Channel 4 faced immediate backlash when its controversial documentary about adult content creator Bonnie Blue aired on Tuesday evening, with disgusted viewers flooding social media within moments of the programme beginning.
The 90-minute programme, titled 1000 Men and Me: The Bonnie Blue Story, follows Tia Billinger, who performs under the stage name Bonnie Blue, and documents her claim of sleeping with more than 1,000 men in twelve hours.
“Literally 3 seconds in and Bonnie Blue [documentary] is already disgusting,” one viewer posted on X, formerly Twitter, capturing the instant revulsion many felt.
“No way there’s a documentary on Channel 4 about Bonnie Blue loooooool,” another viewer expressed in disbelief, whilst others questioned the broadcaster’s decision to dedicate an hour and a half to the subject matter.
“Putting a documentary on tv abt Bonnie Blue at 10pm showing literal porn with no filter just days after the age verification thing went live is actually crazy work Channel 4,” one viewer complained on social media.
“Channel 4 you are truly disgusting for airing a documentary about Bonnie blue in any way shape or form.
“Genuinely disappointing how that woman is allowed a platform of any sort, the fact she isn’t jailed is beyond me. What a disgrace to all women,” one particularly angry viewer posted.
“So Bonnie Blue gets a documentary on Channel 4 where she can promote and glamorise her lifestyle for the kids watching at home but we need IDs to see posts on X because ‘we need to protect the kids’,” another viewer pointed out the perceived double standard.
The Online Safety Act, implemented on July 25, requires pornographic websites to verify users are aged 18 or older through mobile networks or bank accounts.
Viewers expressed particular outrage at the documentary’s graphic content, with many condemning both the explicit nature of the footage and concerns about normalising Billinger’s activities.
“This Bonnie Blue documentary is disgusting. The men who sleep with her are just as bad as well,” one viewer wrote.
Another admitted: “I’m only 15 minutes into this Bonnie Blue documentary on Channel 4 and yeah…. vomit.”
Channel 4 has robustly defended its decision to broadcast the explicit documentary, with commissioning editor Tim Hancock declaring: “I believe it is Channel 4’s job to tell stories like this that are at the edge of modern morality.”
The broadcaster issued a formal statement asserting that the graphic material was “editorially justified and provides essential context” as pornographic content creation constitutes Billinger’s profession.
Hancock further justified the commission by stating: “I commissioned this documentary because Bonnie is the tip of a huge iceberg.
“Since the pandemic there has been a cultural shift in the acceptability of creating adult content and the types of people do it.”
Director Victoria Silver defended the inclusion of explicit scenes, explaining: “If I was making a film about a musician or some other kind of performer, their work would be in there. I think it’s really important to see what she does.”
The documentary’s broadcast mere days after Britain’s new Online Safety Act came into force particularly incensed viewers, who highlighted the apparent contradiction in regulatory approaches.
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The programme featured numerous controversial scenes, including footage of Billinger creating adult content with other performers in a mock classroom setting.