the program is the best course of action. Therefore, MBN will not be airing the first episode.”

They concluded by saying, “We will produce the program in a way that does not compromise the essence of the program and the sincerity of the participants. Thank you for your interest.”

“Under Fifteen” is a global audition program designed to create a girl group comprising contestants under the age of 15. The show features 59 participants from 70 countries around the world. However, it has faced intense criticism and backlash even before its premiere. The main concern is the alleged sexualization of minors as many accused the show of objectifying its young participants. 

Despite attempts to address these concerns, 128 civic groups, including women’s rights organizations, and education and human rights groups, have voiced their objections to the show. These groups worry that the program exploits and objectifies its young participants.