Victim of Reality Show

[Paulha]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?I live in Ohio. The incident happened in Pennsylvania.

5 Months ago I was involved in an incident that was being taped for a reality show for a well know cable network. I signed a waiver allowing them to put me on TV. I figured it would be all in good fun. When the show was aired last week, they choose to show only one side of how the events went down. I was portrayed on the show to be a racist drunk. In reality I was being verbally insulted by one of the "cast members" for a good 10 minutes before I retaliated. They show NONE of him insulting me. They suggested on the show that they (the contestants) came to where we were and we started raising hell with them. This is very very far from the truth. We were all actually there together getting along for a good hour and a half before I started getting insulted. In the end, they made me look like a total @ss and a racist.

Today I went to look at the networks website and they downright called me a drunken redneck. (I had drank about 3-4 beers during the entire event). They also called the entire group of friends I was with "drunken rednecks" and suggested on both the show and website they we had started the entire incident when I was really just defending myself after being insulted for a good 10 minutes.

I am a working professional who is college educated. I do not wish to be nationally portrayed as a drunken racist redneck as this network is making me out to be. I was wondering if I can take any legal action for defamation of character. A few of my friends faces were also shown on TV and the website both even though they did not sign any waiver.

Do I or any of my friends have any type of case at all? I am very upset right now about all of this. I knew they could make me look like an idiot, but to downright say I am a racist drunken redneck is wrong.

Thanks in advance.

 

[seniorjudge]

"I signed a waiver allowing them to put me on TV."

What did this waiver say?


"I knew they could make me look like an idiot, but to downright say I am a racist drunken redneck is wrong."

Is it fair to say that since you knew they were going to make you look like an idiot, you are not complaining about that? It is, instead, that you are complaining about the degree of idiocy they made you look like?

 

[Paulha]

I don't really know what the waiver said. I do not have a copy.

If I was just made to look like an idiot, I would not have minded because everyone acts like an idiot at times. They however made me out to be a racist and they quoted me as a "drunken redneck", none of which I am. It was not an elavated degree of idiocy that they did to me, but an open attack on my character.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

You're in good company . . .

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?I live in Ohio. The incident happened in Pennsylvania.

5 Months ago I was involved in an incident that was being taped for a reality show for a well know cable network. I signed a waiver allowing them to put me on TV. I figured it would be all in good fun. When the show was aired last week, they choose to show only one side of how the events went down. I was portrayed on the show to be a racist drunk. In reality I was being verbally insulted by one of the "cast members" for a good 10 minutes before I retaliated. They show NONE of him insulting me. They suggested on the show that they (the contestants) came to where we were and we started raising hell with them. This is very very far from the truth. We were all actually there together getting along for a good hour and a half before I started getting insulted. In the end, they made me look like a total @ss and a racist.

Today I went to look at the networks website and they downright called me a drunken redneck. (I had drank about 3-4 beers during the entire event). They also called the entire group of friends I was with "drunken rednecks" and suggested on both the show and website they we had started the entire incident when I was really just defending myself after being insulted for a good 10 minutes.

I am a working professional who is college educated. I do not wish to be nationally portrayed as a drunken racist redneck as this network is making me out to be. I was wondering if I can take any legal action for defamation of character. A few of my friends faces were also shown on TV and the website both even though they did not sign any waiver.

Do I or any of my friends have any type of case at all? I am very upset right now about all of this. I knew they could make me look like an idiot, but to downright say I am a racist drunken redneck is wrong.

Thanks in advance.

My response:

During the O.J. Simpson trial, one of the policemen initially investigating the crime scene, Mark Furman, was asked on the stand if he had ever used the word 'n i g g e r'. He said he never had.

Everyone following the trial knew he was lying, because everyone knows we all use the word 'n i g g e r' from time to time. I've used it myself, in discussions about the word. I'm using it in this response.

So, since you don't know what you signed, and since your idea of where the "line in the sand" and their idea of "where the line in the sand" was being drawn - - and since you DID say racist remarks that were being recorded - - you're in good historical company, and we can't help you as a result. However, you do get to join the ranks of some very famous racists:

1. Madeline Murray O'Hare;

2. The Ku Klux Klan;

3. Detective Mark Furman;

4. various slave traders;

5. Early 20th Century U.S. Supreme Court justices;

6. Gov. George Wallace;

7. David Duke;

8. and the list goes on and on.


Bottom line, you were too stupid to keep your mouth in check while the cameras were rolling. Therefore, you deserve everything that comes your way as a result of the broadcast.

IAAL

 

[Paulha]

I never said anything racist at any time. Guess I will go ask a real lawyer.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

I never said anything racist at any time. Guess I will go ask a real lawyer.

My response:

What am I? A potted plant?

Then, explain this: "insulted by one of the "cast members" for a good 10 minutes before I retaliated."

Explain the words or actions of your retaliation. Remember, they have you on tape, so lying here will do you no good, and will certainly do you no good with a "real lawyer".

IAAL

 

[Paulha]

He said to me "Do you know who I work for?"

My response "Osuma Bin Laden, your a terrorist."

They did not show this on tape. Instead they claimed I called HIM Osuma Bin Laden (which I did not, I said he worked for him) and they said I was being racist. They said the word racist at least 3 times that I remember.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

He said to me "Do you know who I work for?"

My response "Osuma Bin Laden, your a terrorist."

They did not show this on tape. Instead they claimed I called HIM Osuma Bin Laden (which I did not, I said he worked for him) and they said I was being racist. They said the word racist at least 3 times that I remember.

My response:

That's not a "racist" remark. That's a statement of opinion (or, in most circles, a statement of fact). But, it's not racist.

I imagine it won't matter to you, but I don't believe for one minute that's all you said. The tape will be your judge and jury. You had better make sure of what you said because if it comes down to a court battle, you'll be reliving the experience, and the tape itself, in a court of law.

IAAL

 

[Paulha]

Actually that comment is what they revolved the show around. They said I am a racist for calling him OBL. Of course other words were said, but nothing that could incrimate me. When the people I was with saw the airing, they were all shocked. They said that there was never any racist tension or whatever you might call it. Its like they took the tape and sat at a table and said...ok, how can we make this guy look bad. That is my whole complaint. I never made a racist remark, but they are playing the race card.

 

[meganproser]

As you say, contestants know when they sign on, that the show will be edited to produce the most drama. You've not given enough info here for anyone to know just how far from "reality" the show may have strayed.

Get a copy of the waiver you signed. Document the entire exchange to the best of your memory and ask any witnesses to do the same. Take your documentation and a copy of the show to an attorney that has EXPERIENCE in defamation/invasion of privacy-false light claims. The attorney will have to compare what you actually said with the image of you created by the show.

I think your best cause of action will be for invasion of privacy-false light. You will have to prove the show acted with a "reckless disregard" for the truth when they made you appear to be a racist.

Find out the statute of limitations for defamation and invasion of privacy claims in your state. You may only have a year to file your claim.

*I am NOT an attorney.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Actually that comment is what they revolved the show around. They said I am a racist for calling him OBL. Of course other words were said, but nothing that could incrimate me. When the people I was with saw the airing, they were all shocked. They said that there was never any racist tension or whatever you might call it. Its like they took the tape and sat at a table and said...ok, how can we make this guy look bad. That is my whole complaint. I never made a racist remark, but they are playing the race card.

Welcome to the little corner of the world I like to refer to as "REALITY"

 

[You Are Guilty]

Uh, are you a racist redneck? If so, you don't have much of a case.

 

[seniorjudge]

Uh, are you a racist redneck? If so, you don't have much of a case.

"I do not wish to be nationally portrayed as a drunken racist redneck as this network is making me out to be."

YAG, surely you meant to ask, "Uh, are you a drunken racist redneck?"