MENTALIST KEITH BARRY’s latest Brain Hacker stunt didn’t go down too well with some TV3 viewers.

The broadcaster confirmed that it has received 20 complaints in relation to a Russian Roulette style segment featured in a recent episode of the series.

During Sunday night’s episode Barry loaded one of three pistols with a blank cartridge before asking a member of the audience to shuffle the guns. He then proceeded to pick up two of them at random, point them at his own head, and pull the trigger.

Neither of the guns he selected were loaded and he used the third to shoot an apple, revealing the extent of the damage which the bullet could have caused. However, some viewers argued that watching Barry pull the triggers of the unloaded weapons had been distressing.

A spokesperson for the broadcaster defended the decision to air the stunt, highlighting the fact that the show carried a warning at both the beginning of the programme and the end.

TV3 ensured that the gun effect on Brain Hacker was aired after the 9pm watershed and as late as possible into the show.Within the actual effect itself, Keith (under fully supervised conditions) attempts to demonstrate just how dangerous even a “blank” bullet can be (by destroying the apple), so at all times viewers are reminded of the absolute dangers involved in the effect.

Barry also defended the broadcast: “I have trained extensively for years to accomplish the stunts I perform. Using a combination of hypnosis/persuasion and heightened intuition I am in the position to be able to perform the impossible”, he said.

Throughout my career I have included danger stunts in the form of entertainment and look forward to performing many many more in the future. At no time should anyone attempt to replicate what I do.

Keith Barry: Brain Hacker continues this Sunday at 9pm on TV3.

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