A former owner of a children’s hairdressing salon faced questions about a recent TV program after its broadcast. The interview touched on a salon once tied to the name Child Torture, and the broadcaster in question raised concerns about the clinic’s branding and management. Local residents reported issues to the program, criticizing the salon’s name and a horned devil logo, and this sparked additional commentary from the program’s host. Audience members challenged whether the salon had appropriate staff trained to work with children who have special needs, suggesting that the questions about training were misdirected and overshadowed the real work being done with the kids.
According to the former owner, filming for the show led him to relocate from Moscow. He explained that there is a shortage of hairdressers equipped to work with children who have developmental differences, and he wanted to address this gap. He later opened a salon dedicated to children with autism and cerebral palsy, with a branch in Novosibirsk and another in Moscow that moved there in the previous year. He emphasized a dual aim: to create a welcoming space for both special-needs children and their peers, and to foster an environment where the label of the institution would not overshadow its mission. He also commented that the program’s editing did not include certain moments in which colleagues alleged raised voices by the host, and he felt he was prevented from speaking out due to accusations he viewed as unfounded. He recalled that educated people on set spent more time discussing the clinic’s name and imagery than addressing the core purpose of his work with children and families.
As of now, there has been no public comment from the program’s host or the network’s press office regarding the dispute. In the past, the host had spoken out against the use of physical punishment toward children, aligning with a broader stance on child welfare and respectful care. The evolving story illustrates how branding, public perception, and media framing can influence conversations about children’s services and the professionals who dedicate themselves to supporting kids with special needs.