****
The most controversial show on television, MTV's "Skins" faces possible underage porn charges. However, the star of the series, Sofia Black D'Elia (who plays a teen lesbian) speaks to Steppin' Out magazine's Chaunce Hayden exclusively to respond to all the negative press and allegations..... and doesn't hold back!
D'Elia also let's Snooki know how she feels about her television skills and reality television!
****
The most controversial show on television, MTV's "Skins" faces possible underage porn charges. However, the star of the series, Sofia Black D'Elia (who plays a teen lesbian) speaks to Steppin' Out magazine's Chaunce Hayden exclusively to respond to all the negative press and allegations..... and doesn't hold back!
D'Elia also let's Snooki know how she feels about her television skills and reality television!
****
Sofia Black D'EliaON UNDERAGE PORN ALLEGATIONS:
There’s not much to say at this point. People are going to think what they want to think. All I can say is that as an actor on the show I’m proud of everything that we’ve done. We created something that we really care about. We feel the show has so much heart and so much potential and can impact so many teenagers. If people are going to focus with a 17 year old having a sex scene as opposed to the rest of the entire series, there’s nothing else I can really say. I think those people will be missing out on the rest of the show and that means so much more. Of course, we’re all worried that things could get edited out. But at the end of the day I know the show is in good hands. I just hope they leave everything in that should be left in.
MORE ON "SKINS" BEING TOO CONTROVERSIAL:
I think the level of responsibility the show has is to make teenagers who feel somewhat alone feel less alone. That’s the responsibility of “Skins”. It’s about a group of outcasts who ban together. I think a lot of teenagers will bond with it. For parents who are afraid to let their children watch the show, they probably have some serious trust issues with their kids if they think they can be that easily persuaded by a television series. I think they need to talk their children a lot more because they’re not letting them watch a one hour scripted drama with the hopes they won’t get into trouble. There’s a serious lack of communication there. We’re not raising America’s children, parents are! If you’re nervous about it, watch it with them. Maybe it will be a great conversation starter on topics they normally aren't comfortably talking about with their kids, like sex and drugs. Many adults are missing the point when they complain about the show. We’re not saying that these kids are delirious and going through life with smiles on their face. Many of them are damaged and struggling. Drugs and sex are vices for them. So if you’re afraid of the show, watch it with your kids. But don’t turn it off and ignore it, because you’ll be ignoring all the things your kids are probably going through as well.
ON SNOOKI AND REALITY TV
I think reality TV can be funny and entertaining. That’s how I feel about “Jersey Shore.” It can be funny and entertaining. But on the other hand, I grew up loving films and loving television shows that I was emotional invested in. I don’t think reality television will ever have that aspect. It will never be able to emotionally grab you and hold on to you. There’s a lot of great scripted television on right now. I’m talking about shows like “Mad Men” and “Boardwalk Empire”. Those are shows that are character driven and have beautiful story lines. Yeah, reality TV can be entertaining for one day a week, but I’m really happy there’s other things out there. I’m glad I’m on a show that’s character driven. I think you can be really impressed by that. I don’t think I ever watched a reality show and said, “Wow, I’m really impressed by the work they’re doing.” Meanwhile, I've never been impressed with anything Snooki has done.
There’s not much to say at this point. People are going to think what they want to think. All I can say is that as an actor on the show I’m proud of everything that we’ve done. We created something that we really care about. We feel the show has so much heart and so much potential and can impact so many teenagers. If people are going to focus with a 17 year old having a sex scene as opposed to the rest of the entire series, there’s nothing else I can really say. I think those people will be missing out on the rest of the show and that means so much more. Of course, we’re all worried that things could get edited out. But at the end of the day I know the show is in good hands. I just hope they leave everything in that should be left in.
MORE ON "SKINS" BEING TOO CONTROVERSIAL:
I think the level of responsibility the show has is to make teenagers who feel somewhat alone feel less alone. That’s the responsibility of “Skins”. It’s about a group of outcasts who ban together. I think a lot of teenagers will bond with it. For parents who are afraid to let their children watch the show, they probably have some serious trust issues with their kids if they think they can be that easily persuaded by a television series. I think they need to talk their children a lot more because they’re not letting them watch a one hour scripted drama with the hopes they won’t get into trouble. There’s a serious lack of communication there. We’re not raising America’s children, parents are! If you’re nervous about it, watch it with them. Maybe it will be a great conversation starter on topics they normally aren't comfortably talking about with their kids, like sex and drugs. Many adults are missing the point when they complain about the show. We’re not saying that these kids are delirious and going through life with smiles on their face. Many of them are damaged and struggling. Drugs and sex are vices for them. So if you’re afraid of the show, watch it with your kids. But don’t turn it off and ignore it, because you’ll be ignoring all the things your kids are probably going through as well.
ON SNOOKI AND REALITY TV
I think reality TV can be funny and entertaining. That’s how I feel about “Jersey Shore.” It can be funny and entertaining. But on the other hand, I grew up loving films and loving television shows that I was emotional invested in. I don’t think reality television will ever have that aspect. It will never be able to emotionally grab you and hold on to you. There’s a lot of great scripted television on right now. I’m talking about shows like “Mad Men” and “Boardwalk Empire”. Those are shows that are character driven and have beautiful story lines. Yeah, reality TV can be entertaining for one day a week, but I’m really happy there’s other things out there. I’m glad I’m on a show that’s character driven. I think you can be really impressed by that. I don’t think I ever watched a reality show and said, “Wow, I’m really impressed by the work they’re doing.” Meanwhile, I've never been impressed with anything Snooki has done.
