Arab reality show canned

last updated 8 January 2015

Manama, Bahrain

An Arabic satellite channel pulled the plug on a Big Brother–style reality show after thousands of people protested in Bahrain, where it was being filmed. The show put six men and six women from across the Arab world in a house together, where they were to be constantly filmed. In contrast to other countries’ versions of Big Brother, the Arab men and women were forbidden to enter one another’s bedrooms. Even so, the airing of the first episode last week caused an uproar over perceived indecency. “Boys and girls should not mix together,” said protest organizer Shahnaz Rabi’i. “This program is a threat to Islam.”