
'Skins' Star on Child Porn Accusations: 'Everything at MTV Is Legal'

Blaine Morris, the sexy lesbian behind Betty Nardone on MTV's controversial new series 'Skins,' is an 18-year-old New Jersey native, who is downright nonplussed by all the hullabaloo. A musical theater performer throughout high school, Morris had only just a couple TV commercials under her belt when 'Skins' creator and head writer Bryan Elsley asked her to audition for a role.
Morris talked with
PopEater about the show's scandals -- PTC
skirmishes, allegations of
child porn violations -- and what it's like being part of MTV's hottest new property.
The show has been very controversial.
I think a lot of it has to do with people not actually watching the show and not knowing what the core values are about. They're just taking it for face value based on the commercials.
It's been accused of being pornographic.
It's not. Everything done at MTV is legal. They've had the scripts for months, and they're very good with that, and I would just tell people to watch the show. Watch it with your kids, even, and talk to them about the stuff that comes up in the show. We bring up a lot of topics that should be talked about.
Have you started getting recognized?
Yeah, I was at Macy's and one of the makeup artists said to me, "I watched 'Skins.' Are you on that show?"
You play a lesbian. Have you started getting letters from lesbians asking you out?
Of course. There are silly tweets like that, nothing I'm scared of.
I didn't mean scary. I just meant girls who have crushes on you?
Yeah, it's nice, I actually think. I'm glad that they identify with the show. It means I did my job well.
You can become a gay icon.
[Laughs] I guess.
Were you popular at school?
I think I was fairly popular. Everybody knew who I was, but I did my own thing. I was a theater geek.
See Blaine's onscreen girlfriend Sofia Black-D'Elia defend 'Skins' as "what teens are doing":
MTV is famously tight with the purse strings. You making bus fare?
Oh yes, yes. I have my own apartment in the city now. I was able to afford that.
Originally you worked as a writer on the show?
A friend of mine was an intern for the show, and she said they needed teen advisers, so that's how I got on the writing team. And after giving my opinion for a while Bryan just came up to me and asked me to read for a character.
What does an adviser do?
We would get scripts, and sometimes Bryan would write stuff. And I would say British teens may say this, but American teenagers wouldn't, and also explain certain situations. We'd have discussions about prom. What you do before and after. What are school field trips like. How the bus trip there is equally as important as the field trip itself.
Aren't the ratings going down?
For MTV, that was the highest ratings they've ever gotten on a Monday that wasn't a premiere, and our core demographic didn't go down at all. MTV is fully behind us.
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I'm sick of having all the gay crap crammed down my throat. (no pun intented!)
Reply
I meant "intended", sorry
You're wrong Andy and your a prude being gay isn't sin and isn't being crammed down your throat then don't read or watch TV if being gay bugs you so much.
Im 15 and even I hate the show. Everybody at my school hates the show. Not all teenagers act nasty and dirty like the teenagers in Skins(and yes I've watched it before.) Why can't there be just one show for teenagers that doesn't have to include illegal drugs and sex, and also actually have a REAL story plot?
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Our teens need good examples of how to navigate in society. Sex and drugs and disrespect shown so often on TV and movies start them thinking it is acceptable behavior. Familiarity breeds acceptance. exoticdoc2 said it all, "Legal is not the same as moral" adults have a moral obligation to guide these impressionable youth in the right direction..God knows they have enough bad examples and opportunities for bad choices. Show them it is cool and honorable to be a good upstanding youth.
Reply
You're dead wrong Linda just like your pal Exoticdoc and your a prude that is out of touch with reality. TV shows & Movies are no worse than what they were 20 or 10 years ago and that is a fact. you need to stop shoving Morals & Ethics down peoples throats.
This is a learning experience for the new "artist"...this is when you learn that what you think is art is really about the bottom dollar ...if the consumer don't like it ..they won't buy it .....
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Maybe evrything at MTV is legal,...maybe it's not. But MORALLY and ethically....they are SO wrong. What kind of mesage are they sending to America's youth today by airing this pornographic garbage?
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You're a prude that is out of touch with reality Jeb and your being judgemental by shoving morals & ethics down people's throat. Sklins isn't child porn which is a lie without facts it's baseless and your sheep for the PTC.
Jersey Shore is horrendous and Teen Mom makes my blood boil and I expected the same out of Skins but what I saw was a well written and enertaining show that portrays the side of teen year's most of us lived but don't want to tell our kids.
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I thought that Teen Mom would show to teens why you should'nt get pregnant ....and seems like it Glamourized it ...and that bothers me ......
I agree with you Dave about Skins shows a side that yes some teens do and a lot of parents don't want there teens to see.
bring MTV back to what it started out to be.
Reply
AMEN TO THAT!!!!!
Hey gobluespartyon>> first of all I'm no prude.I have a mind.Do you? And how many kids do you have?
Reply
You're prude and that is a fact you don't have a mind. And I do have a mind and I think for myself unlike you who is a sheep and doesn't know what there talking about your idiot & moron.
Read some of goblues posts. It seems fairly obvious the he/she IS a kid. And if not...then that's just sad.
You're the kid the exoticdoc2 and your the spin doctor as well and a liar as well. You're loser that needs to get a life.
Goblues. You know, rather than simply spewing insults, you need to learn to engage in reasoned dialect. You only make yourself look foolish when all you are capable of is throwing unfounded insults and accusations out and cannot even defend your position with logic and reason. Honestly, how old are you, 6?
Which I do Exoticdoc2 I say my position with logic & reason. you're the one hurling the insults you started it not me you can't say your position with logic or reason and your the one that is looking foolish your 6 years old.