Big Brother in More Hot Water than Rainman

I admit that I never watch Big Brother. I tried a few seasons ago, thinking that we could add recaps to the site, but the show seems utterly mindless and I just couldn’t bring myself to watch a bunch of shallow contests fighting over money no matter how much dignity was at cost. That was about the beginning and end of my thoughts. At least until today when things changed completely.

A new season of Big Brother has people working in teams. That is about all I know of the show this season. However, after a recent show, I am left not only furious, but disgusted. At present, I do not know who bothers me more CBS, the company that made headlines for not censoring a nipple (that you couldn’t see, by the way) or Big Brother and the editor of the mindless drivel that decided to let these comments on the air.

The comments I am referring to were made by a contestant named Adam. Adam claims that he works for an autism foundation. However, the Big Brother website lists Adam as:

Single and a Public Relations Manager from Delray Beach, FL via Cherry Hill, NJ

The bio for Adam mentions that he has a master’s degree in fashion design/marketing. He apparently studied at Camden County College, Parsons School of Design in New York, and Fashion Art Italy in Italy. According to the bio, works at a PR manager where he handles publicity, as well as sponsorship and creative director responsibilities for a foundation. However, it does not say what kind. He also likes aggressive women.

Personally, I didn’t get the liking women vibe at all from his picture, but I could be looking for a fault other than his sad hair cut. This leads me into the vexing remarks that he made recently on the show. The contestants were discussing what they would do with their winnings. Adam mentioned that he would buy a salon for people with developmental disabilities. He went on to say the following to justify his reasons:

”…so retards can get it together and get their hair done.”

His partner told him not to call “them” that.

Adam was unfazed though and continued:

”Disabled kids. I can call them whatever I want. I work with them all day, OK?”

No actually it’s not okay. If Adam knew anything about autistic children he would know they are incredibly literal. I honestly hope those aren’t the pet names he calls them at work because those poor children would seriously believe the comments that he so nonchalantly let’s fall from his loose, uneducated lips.

This has caused a national autism advocacy group to come out and request that CBS apologize. While that’s a nice thought, after all of the comments about race, incest, sexual orientation, and disabilities that have been made in the past, I think the ante should be raised to reflect the importance of the issue. While it is important for people like Adam to have a venue to garner their 15 minutes of fame, I do not think it’s necessary to be damaging just to hope someone remembers your vile behavior because nothing else about you is memorable.

If CBS apologizes, and I’m sure they will, that is fine, though I do not blame them entirely. They are no more at fault then they were with Janet and the invisible nipple scandal.

Instead, the viewers need to boycott this trashy, unnecessary show and at the very least the contestants should be screened better. As for Adam, one can only hope he loses his job because he is an embarrassing example of people that work with children that have neurological disorders.

Technorati Tags: Big Brother, Autism, Adam, Controversy, Boycott, Neurological Disorders, Retards