To “ensure the future safety of contestants,” singer Rebecca Ferguson wants Ofcom to investigate reality TV programs.
The 2010 X Factor finalist from Liverpool has advocated for a music industry governing agency to protect artists.
Ferguson released a copy of an email she made to ITV and Ofcom in 2021 expressing a “formal complaint” about reality show contestants’ treatment on her Twitter account on Wednesday. She stated “my concerns appeared to be fobbed off”.
“ITV and OFCOM refused, no investigation took place, and my concerns appeared to be fobbed off,” she stated.
“I am open to communication should they wish to follow up with my private complaint now that I have made it public.”
She complained about candidates being “mentally manipulated and abused whilst having mental health problems” and “reduced to tears due to pressure/bullying”.
I worry about future contestants even if my life and profession are going well.
The singer said that participants were “forced into contracts without independent legal advice” and had “no freedom of choice” when signing with a management business.
Ferguson said that she was “very concerned about the future contestants and their welfare” in her complaint.
“Although my life has moved on and my career is thriving, I am very concerned about the future contestants and their welfare,” she added.
“I believe Ofcom needs to conduct an urgent inquiry to ensure contestant safety and ensure adequate safeguarding measures are put in place to protect future contestants on these shows.”
Ferguson was contacted by Ofcom in 2021 and met digitally.
“We listened carefully to the extent of her concerns about the treatment of contestants during her time on The X Factor in 2010,” a statement stated.
“We detailed our powers and broadcasting rules during these exchanges. We confirmed that new participant protection laws did not apply to programs broadcast before April 5, 2021.
We further highlighted that Parliament’s statutory remit limits our fairness principles to broadcast content, not contractual considerations or broadcaster conditions.
We instructed Ms. Ferguson on how to raise her concerns to ITV and the proper authorities.
ITV said it was “committed to having in place suitable processes to protect the mental health and welfare of programme participants”.
“We have continued to evolve and strengthen our approach, and we expect all producers of commissioned programmes to have in place appropriate procedures to look after the mental health and physical safety of programme participants,” a statement said.
To protect all ITV program participants, those processes and procedures will vary.
“Whilst the practical detailed processes required to manage participant welfare in each programme must sit with producers themselves, ITV as a broadcaster and commissioner of content provides guidance on what we consider to be best practice: in the selection of participants before filming, in supporting them during filming, and in continued support up to and after broadcast.”
ITV stated that competitor welfare was its “highest priority” in its contact with Ferguson, citing its Duty of Care Charter and “detailed guidance” from 2019.
“ITV responded to Rebecca with information provided to us by the producers, detailing their arrangements regarding welfare, aftercare, legal advice, and management, at the time of her participation,” the statement stated.
Ferguson released four albums after winning The X Factor and joined ITV’s Loose Women.
Heaven, her 2011 UK debut album, reached number three.
In April 2021, the singer met with former cultural secretary Oliver Dowden to address music business prejudice, calling it “very productive”.
After Phillip Schofield left This Morning, ITV hired a barrister to investigate.