will.i.am 'angers Voice bosses with live tweeting'
Published May 7 2012, 08:41 BST | By Zeba Blay
© BBC / Wall To Wall
According to The Mirror, the Black Eyed Peas singer was caught tweeting via his BlackBerry on 16 occasions during the Saturday night (May 5) broadcast of the programme.
Sources close to the show claim that bosses have reprimanded him, saying: "This isn't tolerated whatsoever. We need to show more respect to the people at home. It's like he can't be bothered. This isn't a mickey-mouse satellite channel, this is the BBC where high production values are key. He's making a mockery of the show."
will.i.am took to his official Twitter account to defend his actions, insisting that live tweeting is a way for him to "connect" with viewers.
"If you saw me on my phone I wasn't being rude... TV, phone, laptop & tablet... if I don't tweet during live TV I'm not connecting to people watching in the new way," he said.
The 37-year-old was recently criticised by some of his acts on the show for his lack of a connection with them, due to frequent trips back to the US.
He later dismissed the claims, saying: "I've just got a different approach. My coaching is, 'Hey, let's talk'."
Watch will.i.am on The Voice below:
Have to say this is a really sticky issue. People seem to be very much for or against the subjecty.
Personally I don't think the issue is so black and white, on one hand, yes, it's great that Will is interacting with the audience during a live show, that is something new and exiting, however as a viewer I do think it looks rude, like he is more interested in his phone than the act on stage and can he really be paying 100% attention while tweeting. Unless he has 2 brains, or is secretly a women then no.
Surely it would be better if all the mentors were allowed and encouraged to tweet but only during the VT between the acts coming on stage..
May 9th 2012 at 12:02pm
I don't think he should be tweetin throughout the show, its disrespectful 2 the singers aswell as the viewers! it makes it seem as though he's not interested in how they are performing and if u are tweeting/using facebook or the computer then I don't think u can fully concentrate on whatever else may or may not be happening!
May 8th 2012 at 4:11pm
I don't have an issue with him tweeting mid-show. Its great for us to see his perspective whilst the live show is on. BBC are just some old fudges who need bringing into the 21st Century x
May 8th 2012 at 8:22am
His bigger sin is he can't be bothered with his own acts.
May 8th 2012 at 8:09am
I never even noticed him do it. And they do it ALL the time during the US version, they even put some of the coaches tweets onscreen to show the views and include them.
BBC need to get over it. :)
May 8th 2012 at 12:27am