As Peruvians continue to debate television content, one reality TV show showed something that reinforced the views of those calling for reform. A school-aged contestant on the show ate cockroaches live on the air to win a trip to Cancun for her family, incensing the nation and social media.

In mid-March the Peruvian television show “El Ultimo Pasajero” (The Last Passenger) featured a challenge in which female student ate a cockroach salad to win an all-expenses paid trip to Cancun for her and her classmates, according to the Mirror. The show angered many in the South American country, especially those seeking to change the content of Peruvian television.

In recent months a movement has grown, particularly among students, calling for better programming, arguing that most of homegrown Peruvian television contributes little to the shaping of young minds and instead focuses on shock value and ridicule.

Students have marched multiple times protesting various television shows and networks and various hashtags have been used on social media to raise awareness.

Soon after the episode of “El Ultimo Pasajero” aired, people took to social media and used to the hashtag #TVbasura, or garbage television, to protest the show.

Peruvian politicians, including Prime Minister Ana Jara Velasquez, voiced their anger at the episode.

“This is truly unacceptable,” she wrote on Spanish. “What humiliation! We have lowered ourselves!”

Soon after, UNICEF in Peru released a statement advocating for the protection of children on television.

Citing the Convention on Children’s Rights, which Peru ratified in 1989, UNICEF highlighted Peru’s duty to protect the dignity of children and teenagers who appear on television and also called on the state, parents, and networks to provide and advocated for appropriate programming during the agreed “family schedule.”

“In spite of the declaration of interest from media chiefs to fulfill the assumed commitments, it is evident some television programs show a lack of respect for children’s rights,” UNICEF said.

However, despite the backlash, one of the show’s hosts stood by their decision. According to El Comercio, host Jesus Alzamora gave a lengthy defense on Facebook.

“Yes, there are edible cockroaches. Read about entomophagy,” wrote Alzamora. “The cockroach used in the segment ... was cooked, and thus, perfectly edible, as it is done in many places in the country and abroad.”

Alzamora explained that it was said on the show that the cockroaches were edible and cooked. He refuted all accusations against the show.

“I categorically reject the accusations that we promote garbage or that we damaged a child’s digestive system,” he continued.

Watch the segment below.