Reality Show To Apologize To Victim's Family

Donna Travers, the mother of a 16-year-old boy killed in a "rampage of violence" by man who appeared on The X Factor, has lashed out at the show's producers.

TV3 defended putting convicted killer Shae Brider on the show, saying he had "paid his debt to society" and deserved a second chance.

However, Ms Travers, whose son, Jeremy Frew, was killed by Brider and four others in Wanganui in 2004, told the Herald that Brider's appearance had left her feeling "devastated".

In last night's episode, producers aired a special back story segment in which Brider recalled his troubled past.

"I met some dudes and we went to a bonfire," he said. "There was a commotion with two of them and one of them stabbed the other one and he ended up passing away."

Brider admitted he served time in prison but no further context was given to the story.

Ms Travers said: "What really got to us the most was that he said Jeremy was his friend, that was the worst thing that guy could have said. My son was scared of him and his mates and he said it on the day he was killed.

"Shae Brider lied. It's not the fact 

The NZ Herald is reporting tha a public apology to the family of a teen killed by The X Factor contestant Shae Brider will screen on the show's next two episodes.

She said representatives from the show had contacted her today to say the apology would take place.

The family had no idea Brider would appear on the show or discuss Jeremy's death, and Ms Traver's daughter and sister were both watching it when the segment came on.

She the issue was never whether or not Brider deserved a "second chance" after serving the sentence for his crime, but that incorrect and misleading information was broadcast about the case.

MediaWorks spokeswoman Rachel Lorimer said in a statement:

"MediaWorks wants to apologise again for any distress or hurt caused by the episode of The X Factor NZ that featured Shae Brider.

"We take the impact it has had on the victim's family very seriously, and have today been talking with Donna Travers both to apologise personally and to discuss with her the best way to add to yesterday's public apology.

"As a result of these conversations, we will be starting the Sunday and Monday night episodes of The X Factor NZ with an apology to Donna and her family. 

"We hope this will go some way towards alleviating the hurt and distress the family have suffered as a consequence of Tuesday's episode."

- NZ Herald