★★★★★ 0/5

BB: Family tragedy strikes production

6
Leave a comment

The reports today about a family death for housemate Emma in Big Brother have created a headache for Producers, caught between respecting family wishes and media criticism.

Emma’s father died of cancer and was buried on Monday in Adelaide.

Emma’s boyfriend Tim has told News Ltd. that her father’s dying wish was that Emma not be told, allowing her to enjoy her time in the house.

Significantly, Tim supports BB in not telling Emma. But the sensitive situation has allowed media and psychologists to criticise BB for keeping the news from her. TEN publicists are also respecting the agreed line -but I can’t see that lasting. They are all boxed in to an impossible situation.

Clearly there are no winners in this family tragedy, and unfortunately for BB it is part of the territory of reality television. The show has an agenda in which personal lives construct storylines, and as such it is inextricably linked to this news be it inside or outside the house. To pretend this hasn’t happened is unrealistic, but to ignore family wishes is also unrealistic.

And what of Emma’s wishes?

When 9/11 happened producers broke tradition in the US BB house to tell the housemates of the news.

Unfortunately in this case it is BB and TEN that will simply have to cop the criticism and defend its position afterwards. To involve the family would be worse, and it is the network that has gotten into bed with personal stories.

But dont assume because of their silence that you are hearing all of BB or TEN’s side of the story.

6 Responses

  1. They’re not getting any ratings by withholding it. They’d get more by telling her. But the family has asked for this and BB is stuck honouring this request while copping a lot of flak.

    One assumes if he had cancer it might have been discussed prior to her entry, indeed as they would have for any family emergency for all housemates.

    I’m confident we only know half the facts here.

  2. This is DREADFUL – they need to tell this poor girl & let HER decide, thou if her father has been already buried she cant go to the funeral even if she wanted to – why didnt they tell her last week?
    If 10 thinks it can drag this out for ratings THATS SICK!!!

  3. Respecting HIS wishes?

    It’s about HER and what SHE deserves to know and be told. People have a right to know and decide information for themselves.

    I dislike Emma quite a bit, but I still believe she has a RIGHT to be told information important to her, and no one should be able to take that away.

  5. They should respect HIS wishes and don’t tell her, its simple really, these people having a go at Ch.10 are just waiting for the opportunity to have a go at BB.

Leave a Reply