The BBC has published a public response to complaints about Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out series, after more than 1,500 people reached out to share their concerns about animal cruelty on the show.
Last month the series, which airs on BBC One, was the subject of a wave of backlash after Stacey proposed moving a family’s pet rabbits to an outside rabbit hutch.
The hostess suggested moving the rabbits from the large greenhouse to the garden to make more room in the house while she tried to “declutter”.
But viewers were angered by the move, arguing that rabbit hutches were not acceptable homes for rabbits, and complained to the BBC.
Now that he had issued a decision, the broadcaster said that while they had reviewed the complaints, they had considered Stacey’s suggestion as a “safe space” for the animal.
Investigated: The BBC has revealed its decision after reviewing 1,500 viewer complaints about ‘animal cruelty’ in Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out
Uh oh: Last month the series, which airs on BBC One, was the subject of a wave of backlash after Stacey proposed moving a family’s pet rabbits to an outside rabbit hutch.
Outrage: Viewers were angered by the move, arguing that rabbit hutches were not acceptable homes for rabbits, and complained to the BBC.
In response to the complaints, the BBC’s response stated: “The family’s pet rabbits usually live outside and only lived inside for a short period of time after being neutered.” Therefore, they are acclimated to living in the garden.
“Rabbits have full access to a large, enclosed garden to roam, the rabbit hutch being a place to come and go as they please during the day, as well as a safe space for them to sleep at night. ‘
The investigation came after many fans took to Twitter to share their disapproval of his decision on the show.
One said: “Love it love it @StaceySolomon but I’m so disappointed that Sort Your Life Out has shown rabbits being moved from a nice spacious indoor space to an outdoor hutch, hutches are not enough at all “.
Another wrote: ‘Very disappointed with the decision to rehom the family’s pet rabbits in #SortYourLifeOut. @StaceySolomon: You need to investigate the suffering thousands of pet rabbits suffer in small cages.’
A third raged: ‘I hope @StaceySolomon is already schooled in proper rabbit care and horrified that she sentenced those rabbits to a life in a cage.
‘Their need for space as athletic animals is far more important than ‘tidying up’ a human living area. We hope you are taking steps to remedy it.’
While a fourth echoed: ‘Put your life in order with @StaceySolomon such a disappointing rabbit owner. Do your research! They went from a decent enough home to an inadequately sized rabbit hutch.
“It’s things like this that set the rabbit community back as we try to show others that #hutchisnotenough.”
A fifth agreed, writing: ‘@BBC please investigate rabbit welfare. #SortYourLifeOut just shows a lack of knowledge and sheer cruelty in putting those rabbits in a tiny rabbit hutch.”
And a sixth tweeted: ‘Absolutely terrible from @StaceySolomon and @bbcthree. The last episode of Order your life is embarrassing. Those poor rabbits. One hutch is never enough.
‘Next time, please follow @RabbitRWAF’s guidelines for appropriate size rabbit housing. This falls so short. It’s animal abuse!
Rabbit Welfare Association and Trust shared the story and encouraged viewers to complain.
However, they also added: “Before we comment further, we want to make it clear that we believe this is the responsibility of the producer, not the host, and we will not allow any comments against Stacey Solomon.”
Moving: Stacey suggested moving the rabbits from the large greenhouse to the garden to make more room in the house.
Angry: But when the episode aired earlier this month, viewers were angered by the move, arguing that rabbit hutches were not acceptable homes for rabbits.
Complaints: They took to social media to complain and ask the BBC and Stacey to investigate further into rabbit care.
‘The production company should have done their research.’
The BBC responded to fan complaints by explaining that the rabbits generally lived outside and ‘acclimated’ to the garden.
They added: ‘The rabbits have full access to a large enclosed garden to roam, the hutch being a place to come and go as they please during the day, as well as a safe space for them to sleep. at night.’
The series, which follows Stacey and her team helping families tidy up their homes, received 1,502 complaints to the BBC.
Defence: The Rabbit Welfare Association and Trust shared the story and encouraged viewers to complain to Ofcom, while defending Stacey.
