NBC has banned DSTV from airing a transgender mini-series after Nigerians have openly expressed that they hate it. The National B...
NBC has banned DSTV from airing a
transgender mini-series after Nigerians have openly expressed that they hate it.
The National Broadcasting Commision has asked Multichoice, the parent company of DSTV, not to air a programme titled, “I Am Jazz.” The reason NBC gave is that it is capable of corrupting the youth as it’s against the Nigerian Law that prohibits homosexuality.
According to Bella Naija, I Am Jazz is an American reality television series on TLC about a (now 15 year old) transgender girl called Jazz Jennings. Jazz Jennings, a South Florida teen, was assigned male at birth. Aged 5, Jennings was diagnosed with gender dysphoria in childhood, making her one of the youngest publicly documented people to be identified as gender dysphoric. Her parents, Greg and Jeanette, decided to support her female gender identity by her fifth birthday.
I Am Jazz focuses on the “Jennings” family (the surname “Jennings” is a pseudonym, and any reference to the family’s exact location is obscured) and their day-to-day lives. Jazz, who is about to go into high school, grapples with the usual teen angst in addition to her own challenges as a transgender girl. Her family, which includes her three siblings, parents and grandparents, also talk about their experiences.
A statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs of the NBC, Mr Awwalu Salihu, says: “The attention of the NBC has been drawn to the concern raised by some members of the public about some alleged plans by the TLC Channel on DSTV to begin airing a programme, I am Jazz, which is about a transgender child.
"The commission has drawn the attention of the service provider to this concern and has received firm assurances that it will investigate and if it concerns that the program is indeed promoting undesirable ideas that will offend the Nigerian public.”
MultiChoice Nigeria has also complied with the directive. In a reply, they said: “After careful consideration and wide consultation from various stakeholders, MultiChoice informs its esteemed subscribers that the mini-series, “I am Jazz” has been pulled off the schedule.
"We regularly assess the impact our content have on our customers and we reassure them that their interests are always considered. However, we take comfort in knowing that our decoders are encrypted with the parental control feature that empowers parents with ultimate control over what their children view. We also encourage parents to make use of this feature as much as possible to ensure that their children only watch what their parents deem appropriate."
MultiChoice Nigeria has also complied with the directive. In a reply, they said: “After careful consideration and wide consultation from various stakeholders, MultiChoice informs its esteemed subscribers that the mini-series, “I am Jazz” has been pulled off the schedule.
"We regularly assess the impact our content have on our customers and we reassure them that their interests are always considered. However, we take comfort in knowing that our decoders are encrypted with the parental control feature that empowers parents with ultimate control over what their children view. We also encourage parents to make use of this feature as much as possible to ensure that their children only watch what their parents deem appropriate."
In other words parents cannot use parental control on their DSTV? One of the things killing Nigeria is hypocrisy. I will keep saying it. NBC can take off I Am Jazz yet, people have phones, devices gadgets that can make them see kinky stuff.
People can see stuff like this and there is nothing NBC is gon' do abourrit!
P.S. All Nigerians are angry about this development. If you don't get sarcasm well...
P.P.S. When they banned Fifty Shades of Grey, I was laughing 'cos I had read more than half of book one. I couldn't continue reading the book 'cos I'm a good gal like that. Ha! You didn't fall for that lie. I couldn't continue reading because it was low for my IQ. No plot. I read half of book one and asked myself, "Where is the twist?" I'm tempted to review that book now, sef. Post for another day.
P.P.S. When they banned Fifty Shades of Grey, I was laughing 'cos I had read more than half of book one. I couldn't continue reading the book 'cos I'm a good gal like that. Ha! You didn't fall for that lie. I couldn't continue reading because it was low for my IQ. No plot. I read half of book one and asked myself, "Where is the twist?" I'm tempted to review that book now, sef. Post for another day.
