The Brit Awards has been hit with more than 100 Ofcom complaints, with the majority sadly concerning Sam Smith’s epic Unholy performance.
This year’s awards show was eventful to say the least, with some celebrities caught swearing on the ITV broadcast before the watershed and others spotted getting very merry at their tables.
Sam was undoubtedly one of the most talked-about stars of the night, having wowed the crowds with their artistic inflatable latex sculptural red carpet look before ending the show with a powerful rendition of Unholy with Kim Petras.
While many were left in awe by the spectacle, which featured a crew of backing dancers, car props on stage and a passionate kiss between two dancers at the end, others felt the need to pick it apart.
Of the 106 complaints that media watchdog Ofcom has received about this year’s Brit Awards, the majority were about the performance put on by Sam, Metro.co.uk understands.
The rest of the complaints related to the use of offensive language during the ceremony and the amount of alcohol consumed at the event.
During the Brits, which was hosted by Mo Gilligan for the second year in a row, it was alleged that Sam got into a backstage row, after the £500,000 set for Unholy ran into some problems.
One of the cars brought out on stage was said to have malfunctioned, resulting in Strormzy having his performance moved forward.
Later on, a repeat of Adele’s 2022 performance of her song I Drink Wine was shown on TV, with Mo explaining that it was shown due to ‘technical issues’.
‘Sam’s performance might have appeared seamless but behind-the-scenes it was a nightmare,’ an insider told The Sun.
The source claimed that the ‘whole set was built and ready to go’, but a malfunction ‘meant it had to be pulled off’.
‘Stormzy was moved forward and Sam was told there was a possibility their performance might be pulled altogether. Sam was understandably furious and it was pretty tense backstage,’ they added.
Sam and Kim also performed Unholy at this year’s Grammy Awards, where they picked up the gong for best pop duo or group performance.
They made history with their victory, with Kim becoming the first trans woman to take home a Grammy, and Sam becoming the first non-binary artist to do so.
After taking to the stage in bright red ensembles, complete with devil’s horns, it was said that some people filed official complaints with CBS, describing what they watched as ‘satanic’.
Others jumped to the duo’s defence, as one person wrote: ‘I love the fact LGBT artists are reclaiming satanic imagery. Imagery that’s been weaponized against LGBT communities for centuries.’
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MORE : Sam Smith in ‘chaotic’ backstage row before Brit Awards performance on ‘£500,000 set’
What is Ofcom and what does it cover?
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day.
The watchdog makes sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.
Ofcom deals with most content on television, radio and video-on-demand services, including the BBC. However, if your complaint is about something you saw or heard in a BBC programme, you may need to complain to the BBC first.
Its rules for television and radio programmes are set out in the Broadcasting Code.
The rules in the Broadcasting Code also apply to the BBC iPlayer.
This Broadcasting Code is the rule book that broadcasters have to follow and it covers a number of areas, including; protecting the under-18s, protecting audiences from harmful and/or offensive material and ensuring that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.
Audiences can complain to Ofcom if they believe a breach of the Broadcasting Code has been made.
Every time Ofcom receives a complaint from a viewer or listener, they assess it to see if it needs further investigation.
If Ofcom decide to investigate, they will include the case in a list of new investigations, published in the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin.
An investigation is a formal process which can take some time depending on the complexity of the issues involved.
Ofcom can also launch investigations in the absence of a complaint from a viewer or listener.
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