A Channel 4 star has claimed that producers 'exploited' the cast of Benefits Street by not providing adequate aftercare for the people who took part in filming.
As reported by the Mirror, White Dee has slammed Channel 4 bosses for not looking after the cast of the controversial programme, that followed the lives of people who lives on "one of Britain's most benefit-dependant streets" back in 2014.
Viewers were hooked with the Channel 4 programme that followed the lives of White Dee, Samora Roberts (Black Dee), Smoggy, and James Clarke.
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Now White Dee, also known as Deidre Kelly, feels the bosses at Channel 4 should have offered more aftercare and support for the cast.
The Big Brother star spoke about how she found herself being written about more often in the papers, and was given grief in real life for living on benefits.
She said: "When you talk about support and aftercare there simply wasn't any. There was no support while it was being made and there was certainly no aftercare.
"But no-one told us how to deal with it. We were just left to deal with the fallout from the show.
"We were exploited and left on our own, hung out to dry."
Channel 4 disputed these claims from Deidre, saying in an official statement: "Psychological support was offered to all those featured in the series throughout the filming, during transmission and beyond. Advice was given on the likelihood of criticisms and unpleasant comments on social media.
"All contributors were given guidance on engaging with online communities and social media. Following the unprecedented media attention, executives from production returned to Birmingham to provide ongoing support to contributors throughout transmission. Close contact and support continued beyond transmission."
During Deidre's time in the Big Brother house, where she came fifth, she opened up about the Channel 4 show, saying: "This documentary kind of f***** us up in a way.
"And in another way it didn’t because I’m sitting here. The saving grace is a lot of people saw the real us.
"A lot of people have called us spongers and scroungers and saying we should have our kids taken off us."
