Celebrity website faces probe for putting Octuplet babies 'at risk'

New York, June 17 (ANI): A celebrity website is being investigated for overlooking child labor laws with its relentless coverage of the world's most famous octuplets born to Nadya Suleman.

California labor officials are probing RadarOnline.com, who was given several citations for filming the March homecoming of the eight babies born earlier this year.

The website was slapped with various fines, including 500 dollars for lack of a permit to employ minors, 1,000 dollars for failing to have entertainment permits on file, 1,000 dollars for shooting the babies beyond the allowed hours and another 500 dollars for not having a chaperone versed in child labor laws.

California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet said that the site could not take cover in the First Amendment because it paid the Octomom to cover her children.

"There's overwhelming evidence that what we had going on here was a little movie, with RadarOnline exerting creative control, telling nurses to get out of the shot," the New York Daily News quoted her as saying.

"These are really egregious violations that put these babies at risk," she added.

RadarOnline, on the other hand, has defended itself saying in statement on its website: "Like any other newsgathering organization, RadarOnline is not required to obtain permits, nor is it restricted to certain hours in its newsgathering operations.

"RadarOnline has not seen any paperwork from the Department of Labor and therefore cannot comment on specifics."

The Labor Commission further said that the mother could not be held at fault since the responsibility was transferred to RadarOnline with the video diary agreement.

Spokesman Dean Fryer said: "She contracted with Radar, so they have all the responsibility ensuring that the parameters of the law are met. The law only requires her to be present."

Suleman, 33, became a history-making mum after giving birth to the eight babies on January 26.

The single, unemployed mother added to her previous lot of six kids after conceiving all her kids through in-vitro fertilization. (ANI)