Anti-bullying sector embroiled in 'PR disasters'

Fundraising | Vibeka Mair | 20 Jan 2010

Bullying UK has attacked fellow anti-abuse charity Beatbullying and schools minister Ed Balls for a week of “public relations disasters” which it says has damaged the anti-bullying sector.

Last week, Beatbullying was forced to distance itself from its celebrity ambassador Dappy, a member of UK band N-Dubz, after he sent death threats to a BBC listener.

Chloe Moody had sent in a text message to the BBC Chris Moyles show featuring N-Dubz, complaining that member Dappy was “vile” and “a little boy with a silly hat”.

In response, Dappy (pictured far left), 22, stole her phone number from the BBC studio and started to send her abusive texts. The rapper has since apologised for his actions.

In the same week, Beatbullying were banned from broadcasting an advert with images of a girl sewing her own mouth shut.

Television advertising clearance company Clearcast ruled the charity’s advert was too disturbing to be shown on television.

In a statement, Bullying UK called the events an “anti-bullying fiasco” and said they planned to write to Ed Balls.

“We are writing to schools minister Ed Balls asking him to end the government’s obsession with celebrities in dealing with school bullying issues,” said a Bullying UK spokeswoman.

“We are also asking Mr Balls if any government funding has been put into a £1.2m advertising campaign’s graphic anti-bullying advert showing a girl with her mouth sewn up. The advert can only be shown in cinemas to over-12s after is was deemed so disturbing it was banned from being shown on TV.

“These events have backfired on the whole anti-bullying sector and it’s time to ask how much public money is involved and whether ‘raising awareness’ cash could be better spent in other ways.”

Directory: Beatbullying

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