M-Net supports Gareth Cliff against ANCYL
2011-06-12 17:58
by Sam Brighton
Cape Town - M-Net believes there is untapped talent in Polokwane, said the broadcaster's communications manager Lani Lombard.
The broadcaster issued a statement on Wednesday in response to the Limpopo ANCYL's call for
Idols judge Gareth Cliff to be removed from the show due to him reportedly labelling the Polokwane
youth as "talentless".
"The
Idols judges are allowed to express their personal opinion, however, which is not necessarily that of
M-Net, the other judges or the viewing public. The judges often disagree, but are employed because of their knowledge of the South African music and entertainment industry," said Lombard.
ANCYL provincial secretary Jacob Lebogo asked for Cliff's dismissal, saying, "The organisers of the event must distance themselves from Mr Cliff's madness and release him from the panel of judges. The youth must not be defocused and demoralised by Mr Cliff and others like him."
According to Ingrid Engelbrecht, M-Net's publicist for Original Productions, the broadcaster believes that the judging panel for Polokwane was balanced.
The Polokwane
Idols auditions, where 10 golden tickets were issued, will air on M-Net (DStv channel 101) on Sunday June 12 at 17:30.