Friday March 12, 2021, fans of Koh Lanta were staring at their television sets. Three months after the broadcast of 4 Lands, the adventure program of TF1 returns for a new season called Secret Weapons. But although this is the 22nd edition, things have changed a lot. Not only did the show have to adapt the shoot because of the health crisis, but in addition, crazy new rules have turned the game upside down. ! While the faithful followers of Koh Lanta were impatiently awaiting the return of Denis Brogniart and his tribes, the first episode is already controversial. As revealed The Parisian, Tuesday March 16, a candidate is accused of “animal cruelty". Alerted by several viewers, as well as a former participant who wished to remain anonymous, the PETA association decided to speak directly to the channel.
“Torturing and killing animals on screen is an extremely immoral way of attracting viewers "
In a letter sent to TF1, the animal rights association points to two passages, in which Arnaud (candidate of the red team) engages in a fishing session using methods deemed too violent. “Like many viewers who have told us of their discontent and outrage, we were shocked to see acts of animal cruelty in the first episode of this season of Koh Lanta”, explains PETA, before describing in detail the two problematic sequences: “Seeking to fish, one of the participants attempts to attack a ray with a machete, which he ends up throwing awkwardly at the animal, which manages to escape without our knowing if it has been injured. Later he is seen hitting a moray eel with a spear and then stomping on it, as it struggles and tries to bite it. " The association thus denounces "intolerable practices towards sentient beings, who we all know feel fear and pain ”.
“Torturing and killing animals on screen is an extremely immoral way of trying to attract viewers, especially at a time when respect for animals is increasingly important to everyone ”, the association protests again, which believes that "it sends a harmful message to the younger ones, who view these cruel scenes that are passed off as entertainment. ” Finally, PETA calls the chain at "no longer authorize or support cruel practices towards animals ” and to establish “An animal welfare policy” in the show. As our colleagues from the Parisian, or TF1, nor the production company Adventure Line, wanted to react to these serious accusations.
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