'I'm proud of everything we've done': MTV Skins actress who plays sex-crazed lesbian cheerleader defends controversial show

One of the cast members of the MTV Skins remake has spoken out in defence of the controversial drama.
Sofia Black D’Elia, who plays a promiscuous, marijuana-smoking, lesbian cheerleader, says parents who are afraid to let their children watch the show have 'serious trust issues'.
She adds that she is 'proud' of the programme and claims that the graphic sexual content could encourage parents and children to talk about awkward subjects.
Her comments came as MTV aired the most controversial episode of the show yet.

MTV Skins actress Sofia Black D’Elia has defended the U.S. remake of skins and says parents who are afraid to let their children watch it have 'serious trust issues'

In last night's show D'Elia, 19, was seen in a steamy lesbian love scene with a schoolmate.
In scenes leading up to the romp on her parent's staircase the young star was also pictured taking drugs.
D’Elia, who revealed she celebrated getting a part in the show by 'shopping and getting very drunk', has spoken out in the wake of a series of companies pulling their advertising.
The Parents Television Council also wrote to the House and Senate judiciary committees ahead of the show's first episode last Monday, alleging that MTV and parent company Viacom may be violating federal law by featuring actors as young as 15 in graphic scenes of a sexual nature.
Campaigners claim the show - a U.S. remake of the equally controversial British TV series - may breach child pornography laws and is littered with references to drugs and alcohol.

Saucy: The 18-year-old actress plays the role of sex-crazed, lesbian cheerleader Tea in the drama

But in the wake of a mounting scandal, with Subway and Schick the latest companies to pull advertising D'Elia said: '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,' she tells Chaunce Hayden in the upcoming issue of Steppin’ Out magazine.
'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.'

Controversial: Tea, played by Sofia Black D'Elia in a steamy lesbian love scene with a schoolmate

Encouraging parents and their teenagers to watch the show together, she added: '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 comfortable talking about with their kids, like sex and drugs.
'Many adults are missing the point when they complain about the show.'
North Jersey native D'Elia plays the character Tea in the drama, replacing Mitch Hewer's portrayal of gay dancing schoolboy Maxxie Oliver in the British show.

 

Too much? In scenes leading up to the romp on her parent's staircase the young star, 19, was also pictured taking drugs

Other advertisers to have withdrawn their campaigns include Wrigley's gum, Taco Bell, H&R Block and GM.
A rep for Schick told TMZ today: 'After Skins on MTV aired last week, the makers of Schick Hydro decided not to advertise during the programme because some of this show’s content is not aligned with Schick corporate guidelines.'
Child pornography is defined in the U.S. as any visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, with anyone younger than 18 considered to be a minor.
 

              Racy: D’Elia in a scene from the show

In some cases, ‘A picture of a naked child may constitute illegal child pornography if it is sufficiently sexually suggestive,’ according to the Justice Department’s legal guidance.
But MTV are standing by the show, despite reports in The New York Times last week that concerned executives had ordered producers to tone down some of the most explicit content.

They are said to be particularly concerned about the third episode, to be broadcast in the U.S. on January 31.
In it, a naked actor (Jesse Carere, who plays Chris) is shown from behind, running down the street in a storyline which features him taking erectile dysfunction pills.
MTV spokesman Jeannie Kedas insisted that all forthcoming episodes were works in progress. 
But she would not confirm that MTV executives were fearful of falling foul of child pornography laws.
‘Skins is a show that addresses real-world issues confronting teens in a frank way,’ she said in a statement.

‘We review all of our shows and work with all of our producers on an ongoing basis to ensure our shows comply with laws and community standards.
‘We are confident that the episodes of Skins will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to our viewers.

    

             Pushing boundaries? The cast of the new U.S.version of Skins which debuted in the U.S. last week

                       TV hit: The show, which features drinking, sex and parties, was a hit with viewers

‘We also have taken numerous steps to alert viewers to the strong subject matter so that they can choose for themselves whether it is appropriate,’ the channel added.
Despite the PTC action, Skins U.S. has been a hit, attracting 3.3 million viewers to the first episode which aired on January 17.

It also set a new first-episode record for MTV among viewers aged 12 to 34, with Nielsen ratings reporting that the episode drew 1.2 million viewers younger than 18.
The U.S. version is almost a direct copy of the UK series, which first aired on Channel Four in Britain back in 2007.

Now in its fifth season, it has developed a reputation for pushing the envelope with controversial storylines. 

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