Is the ban on tainted stars justified?

With the Spring Festival round the corner, Ha Wen, director of the Spring Festival gala telecast by China Central Television, has said celebrities who have violated the law or moral and social values have been banned from taking part in the annual show. Earlier, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television had said that celebrities who have broken the law should not be invited to appear in TV programs. Besides, the Beijing Trade Association for Performances has signed an agreement with 42 agencies not to hire or invite celebrities who have been booked for drug abuse to perform in any program.

These are bad news for tainted celebrities whose career relies on public exposure. But by being prohibited from appearing on any programs are such celebrities being discriminated against in terms of "employment"?

Some say keeping them away from programs is the right thing to do to keep the industry clean and healthy because celebrities involved in drug or sex scandals have had a negative impact on society, particularly the youth. Besides, the program producers are free to decide who they want to work with.