BIG Brother has sunk to a new low, with revelations the show knew a contestant had had a stillbirth, yet went ahead with a task asking her to keep a toy baby "alive".
The task caused the contestant, Kate Gladman, 25, a government lawyer from Victoria, to break down.
She refused to continue the task ndash; to take care of a computerised life-size baby doll that was programmed to cry and required care.
The task was scrapped, but Ms Gladman threatened to leave the house.
Her mother Annette Gladman slammed producers for making housemates do the task in the first place.
I think it's not insensitive, it's sadistic, she told The Daily Telegraph.
I think they have got a moronic following and have milked it for all it's worth.
I know that they have done that deliberately.
In the later stages of her pregnancy 18 months ago, Ms Gladman suffered from pre-eclampsia ndash; a disease that affects the blood pressure of both mother and child.
Community groups and TV and medical professionals yesterday attacked the Channel 10 program for being irresponsible and showing a lack of sensitivity.
Sydney mother Emma Kirkwood, who set up the Stillbirth Foundation to provide support for parents after her second baby was stillborn, said she was appalled .
I felt sick, she said.
I find it incredibly disturbing that they would do this.
This shows a lack of respect for both Kate and for that baby she had. To have a stillborn baby, it doesn't leave you.
It is with you every day.
The community concern followed the release of a statement attributed to both Ten and producer Endemol Southern Star which admitted Kate's situation was known prior to the show.
Kate told the producers that she had dealt with it fully, but obviously she had not, the statement said.
A spokeswoman for Stillborn and Neonatal Death Support questioned how much Kate was spoken to about her loss before the show.
Author and psychologist Evelyn Field said Big Brother played on Kate's emotions to garner TV ratings.
What they're doing is exposing vulnerable people to difficult situations without providing support.
Ms Gladman was offered counselling after the show aired, but refused.
A spokeswoman for Communications Minister Senator Helen Coonan said she had not received any complaints about the new series.
Meanwhile, Bollywood and Britain's Big Brother's Shilpa Shetty, who had hinted she was in Australia to join BB, yesterday said she was offered a guest spot, but declined.
Has Big Brother gone too far? Vote online with the poll on this page, or have your say in the feedback box below.
Has Big Brother gone too far with his latest, hurtful, stunt?
people, people!!!
BB is show for pepole who want to have a good experiance in there lifetime.. if u dont like the show then why do u constantly watch it and bag it out?
? turn your T.V off and do something else if u dont want to watch this.
.. i felt sorry for kate.
.
To Robert of Norwood, Thanks for your comments, luckily we have freedom of speech in this country . I am in my 50 s am an intelligent woman I love B/B Simply put: To the general public if you don t like the show then don t watch it whinge about it.
As has been said previously the topic of still birth is very traumatic to all concerned my sympathies go out to anyone who has endured this. B/B made a bad decision to bring a baby to the show as they knew of Kate s experience but once again a sensitive subject has got everyone talking about the show generating publicity which may have been a cruel conscious decision on their part. With Mothers Day coming upon us this month then Happy Mothers Day to mums everywhere --- for some of us it is a very sad day for many reasons so keep positive ladies be strong.
Ban the crap.
Well said Fiona- I too have suffered a loss and you cant ever just get over it . You can be going along in life fine because you have learnt to move forward as the world doesnt stop for your grief, but the tiniest things cant make all those horrible, sad feelings of loss come back like a song, a smell or seeing babies/pregnant women.
It s absolutely disgusting what they have done to Kate, i can completely symapathise with her just needing to get away from the situation they put her in. I cant believe how insensitive your comments are Theresa- i hope you never have to feel the pain of losing a child because you have no idea. Yes the world is full of babies but you dont have to hold them or mother them you can walk on by- but it still hurts, you cant help but think about your baby especially if they would have been about the same age now.
Yes Kate may fall pregnant again but the new baby will never replace the baby that she lost. How could you even think that it would make any future pregancies easier- in fact it would make them much much harder and she would be worried/anxious about the same thing happening again. In fact Kate suffered from Preeclampsia (as did i) which can affect future pregnancies, in fact there is about a 30-50% chance of it reoccuring.
I usually watch big brother but after this stunt i m never watching it again.
What would Bill Heffernan think of such a tasteless denigration of motherhood?
I don t watch BB bgut going by what has happened and the comments, can some one PLEASE start a class to teach all the bleeding hearts on how to switch channels on a TV set.
If you dont want to lay your cards on the table then dont play the game ..SIMPLE!
People will do anything for 2 seconds of fame, so as much as i feel sorry for Kate and her situation(being a mother myself). No one forced any of these people to go on the show, its free will and free game! Build a bridge and get over it people!
BB-this is the lowest, cruel, most disgusting thing a reality TV show has ever done! To those of you who think it was acceptable because Kate had told BB that she had come to terms with with the loss of her child- you just have no idea. You never ever get over it.
There is one thing to be able to move forwards in your life, but it is another thing to have your loss rubbed in your face. There are many other tasks BB could have given the housemates. This task was introduced intentionally to create controversy.
If it wasn t then they should have told Kate their plans before and given her the opportunity to leave. Sue for pain and suffering Kate..
..this may stop stupid reality shows from stooping to such low levels.
Why does everyone feel so obligated to conitnually criticise what is on TV. Don t you realise that a real work exists beyond your lounge room? If you don t like a show, don t watch it, don t criticise its viewers, watch something else or get off your butt and do something constructive.
TV is not the centre of existence, only for those without the imagination to enjoy the myriad of other options that are on offer in this world. Get amongst it, or shut the hell up!
Who cares?
A trashy show for trashy people.
Big Brother is based on exploitation of the gullible. It ;s a sad indictment of our society that such a ridiculous and idiotic show rates so highly in the first place.
I m not at all suprised that this situation (obviously staged by the producers) has occured
I m not the biggest fan of BB but It amazes me that there are sooo many anti BB people out there that happen to know every small detail there is to know about the show...
..so the question is how do these people know so much, I doubt it s just from the papers?
Kate told them about the issue and stated she was fine with it, they ran with the baby idea and she then voiced her concerns and the idea was subsequently canned. It is terrible what happened to poor Kate but BB wasn t the cause.
Once again, the Adelaide community is drawn to respond to a controversial carrot being dangled in front of them by the media.
I am in my early thirties, my IQ is certainly higher than 2 digits (thank you Robert of Norwood for your stereotyping) and I watch BB daily. As a few have said, the housemates are not forced to do anything they don t wish to. No-one other than Kate and the producers know what conversations took place, it may be that Kate told them she had totally come to terms with her loss so as not to risk her chance of becoming a housemate.
The fact that they scrapped the task could be deemed to show that they weren t expecting such a reaction from her. You know, it really gets to me that people scream for a show that they don t like or agree with to be taken off the air. In a democratic society, choice is everything.
If you don t like it, don t watch it. It s not that hard to press a button on a remote control. To quote the closing credits of an old Pommie kids TV show Switch off your TV and go and do something less boring instead!
Trouble is there must be people still watching it (this being the fifth season ???
) or it wouldn t keep turning up every year. It must be entertainment for some - poor sorry fools. I agree with one of the earlier comments - I haven t watched one show but because I turn on the 10 news at 5pm and there are squillions of ads for it all the time, I seem to know about what is going on in the house - subliminal and somewhat scary
Since when has all TV have to be educational or morally right.
Some TV shows should be outragous and plan stupid. this is what BB is. To all those people who mock those who watch this show, should use their brain and note watch.
..there are four other free to air chanels to watch.
Rmemeber Graham Kennedy was tarnished with similar things, being irresponsible to youth etc, and he is a legend. To all the snobs out there change the channel. ABC news is on at the same time, you may find something more stimualting there, I do.
...
Enough is Enough. Its time someone in authority did something about this trash. Come on John Howard, do something!
Everyone faces issues and problems at some stage and some daily. At least in the BB house contestants have support and help from others and people that will listen. This is the most important thing that helps you to recover and continue in your life.
If someone thinks they re above that then enter the house and see how you can handle it.
the media wins again. The whole thing is being manipulated to create interest and make money.
What a load of garbage. The people who actually care about this and are so concerned for the people involved need to get a life..
.it is all contrived, made up, ratings creating crap. It is Bold and the Beautiful live, it is mindless pap and written for people who buy the garbage that is advertised while the show is being shown.
BB contestants are NOT forced to do anything. They can leave anytime. They are made aware of the evironment they are about to enter and do so at their own risk.
If they stay in they must consent, contribute and/or participate as requested by BB if they want to continue to be in the house. Remember they can leave anytime. They are not forced to participate and can speak to BB at anytime.
Why doesn t the public understand that? What s the big deal..
. if you don t like it, don t do it.
I can t believe anyone actually watches this show - I guess most viewers would be under 20 and/or have a 2-digit IQ.
Personally, after living away I just cannot stomach Australian *commercial* TV. I don t (can t) watch it, so it is irrelevant to me. How anyone can tolerate advertising which yells at you (an Australian phenomenon - why?
) is beyond me. Having said that, most definitely the producers overstepped the line in this case. My heat goes out to anyone who experiences a stillbirth.
As a father, I don t know how I would cope. Shows like this are a transparent attempt to grab ratings by pushing the boundaries further and becoming increasingly shocking. Yawn.
BB is a sad excuse for a TV program, if thats all that TV producers can make nowdays to get ratings, they need to get a life.
I think that the actions of big brother are totally out of order. I don t care how interesting it makes the programme, there is no excuse for putting people in such distressing situations.
If this was put forward as a scientific psychology experiment, it wouldn t even pass the ethics committee. The viewers have a right to expect that this programme is serious about protecting its contestants and considering the ethical situations fully. In the end it is a big turn off for viewers, do they really believe we enjoy watching this?
When is this so called entertainment of a show going to be taken off the air? It is a very sad and uncalled for attement to get ratings. Anyone with a heart would know one thing you dont really get over is loosing a baby or a child of any age.
What gives them the right to use people like this. Who makes up the crap that is involved with this program are there any giuldlines they have to go by for this show? If there is they must be gutter level guildlines and that it where this show is now.
Another storm in a tea cup. Kate had told them about her situation and that she was over it. It was a task set up for the contestants no more no less.
BB stopped the task when kate (who said she was over her trauma) was showing signs of not being over it. Keep it real people it s a reality show. If you don t like people it change the channel no one is forcing you to watch it.
With all due respect to your opinions as we are all entitled to our own - but these people chose to go on the show and after it being on television for as many years as it has been they all know the risks of entering the house - and that s the risk they chose to take, they chose to put their personal lives out their for all to see so they have no one to blame but themselves.
I thought the whole point of BB was to sadistically and systematically analyse human interaction and behaviour. Surely there are hundreds of psychologists watching and analysing every moment of what happens?
I ve always figured that people must be writing thesis on this show and earning their degrees.
Teresa you obviously have no concept of the grief relating to losing a child. While it can be at times hard to cope with seeing babies in the real world for a while after your loss, it can be dealt with after a time.
What BB asked housemates to do was completely different, he asked Kate to take care of a baby for a week, keeping it alive , the one thing, through no fault of her own, she couldn t do with her own baby. She would also have spent the week with housemates jokes and the babies crying etc. If BB needs to stoop to lower and lower standards in order to keep the show interesting maybe it s time to pack the whole thing up and put it away.
Any parent who works on that show needs to hang their head in shame for supporting the task when they knew of Kate s circumstance. I wouldn t put it past BB to have deliberately introduced that task to see if they could make her crack, as generally she is a strong woman. SHAME!
My wife and I went through the trauma of a stillbirth and have come to terms with it...
as much as anyone ever does. There are still times when we find ourselves close to tears thinking back on it, and certain situations out in public make us very uncomfortable as they dredge up the knowledge that, circumstances not withstanding, we should be parents now. I thought Big Brother was trash before this event, now I think it is criminal.
Kate should sue Big Brother for all she can and ensure that this voyeuristic tripe is never seen again.
while it must have been disturbing for Kate seeing the baby doll and obviously still had some issues, you can not forget that if she was out in society that this is something she would not have been able to avoid. There are thousands of babys everywhere and although I fortunately have never lost a child myself, its something she will have to get over and get on with her life.
I think she go and see someone that she could talk this through with eg. a counciller so that hopefully she never forgets but is able to put behind her, so that if she does fall pregnant again she can focus on the new baby and not worry that this may happen again. I wish her well and good luck on BB07.
So 58% (at the moment) say that Big Brother has gone too far. The only reason BB is on is because people watch the crappy now old in the tooth program and it brings the network $$$. The only reason they do sadistic things such as these is to make $$$.
If we think it s crap then lets not watch it and force them to pull it off air!
Where are our regulators, take this show off the air, if it was an advertisment for insurance (RAA) or something and had 1complaint it would be off the air. It is not entertainment, it is society at its lowest, turn it back on the producers and put them in the fish bowl.
If the public really want to watch something like this, let them tune into tha ABC at question time in any of our parliment sittings state or federal
Big Brother is all about pushing boundaries. It s a pretty ordinary show as it is, but without testing the housemates with difficult situations (ie White Room) it would just be plain boring. The housemates know they are going to be exposed to some uncomfortables before they sign up and would or should be prepared for them.
Kate handled the baby issue very well and has the support of the other housemates. Like the turkey slap last year, it s been blown out of proportion outside the house. Let them get on with it.
If you don t like it, don t watch it.
I thought BB risking a couples relationship by bringing in an ex and everything else that happened with that was bad enough, but now this. Im totally disgusted.
How insensitive, cruel and unjustifiable. BB, you are dealing with peoples lives, ratings are not the only thing you need to take into consideration. Going ahead with this task when you knew the background of one of your housemates.
.you should be ashamed !!
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