TV watchdog dismisses Snow White complaints
By Judy Ngao
South China Morning Post
10/1/2005
The more than 350 complaints made against celebrity offspring Joyce Cheng Yan-yee's appearance on television as Snow White at Disneyland's opening gala have been found unsubstantiated.
The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (Tela) ruled late last week that the show was not "unsuitable for children" and did not "cause distress".
Since her appearance as Snow White in Hong Kong Disneyland's opening gala on September 11, which was broadcast on TVB Jade, Tela has received 363 complaints.
Cheng is the daughter of veteran actress Lydia Shum Din-ha and actor Adam Cheng Siu-chau. The 18-year-old girl who used to weigh 102kg received a lot of media exposure after she successfully lost close to 45kg over the past two years.
Tela's principal entertainment standards control officer (broadcasting) Rose May Li said all the complaints were very similar: Cheng pretending to be a princess was disturbing, unsuitable for children to watch and could mislead them. They said the show should have indicated that parental guidance was necessary.
"It seemed like complainants were focusing on the target [Cheng], instead of any violation of broadcasting laws," Ms Li said.
Both Disney and TVB declined to comment on the ruling yesterday. TVB has received three complaints about the show. Media critic Stephen Sze Man-hung said those who complained were overreacting.
"The reason for all these complaints might be because most people's perception of a princess is an innocent, elegant and beautiful western woman. Using somebody [Cheng] who did not have a beautiful face or the perfect body to portray a princess may have offended people and ruined their perception of a princess."
Her exposure in the media in the past months could have escalated the negative response, he added. "There was no nudity or anything that violated broadcasting laws [in the show], so I think the complaints might have been targeted at her personally."
By Judy Ngao
South China Morning Post
10/1/2005
The more than 350 complaints made against celebrity offspring Joyce Cheng Yan-yee's appearance on television as Snow White at Disneyland's opening gala have been found unsubstantiated.
The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (Tela) ruled late last week that the show was not "unsuitable for children" and did not "cause distress".
Since her appearance as Snow White in Hong Kong Disneyland's opening gala on September 11, which was broadcast on TVB Jade, Tela has received 363 complaints.
Cheng is the daughter of veteran actress Lydia Shum Din-ha and actor Adam Cheng Siu-chau. The 18-year-old girl who used to weigh 102kg received a lot of media exposure after she successfully lost close to 45kg over the past two years.
Tela's principal entertainment standards control officer (broadcasting) Rose May Li said all the complaints were very similar: Cheng pretending to be a princess was disturbing, unsuitable for children to watch and could mislead them. They said the show should have indicated that parental guidance was necessary.
"It seemed like complainants were focusing on the target [Cheng], instead of any violation of broadcasting laws," Ms Li said.
Both Disney and TVB declined to comment on the ruling yesterday. TVB has received three complaints about the show. Media critic Stephen Sze Man-hung said those who complained were overreacting.
"The reason for all these complaints might be because most people's perception of a princess is an innocent, elegant and beautiful western woman. Using somebody [Cheng] who did not have a beautiful face or the perfect body to portray a princess may have offended people and ruined their perception of a princess."
Her exposure in the media in the past months could have escalated the negative response, he added. "There was no nudity or anything that violated broadcasting laws [in the show], so I think the complaints might have been targeted at her personally."
