Cambodian TV show exploited girl: children’s group

By Lauren Crothers

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia

A fierce backlash is mounting against a Cambodian TV show after an ill-conceived prank played on a 13-year-old girl went viral.

Autumn Allen, a teenage singer who has lived with her father in Cambodia since she was 6, has not seen her mother since she was a small child.

On the MYTV show "Penh Chet Ort," which was broadcast on Mother’s Day, hosts told the young performer that she was to be reunited with her mother -- only to have a comedian dressed in drag walk out on stage to tearful Allen’s surprise.

In the wake of the incident, independent political analyst Ou Virak said on Facebook that the stunt was carried out by "stupid and brainless and heartless" producers, who have since issued an apology.

James Sutherland, international communications coordinator for child protection NGO Friends International, told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that the show was exploitative.

"Although the young woman in question is indeed not part of our beneficiary group, as an organization we have a child protection remit that encompasses all children," he said in an email.

"A big part of our work is in family reintegration/reunification, and we are very aware of how difficult, emotional and stressful this process can be, particularly for the children involved," he added. "We find the manner in which the TV company manipulated and exploited the emotions of this young woman, in this case in the name of 'entertainment', to be quite inconsiderate of her feelings."

Allen has said on her Facebook page that she is grateful for the "enormous support" she has received since the ill-planned gag. It is understood that her mother resides in the U.S.