Perhaps you missed it like I did.  Personally I don’t watch BET (well TV to be fair) at the same clip as I used to in recent years.  But BET recently premiered their new series entitled “Hot Ghetto Mess.”  Makes you wonder what the network was thinking.  In light of the recent attack on racial slurs it makes you wonder why the network would step out on a limb whose name suggest racial stereotypes. 

 
The type of content featured on the BET Show.

I’ve said it before with the Imus controversy, the story doesn’t become a story until money becomes a factor and it in this case it did in the form of retracting advertising.  At least two companies, State Farm Insurance and the Home Depot have released statements confirming their advertising be removed from TV Show.  BET has not confirmed other clients that pulled their ads. 

“Hot Ghetto Mess” is hosted by comedian Charlie Murphy and is based on the site HotGhettoMess.com, which is a hodgepodge of random images and video of African American’s engaged in embarrassing behavior or dressed in attire deemed socially unacceptable.   

Viacom officials have issued a statement saying the goal of the show is not to poke fun but intended to encourage black Americans to question its standards. BET president of entertainment Reginald Hudlin asks: “Is my goal to discuss these issues in a format and context that makes people who don’t watch the channel comfortable or do it in a way that engages the 18- to 34-year-old viewer and makes them really think about these things?”

Several online petitions have been launched in protest of the show but BET doesn’t currently appear to pull the programming in anytime soon.  Honestly folks, its like I always say, we’ve become way too sensitive as a society.  TV is entertainment and now more than ever it has become targeted to a certain audience.  We have the watchdog groups now who monitor TV or radio programming for content but the show’s programming is not intended for their demographic so chances are they will be offended.  Humans are naturally disposed to be entertained by controversy.  Get over it.