Talpa continues to hold on to Peter Gillis, even now that the Public Prosecution Service has pronounced exactly what he is suspected of. It leads to bewilderment in TV land. “It’s really too embarrassing for words.”
Peter Gillis is suspected by the Public Prosecution Service of having severely mistreated his girlfriend Nicol Kremers, including by biting her like a wild animal in her nose and her back. Whether there is enough evidence for a conviction remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Peter is a liar. He has denied his arrest by the police for weeks.
Private matter
Talpa Network, which broadcasts its SBS 6 show Family Gillis: Massa is Kassa, causes astonishment by protecting someone like Peter so fanatically. “This is a private matter. For the time being, we are not refraining from broadcasting the new season that will start on September 6, “says the media company of John de Mol.
It is of course as clear as a sheet: Talpa, called ‘morally bankrupt’ by Angela de Jong, is tied with hands and feet. Son Johnny was allowed to remain on the TV despite the heavy report of serious assault and attempted murder. Of course that sets a precedent, because why did Peter get off the tube and Johnny not?
‘What do you want to radiate?’
Where the Talpa stars in the Johnny case are terrified to say something wrong, they turn massively against cuddling Peter Gillis. “They say it is a private matter, but the whole reality series is a private matter,” said Manuel Venderbos, presenter of the Talpa program Shownieuws.
Lawyer Job Knoester, VI face and since yesterday also Shownieuws expert: “It is not one incident. He has recently been in the news because the FIOD is investigating his holiday parks, there is criticism that he would make people pay too much for ugly lofts. It’s getting to be a bit much, I think. What do you want to radiate as Talpa?”
Patty critical
Colleague Patty Brard doesn’t think her employer’s reaction is very strong either. “The image of them has suffered a few dents.”
And Ronald Molendijk believes that Talpa should not trivialize this issue. “Every six minutes in the Netherlands there is a report of violence behind the front door. 33 women a year are killed by this kind of shit. Think for a moment about people who are victims of this violence.”
‘Too embarrassing’
Rob Goossens, RTL Boulevard’s showbiz expert, does not understand Talpa. “I think it’s too embarrassing for words. You can talk about it for a long time, but is Lil Kleine and Jaimie Vaes also a private matter? That’s two betrothed for a house. No, of course that is not the case.”
He continues: “Here is Peter Gillis facing the Public Prosecution Service. This is anything but a private matter. I actually expected Talpa to respond more strongly to this.”
Theme evening
Joost Maiburg, reporter for RTL Boulevard, wants Peter off the tube. “They only have three success stories (Today Inside, Chateau Meiland and Massa is Kassa), so I understand it commercially, but with today’s news and a substantive treatment that is yet to come, you can’t broadcast (for the time being) I think.”
“As if it fits perfectly in a theme evening after Johnny’s HLF8”, he sneezes in conclusion.