SINKING FEELING
Britain’s Got Talent hit with Ofcom complaints from furious fans who branded act ‘tasteless’
While the judges were laughing, viewers at home were raging.
BRITAIN'S Got Talent fans have slammed the show and reported it to watchdog Ofcom after a 'distasteful' audition.
On Saturday, drag act Chantaaaal - a self-proclaimed French femme fatale - appeared on the stage to try and win their place in the live semi-finals.
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Initially dressed in a navy blue cloak, Chantaaal later stripped back her outfit to reveal she was dressed like the Titanic.
The outfit was comprised of a corset shaped like the ships' front, a black and yellow smoke stack on her head, and a back fan that revealed an iceberg and the ocean.
As Chantaaaal sang My Heart With Go On by Celine Dion, the judges - particularly Alesha Dixon - was seen tearing up with laughter.
While Simon Cowell initially looked unimpressed, Alesha, Bruno Tonioli and Amanda Holden stood up to cheer him on.
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The camp performer later pulled out a whistle and materialised life jackets in a recreation of the final moments from the film based on the sinking ship.
Eventually Simon cracked a smile and laughed, while Ant and Dec created the iconic 'flying' scene from the movie backstage with Ant holding Dec from behind.
But while the live studio audience were won over, fans at home were horrified that the 1912 disaster – where 1,517 people died – was being mocked for laughs on primetime TV.
Some were so offended, Ofcom recieved 78 complaints for inpropriety about the 'distasteful' audition.
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"Bit tasteless to show his camp number there," one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), while a second added: "I’ll be honest, that Titanic Drag Act was SUPER distasteful and not funny in the slightest."
"Why do people think it is funny to mock tragedies like Titanic just because it was over a hundred years ago? Over a thousand people died in that disaster. It is no laughing matter," added a third.
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"Yeah let’s all laugh at the Titanic because it’s a drag act,I’m sure the families of those that were on the ship find it f**king hilarious that a man dressed as a woman dressed as the ship is taking the piss out of the disaster that took so many lives," noted a fourth.
"I actually don’t know how that Titanic act made it to television" said a fifth. "Like people edited and approved of this ?!!! It’s disgusting, people DIED!! It’s a tragedy it is NOT funny. Really really distasteful…"
However, others seemed to enjoy it, with one declaring. "i know im miles behind on #BGT but the drag artist who dressed up as the titanic. absoultely brilliant, 1 of favourite auditions of this yr"
Chantaaaal is another star who had previously appeared on another installment of the 'Got Talent' franchise, shooting their shot on France's La France a un incroyable talent last year, making it to the semi-finals before being knocked out.
Their audition came as the pre-recorded performances ended this weekend, with BGT now into the live show segment of the series.
Britain's Got Talent continues tonight at 8pm on ITV.
Britain's Got Talent's biggest 'fix' rows
Britain's Got Talent has been plagued with 'fix' rows over the years. How many of these do you remember?
Jasmine Elcock - 2016: Teenage singer Jasmine Elcock stunned the nation with her version of Cher's Believe. But it then transpired she had already performed professionally in London's West End. Jasmine, 14, admitted: "I’ve performed in Annie in the West End at about the age of nine or 10, but I really get nervous."
IrShad Shaikh - 2017: BGT fans were left questioning the rule book when IrShad Shaikh auditioned. He got four red buzzers from the judges, which would usually mean an instant dismissal. Yet in a strange turn of events, they let him continue with his act...and put him through to the next round.
Colin Thackery - 2019: Elderly war veteran Colin won BGT in 2019, but there was an outcry over the final. He warbled his place to win with a version of We'll Meet Again but fans were furious that escapologist Jonathan Goodwin didn't even rank in the top three. Viewers felt Jonathan - who almost suffocated while being buried alive in a gravel pit - should have won.
Axel Blake - 2022: Comedian Axel Blake was given a Golden Buzzer in 2022 after making the judges laugh. But fans were fuming when they discovered Axel already had a show on worldwide streaming platform Amazon Prime. Despite this, Axel still went on to win the series.
Loren Allred - 2022: The 2022 series of BGT was hit with another controversy when singer Loren Allred also received a Golden Buzzer. She performed Never Enough from the smash hit musical movie The Greatest Showman and got a standing ovation. It later transpired Loren was actually the original voice behind the track.
Taryn Charles - 2024: Singer Taryn Charles is one of this year's hopefuls lucky enough to receive the Golden Buzzer. Bruno Tonilio put her straight through to the semi-finals following her performance of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin, but it has now come to light that she is no stranger to TV. Viewers recognised Taryn from an episode of ITV1's Starstruck, where she impersonated Whitney Houston for judges Olly Murs, Sheridan Smith, Adam Lambert and Beverley Knight.
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