Backers Drop "Hot Ghetto Mess"

There is buzz surrounding BET's new series "Hot Ghetto Mess." However, it might not be the type of publicity that the network was hoping for. Two major advertisers have pulled their support of the program, before its July 25 premiere date.

State Farm Insurance and Home Depot have pulled ads from the first episode, as well as the program's Web site, stating that the show promotes racial stereotypes.

The original Hot Ghetto Mess Web site has been under fire since it launched three years ago. BET and Jam Donaldson, the site's creator and show's executive producer, say that the material is meant to spark debate regarding community standards.

The show, hosted by Charlie Murphy ("Chappelle's Show"), is six episodes of viewer-submitted home videos and man-on-the-street-type segements that "exhibit blacks in unflattering situations that typically illustrate the excesses of so-called hip-hop culture," says the Hollywood Reporter.

"Hot Ghetto Mess" is scheduled to premiere July 25 at 10:30 p.m. (EST) on BET. -- Rachel Cericola

Photo courtesy of Comedy Central/Jeff Neira.

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Posted by Rachel Cericola on July 11, 2007 12:49 PM
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