London, March 23 (ANI): A BBC boss has defended Lindsay Lohan for presenting an investigative documentary on child trafficking.
The actress has been criticized for trying to keep her career rolling by using the suffering children.
However, Danny Cohen, the controller of BBC3, said that celebrities are required to draw attention of the common people to such issues.
"We have to think, as a channel, how we can open up issues surrounding environment, development and globalisation for a media-literate audience of teens and 20-somethings who'll quite happily switch off and go online if you don't keep their attention," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.
He added: "Finding a celebrity who genuinely cares about the issue really helps pull in a crowd that wouldn't otherwise switch on. But you have to be careful.
"If you get a rent-a-celeb, this audience can spot it a mile off. I've turned down more celebrity-led documentaries than I've put on the channel."
Also, Maninderpal Sahota, the documentary's director spoke in favour of Lohan.
He said: "The producer met Lindsay at a social event before the project started and found this was a passion for her. It's clearly not comparable, but I think as a result of working in an adult world since she was ten, she feels childhood is precious, and when you lose one you can never replace those years.
"She behaved perfectly throughout - she slept in the same hotels, travelled in the same cars, just asked the right questions and clearly empathised with the children in a way hardened reporters might struggle to have done.
"Most people in rural villages in India have absolutely no idea who Lindsay Lohan is...When we finished, we had to race to the airport chased by paparazzi. That's not the kind of thing you get if you work with Michael Buerk."
Lohan had sparked controversy after she falsely claimed she had rescued 40 child workers in India, during her visit to the country in December to shoot the documentary.
She had Tweeted: "Over 40 children saved so far ... Within one day's work ... This is what life is about ... Doing THIS is a life worth living!!!"
However, activists leading the raids had alleged Lohan had arrived in India after the children had been rescued. (ANI)
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