Chinese reality TV show under fire after young children used as ‘stand-ins’ for celebrities’ offspring
Viewers uneasy after stars of ‘Father, Where Are We Going?’ shown looking after other people’s kids following ban on the show using celebrities’ own children
A hit Chinese reality TV show has attracted criticism for pairing male celebrities with young children standing in for their sons and daughters and posing them in intimate situations.
The fourth season of Father, Where Are We Going? sought to circumvent a government ban on celebrities appearing on such shows with their own children by featuring offspring from other parents. But it has led to some awkward moments and accusations of promoting harmful relationships between young girls and unrelated men.
The show based on a South Korean format became an instant hit when it was first broadcast by Hunan Television in 2013. Audiences watched how the mostly clueless fathers were given parenting tasks and grew into their roles in a country that still thinks of looking after children as women’s work.
Threatening the very future of the show, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television in April banned the broadcast of reality shows featuring celebrity children. It had previously said that producers should endeavour to protect minors by reducing their participation in such shows.
China’s opaque broadcasting regulator regularly bans popular television formats with little explanation.