Bruine Mehdi withdraws from Belgian quiz show after allegations

Flemish content creator Bruine Mehdi has withdrawn from Belgian quiz show *De Slimste Mens ter Wereld* and will not appear in its final weeks, Nieuws.nl reports, citing an announcement by broadcaster Play through the Belga news agency.

The decision follows three police complaints concerning alleged sexual offences. Mehdi, whose name is Mehdi El Hadri, denies the allegations, his lawyers have said.

East Flanders prosecutors said on Wednesday that three women had filed complaints against him, according to VRT NWS. The prosecutors have opened an investigation, ANP reported.

In a statement reported by Nieuws.nl, Mehdi said the programme did not deserve the negative attention and that he wanted the investigation to proceed calmly. Play and production company Woestijnvis said the decision would help preserve calm for everyone involved.

Mehdi appeared in Wednesday’s episode, which opened with a disclaimer explaining that it had been recorded several weeks earlier, Play told ANP. The broadcaster also said it had commissioned a separate independent external investigation following reports of inappropriate behaviour in a contestant’s private life.