Ecuador Talent Show Shockingly Lectures Contestant on her Atheism, Gets Sacked

This happened at the back end of last year, but escaped my radar, so sorry if you already knew about this. It's a shocker. I thought it was originally a mistranslated satirical Poe, because it is that bizarre as to warrant disbelief.

The Independent reported:

Judges on a South American version of Britain’s Got Talent have been criticised after castigating a contestant who told them she did not believe in God.

Carolina Peña, a contestant on Ecuador’s Got Talent, was asked after her audition if she believed in God.

Fellow adjudicator Paolo Farias, who began her career as a model, joined the discussion by asking the teenager: “Why don’t you believe in God? I’m curious.”

Miss Peña said she had no reason to, to which Ms Farias replied: “Then where do we come from?”

A third judge, the singer Wendy Vera, told Miss Peña: “I believe that you are 16 years old and I think that you have had a pretty good life so far, but there will come a time when you will suffer and the only thing that will help you get through is the amazing love of God."

Miss Peña’s father, who watched his daughter’s audition backstage, also said he hoped the teenager would change her beliefs.

Watch the video:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88lZC6vh1eQ[/youtube]

Wow.

Luckily, Simon Cowell, who owns the franchise (based on Britain's Got Talent), his production company, or the TV station (who knows who pulls the strings), seem(s) to have seen the rational light and got rid of the judge. The Mirror stated:

The singer was put through to the next round, but following the episode the Atheist and Agnostic Association of Ecuador denounced the judges and demanded the full footage so that they can proceed with legal action over the matter.

After the row, it has emerged that the TV channel Ecuavisa, which airs the show, will only be using 3 judges from now on.

A spokesman said: "Due to the position taken by actress Maria Fernanda Rios during various interactions on the show, which are not in line with those of the channel, she will no longer have screen presence and her contract will be terminated at the end of the series."

I am amazed. Still a long way to go, eh?