Washington (AFP)
The announcement of the broadcast of a reality TV show putting activists to promote a charitable cause in competition, in particular by measuring their success by their activity on social networks, caused controversy this weekend in the United States.
Named "The Activist", the show will air on the US channel CBS in October and co-produced by the NGO Global Citizen.
She will be presented by stars such as singer Usher, actress Priyanka Chopra and artist Julianne Hough.
Audiences will follow the adventures of "six activists" as they attempt to "create powerful movements" and "bring real change to one of the three vitally important global causes: health, education and the environment. ", specifies the site of the chain.
Candidates "will face each other in challenges," their "success being measured by the reception of their online posts, social media analysis and comments from presenters," CBS continued.
The final is due to take place on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome at the end of October, where budding activists will have to seek funding and "raise awareness of their cause".
"Combining philanthropy and entertainment, + The Activist + is a revolutionary series that will inspire viewers," said Jack Sussman, a vice president of CBS, in a statement.
"Couldn't they give the money directly to militant causes, rather than turning activism into a game and giving a fraction of the necessary money into a + prize +? People are dying," the actress tweeted and feminist activist Jameela Jamil.
"It's hard enough to fight for causes. And we should also dance and sing for a bunch of millionaires while they decide who is worthy of their crumbs," denounced Nabilah Islam, American activist and former Democratic candidate. in Congress in Georgia.
"This is not a reality show aimed at trivializing activism," Global Citizen defended to the Deadline site.
The objective is "to show the ingenuity and dedication" of activists and "to make their causes known to an even wider public," said the NGO which fights against poverty, for the preservation of the environment and for equity.
© 2021 AFP