The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

(blacktalentnews.com) “Hot Ghetto Mess,” a new show set to air on Black Entertainment Television (BET), is facing a growing chorus of critics. According to The Hollywood Reporter, mounting criticism that the show promotes racial stereotypes has prompted at least two advertisers — State Farm Insurance and Home Depot — to pull out of the July 25 premiere episode on the Viacom-owned network, as well as from a webpage on BET.com touting the program. State Farm and Home Depot released statements acknowledging that they withdrew ads as a result of the boycott threat.

“Hot Ghetto Mess,” hosted by funnyman Charlie Murphy (“Chapelle’s Show”) is a compilation of viewer-submitted home videos and BET-produced man-on-the-street segments showing black people said to be exhibiting excessive hip-hop and inner-city culture. The six-episode series was developed from the hot ghetto mess website (http://www.hotghettomess.com) which has been a lightning rod for criticism since it launched three years ago. The website features hundreds of unflattering photos of mostly black men and women. BET and Jam Donaldson, creator of the website and executive producer of the series, say the projects are presented in a way intended to encourage black America to question its community standards. (more…)

I guess BET still thought that they could get this show through without anyone noticing since the Imus mess. However this show sounds like it could be interesting for a minute or two:

S.O.B. (Socially Offensive Behavior) premieres Wednesday, July 25 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

BET’s new show, “S.O.B.” (Socially Offensive Behavior) is a humorous look at our biggest hangups – in the most un-politically correct way possible. With a hidden camera and a cast of comedic actors, unsuspecting everyday people will have to react to ridiculous situations, unaware that their actions are being caught on camera. Exposing how people really feel about stero-types, racism, religion, sexuality, politics, social issues and more, “S.O.B.” will have you asking, “What would I do if that were me?”

#