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maltatoday | TUESDAY • 23 OCTOBER 2018 19 NEWS DAVID HUDSON THE equality and justice ministries have criticised X Factor Malta after the show's producers allowed a contestant's homo- phobic statements to air. In a strong reaction to the promotion of gay conversion therapy by X Factor contestant Matthew Grech, the minis- tries said the airing of such comments on television and Youtube were "dangerous and place many vulnerable adolescents at risk". Gay conversion therapy was outlawed in 2016. The law also prevents anyone from promoting such homophobic therapy. The ministries condemned X Factor and similar homophobic sentiments. The government was reacting to Sun- say's episode of X Factor where Grech – also a member of the religious group River of Love that had promoted gay con- version therapy — revealed that he was a 'sinful homosexual' before finding God and subsequently converting. His comments were aired on TVM. Fol- lowing a backlash on social media, X Fac- tor Malta edited out his comments from the Youtube video and removed the clip from Facebook. "Those adolescents who are in the pro- cess of coming out and are facing difficul- ties, should look for help," a spokesperson for the ministries said. "Every gender identity and any expres- sion of identity is valid and none of these should invite change or suppression," the statement continued. The ministries insisted that LGBTIQ in- dividuals did not require a cure or forgive- ness for what was integral to their being. "Sexual orientation is not a lifestyle but an instinct that manifests itself differently in each person." Grech's comments triggered a back- lash over social media, with many voic- ing their displeasure and disgust with the contestant's anti-gay remarks. Several comments on the YouTube vid- eo suggested that what the contestant had done was illegal. Another attacked X Fac- tor, saying, "shame on you for airing this. His comments were disrespectful, and he shouldn't have been there in the first place let alone pass for the second round. This 'guy' is sick." X Factor Malta reacts In an official statement on the X Fac- tor Malta Facebook page, a spokesperson said that Grech's audition was not meant to cause offence and that the contestant's opinions were not in any way endorsed by the producers. In reply to that statement, some said that if X Factor was truly only concerned with music and talent, then Matthew Grech's anti-gay views should not have been aired. Other suggested his opinions could have been edited out or Grech could have been told to redo the interview. 'Hypocrisy made in Malta' In the meantime, River of Love pastor Gordon-John Manche, in a post on Face- book, attacked what he termed 'Hypoc- risy made in Malta'. "Freedom of Speech," he said. "It's OK to blaspheme and offend God, but talking about how Jesus Christ changed some- one's life is prohibited." dhudson@mediatoday.com.mt Ministers criticise show's decision to air contestant's comments on gay conversion X FACTOR MALTA UNDER FIRE