Click Here to Sign the Petition: http://www.causes.com/causes/666832-gypsies-suing-my-big-fat-gypsy-wedding?causes_ref=email&recruiter_id=177691684&template=cause_mailer%2Fcreation
For hundreds of years Romani have suffered racism and prejudice because of the way we were stereotyped. A lot of hard work has went into changing people’s view of us around the world. This is being destroyed along with the reputations of our people. The Television Show “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding” promises a look into the “Gypsy” lifestyle. What they are really doing is showing a small group of Irish Travellers and then passing them off as “Gypsies”. There are many lies that are being peddled to the viewers as facts so that the show’s producers can make a buck. But they are doing it at OUR EXPENSE.
One of the many lies shows a supposed “Gypsy” tradition called Grabbing, where boys basically assault young girls in order to steal a kiss. You know we don’t do this. Its insulting to Romanies and Irish Travellers alike that this show throws us into a pile with no respect to who we really are. We have been severely damaged by the way this show spins “Gypsies” into a Jerry Springer Show. Our people are being depicted as trailer trash, alcoholics and thieves which is causing even more hatred and more suspicion in the Romani and Traveller communities.Do not participate in the negative portrayal of the Roma by participating in this documentary. These people are sharks who will use and abuse you and your family. They are soliciting our kids on Facebook already. They’ve contacted my daughter, my sisters and other members of my family. Chances are they are trying to contact your chavies too.
Do not trust them!A show like this can make MILLIONS of dollars per season and will expose the way that you live and how you do business. They would pay you what amounts to peanuts. We have read dozens of reports from other Travellers and Romani in the United Kingdom about how our children are now the subject of even more abuse and are being bullied because of the lies produced in this show.
Take Action Now!
A potential class action lawsuit may be filed against the My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding to show these greedy outfits that we’re not going to take this laying down. All Roma, Romanichals and Travellers need to join the fight by filling out this petition. Just click on the clipboard to be taken immediately to the petition. We appreciate your support!
If there’s anything else you need, feel free to contact us using the form below, and don’t forget to
We look forward to hearing from you!
Mario,
I think it’s great that you are standing up for your people. It’s about time that someone has stepped up to defend how our people have been treated throughout history. They have always betrayed us to be such an ignorant,lying, thieving race. Just because we make a choice to keep to ourselves and try to stay true to our beliefs we have been ridiculed. People are afraid of what they don’t understand and gadgos have never understood the romnis. My prayer is that gadgis come to see that we want the same things for our families as they do,… peace in our homes, our children to feel loved and wanted, and for God’s grace and love to be upon us always. May God bless you as you try to expose the truth about a race of people that time has tried to erase.
You can use this page as a forum to voice concerns and questions. If anyone wants to love or hate, have at it.
I’ll answer all to the best of my ability openly and honestly.
You should question my motives as well. You should question everything if it matters to you and your family.
We are few but how strong are our hearts?
People are going to put us on TV because there is big money in it.
If this continues at the hand of others its going to keep getting uglier.
Its going to effect how you work and how you live.
I’m trying to make people understand that we need to own it. Control it. Not be the hired help.
Amazing work! This is the type of information that should be spread around the web. Shame on the search engines for not showing this page at the top!
I’m nobody special, I just really get how serious this is.
There is no reason to believe that we (much less I) can overcome this juggernaut.
I’m operating on faith and desperation. I guess THAT is the “Gypsy” way.
I’ve heard rumblings that various Romanichal and Kalderash are already dealing. I fear they have no idea of the outcome of that mockety union.
These guy are powerful and smart. They will start with the beautiful and glamorous but will end up following one of the scum of our society. They will go there because that’s where the dirty laundry is.
When this happens in front of the ravenous eyes of 10 million + viewers a WEEK, the ridiculous actions of just one low-life will drag an entire race down. Way down.
Nothing less than our kids and our livelihoods are at stake.
Some in my own family are expressing concern to me that I should not do this or should not do that. They don’t understand: THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING!!
It can’t be stopped. There is too much money involved. There is blood in the water.
Our only hope is to OWN IT.
Please help in any way you are able.
Oh yeah, here is what we are dealing with:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3434502/Simon-Cowell-makes-bid-for-Big-Fat-Gypsy-Weddings-in-America.html
Simon Cowell. Nice guy I’m sure.
Yeah, Simon Cowell. Every time I run out of toilet paper, I suddenly think of Simon and a good use for him.
Hi,
I am not Romanichal, nor traveller, I am what you would call a gadgo? I just wanted to give you a different perspective. I do watch these shows, mostly for the entertainment value. I am intelligent enough to not take a produced/edited “reality” show as being a true depiction of any given class or group of people. If anything, what I have learned is, as was said in one of the episodes, just because we dress like this, doesn’t mean we act without morals, Romi’s have the strictest of morals.” Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I do not have a negative perspective of your culture because of the shows, I really enjoy seeing all of the beautiful gowns (and the beautiful little girls receiving their First Holy Communion.” God Bless,
Kathryn
The thing that truly scares me about that show is that so many Romani women, historically, have been assaulted by Gadje men who have fetishes for us. The wonton, Romani whore is an image that is as inaccurate as it is popular on a worldwide scale. The “grabbing” on that show creates the idea that, not only do Romani women expect to be treated with sexual violence by the opposite sex, but that we view it as a courtship rule. It gives the impression that we want sexual violence and that we enjoy it. As a result, I dread how many Romani girls might be assaulted SPECIFICALLY because Gadje get the idea from that show that we get off on being dragged off and thrown into vans for “love.” And the worst thing about that is, yes, such things are called “hate crimes” in the United States, but when has a hate crime where the victim was Roma ever been 1) called a hate crime or 2) prosecuted? My cousins, Romani lawyers, haven’t even heard of such a prosecution. Airing that show in America will cause such violence. America will not take responsibility for the violence it has caused.
go outlaws
I work with Lolo Diklo : Romani Against Racism in Seattle WA.
Also curator at the Traveling Romani Museum and Education Project.
If we can be of any help with the great work you are doing, please let me know.
And visit the blog.
http://www.lolodiklo.blogspot.com
http://www.punkaheron@yahoo.com
Baxtale
Morgan
Hello Phrala Mario, My name is Tamara and I am Toma Stanley’s grand daughter of the Ministi Karldaras. I have signed your petition and have known Ian/Yanko via correspondence for over 20 years. My Papo Toma was the only official leader of the American Rromani and I believe if you ask the kucci kumpania of elder men, they will tell you about him and his legacy, as well as his life and work as a world war II captain, diplomat for the United States Government and world traveler as an advocate for the global community of the Rroma. This is all documented in the Smithsonian Institute. I am hoping that Yanko will also share my efforts as a sixth generation Karldarsa Tem/Nation, Miniesti/Kandezika Vista/tribal Rromni, born and raised within the American Rroma of thousands. My life and work led me to one of the last Rromani herbalist, college consultant, the only national Interpreter for the Karldaras Rromani, advocate and activist for our international and national Rromani. I would love to have an opportunity to speak with you and share what Ian I pray will tell you; is a very long dream in the making. At present I am involved with the National Karldaras community as well as live integrated in the alternative western culture simultaneously. I believe the information I have would be helpful to our people’s movement and voice. I pray the work you are doing will be shined upon by our one Creator let Devles, so that others may see the light within it. Yanko knows my phone and email address and you are welcome to contact me further if you so wish. God Bless you and your efforts.
i think that the series of MY BIG,FAT GYPSY WEDDING is against us!
The people on the show are reffs and trailer trash who want to pass off as gypsies……and it is a Mockery of how “we live and crap like that” I think what you are doing is awesome because our kids dont need to grow up with people being racist to them just because we ARE gypsies.
sastipe mario,
i am in england and i watched that series in horror then had to hear from gorgers i call friends talk about it and what a really good series it was that gave them an insight into how i lived, trying to explain that the programme was mainly pavee and not Romanichal just confused them, i could go into so many things i hated about it but basically it was just sensationalist fiction as far as i could see, for a start i do not know anyone that would let their chavvies dress like tarts , this is what hurts the most cos any Romanichal knows the chavvies come first and it looked to me like it was saying that they are taken out of school and are treated like slaves, there were so many other things i could write an essay, the petition is a bit offputting cos of all the legal stuff at the top i did not know what it meant properly maybe you could word it a bit differently to say what you mean by supporting legal cases etc, other than that its great that you are putting together a proper documentary its not our way to put it all out there but if we are gonna be portrayed we need control over what is portrayed, kushti bok,
Opre Roma
Hi Maddie, thanks for posting. Your right, we had to write the petition up real fancy because thats what makes it hold water.
Let me say it here in plain English:
Signing the petition means you are against the show and any other show that disrespects Romani. If we sue them and win, you get your equal share, whatever that may be.
If we sue them and lose, you do nothing. You won’t be out anything. You won’t lose anything.
Either way, your voice was heard. They don’t think we even have one.
We need to get over being scared of everything.
I believe that the best and most honorable way to prove the way someone portrays you as wrong, is to simply live your life in a manner that SHOWS they are wrong. A minister once told me “Never defend yourself, the people who truly matter don’t need it and the others won’t believe it anyway!”. I have found this is true.
The TLC network is a multi billion dollar network, owned and operated by rich and powerful individuals. No amount if signatures on a petition will alter their way of thinking, or their portrayal of anything or anyone. I can respect your passion for this cause, it’s admirable. But fruitless none the less.
I have learned that in life, ita the people who say they are “classy” that really are not, the people who boast of riches are really hiding behind debt, people who claim fervently to be honest who are habitual liars, and so forth. You get the picture? So what I am saying, is if gypsies want the world to see them as honest, upright, intelligent people, then stop simply saying it and BE those things. I have read countless “gypsy” posts on various facebooks complaining that they are being portrayed as “ignorant” yet their entire post is full of poor English and ridiculous misspellings!
I agree! Stand up for your heritage, but not just in your words or with a video camera ( which I personally think is shooting yourselves in the foot) but stand up and BE intelligent. SHOW the world through your works, not your words. That’s truly the best way.
And keep in mind, Hollywood portrays MANY different things in a negative light. Jersey Shore is a show full of idiots, people with no morals, little intelligence and a total lack of self respect. “The Sopranos” is a show about murderers and thieves and liars. BUT do I lump all Italians into that category? Absolutely NOT!
After watching “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding” the only major difference I see is simply a CULTURAL difference. These people are from a different COUNTRY. Of course they speak differently or have different customs! Blacks here in America do not act, dress, speak, or have the same customs as blacks in Africa! It’s CULTURAL difference.
As Gypsies in America the best way to counter this type of action is to live our lives in a way that proves “Hollywood” wrong. Live it, don’t scream it. And how can we now expect to have a “voice” when for years we didnt want anyone to ” to know what we was”….
If you want the world to portray you as intelligent, then become intelligent. (and intelligence is NOT something that can be faked)
Good luck to you all on this journey.
God bless
Hi name withheld (you misspelled it btw) thanks for posting,
You are a Firecracker Films troll and you are busted. You’re right, intelligence cannot be faked. You are doing a terrible job “faking it”.
Some pointers: Stick to a single point of view. Switching between “us” and “you” within a single post gives away your real identity.
I’m glad we are beginning to make you nervous. Multi-Billion dollar companies don’t like to be sued for libel, slander and RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. Plus its really bad for PR.
Expect contact from the ACLU real soon.
Also, we are not just signing names on lists. This is a plaintiff base for a class action lawsuit. Paper petitions are also being circulated to get to the greater majority of us who don’t use computers.
Hate on my people all you want, many misspell on their profiles and comments because they are poorly educated- not stupid.
Your fault is not in attempting to document “Gypsies”, that could be done responsibly. Your crime is presenting lies as fact in a manipulative and slanderous way in an attempt to maximize profit at the expense of the most oppressed ethnic minority in the modern world.
Yes, we have tried to “hide” our voice in the past. This was necessary for SURVIAL. Hitler nearly exterminated European Roma. Being a Romani or associating with Romanies under Henry VIII was a crime punishable by death.
This policy was in effect for over 250 years in England. Still we survived.
Romanies were slaves in Romania up until the 1800′s.
There are “Gypsy Task forces” profiling us in every major American city even as we speak. We are justified in our mistrust.
But don’t worry, we won’t be silent much longer.
Would you like to reply?
-Mario
First of all, I have no idea what all the fuss is, for the most part the show BFGW is how it is. These Irish travelers are a little back woods and do not have as much class as some, but not all of the American gypsies or let me say the ones in the US. I have never heard of such as the grabbing of the young girls. I will tell you this, the kids are pulled from school at an early age, unlike the show it is not for the girls to help out at home but for the parents who travel all over to work and vacation and for the boys to work.
The girls do get married at young ages without any idea of what love is. It is sickening, these young minor children of god are more or less allowed to get married. Where are the morals, it is like statutory rape in most cases. These girls are getting married at 15, 16, 17 and etc…. What parent is putting there child out there at this age, most of these girls cannot read, spell, cook, drive or carry themselves to the doctor if they are pregnant. But these gypsies see nothing wrong with these kids having kids because they are “MARRIED” shame, shame on these parents. These gypsies go out every day to work doing paving, roofing, painting, sealing, fortune telling and etc… They are fakes, yes some may give you a good job but most do not, they get your money and laugh at you for being so stupid in their eyes. They all live very well, they can, they do not pay taxes and if they do it is not what they should be paying. They pretty much are the biggest cons that you will ever here of. Most of them are pavers. I have never understood how these parents can send their kids out to con people, mostly the elder, and think it’s okay. Most of them go to church every Sunday and act as if they are Christians, please, and the next minute after church they are spending the money that their families have went out and took from some poor, old unsuspecting person.
They do dress their kids half naked, with make up, jewelry and heels at a very early age. They do raise their kids to think it is alright to go out and lie to get a job, so that they can carry designer purses and wear designer clothes and shoes. If they thought what they do is okay they would not have their own language that they use so that the poor souls the are ripping off will not know what they are saying or when they are making fun of them. It is disgusting….
Why are the cops not getting more involved with these kids not going to school and getting married so young and for them stealing from the old…..WHY????????? I have a feeling soon the cops and the IRS will be getting involved more than ever. This documentary will help but the young generation is going to make sure of it, the phones and the computers are going to take care of it all and the young generation has no idea what they are in store for, they best save some of. That money they are stealing….I could go on but I have to get back to work, nothing illegal that’s for sure….
Romanichals Wake Up! This is what people think of you!
She (Mrs. Prefer not list) is making all of the points I didn’t want to speak out loud. If we don’t band together and stop these shows WE WILL BE SCREWED.
They think none of us pay taxes.
Well guess what, WE DO! Its 2011 and everyone has to pay taxes. There is no getting around it.
They think we take our girls out of school at 15 to get married. I took my girl out of school and put her in home school to get her away from all the sex, drugs and partying that goes on in Guadja schools. If you really want to see the disgusting way to raise a child watch MTV’s Degrassi or 16 and pregnant.
I could go on but the point is this: If we don’t do something now this is going to get way out of hand. You see how bad they hate us? How they think EVERY ONE of us is sinful, cheating, criminal, child abusers? People keep telling me that TLC is filming a new series in Spiro called Gypsyville. If you have anything to do with that I want to ask you a question. Do you have any say in what they are going to show?
What are they going to pay you? $50,000? $100,000?, $200,000?
I hope thats enough to sell out your people when CPS and IRS come down chasing ghosts and no one can knock a door anymore.
Let’s not point the finger of blame elsewhere in regards to 16 and pregnant. These shows are supposed to be educational tools to guide and shape our youth, not give them permission to do so themselves. Children should be in school until they are 18 years old. At this time they should be able to decide if they want a higher education. As parents, it is our responsibility to educate our children. And who are you to decide when enough is enough. 16 is still a child. Marrying your children off before they are old enougn to know who they are is cruel and awful. Especially when the standard of marriage is so high. The rest of your life is quite the commitment for a child to make.The lack of clothing on these children is giving them permission to accept these sterotypes placed on the community therefore creating a generation of those who live by and for such sterotypes. For a group that claims to have such strong values and morals, it sure appears to be a cover up for something that may not be legit.
Thanks for replying Not Applicable,
I’d like to agree to disagree.
1) 16 and pregnant is not an educational program. It is an exploitative expose of people America stereotypes as “white trash”. It ridicules the teen mothers for the amusement of the general public. There is no social benefit.
2) Most state laws require kids to be in school until they are 16. Not 18.
Our kids can make up there own minds and they are fully allowed to do so. They almost ALWAYS choose to stay within the family and live among their parents and extended family until old age. Its a very close and good society to live and grow up in. We don’t have 401 k’s and retirement accounts. We spend money as fast as we can get it. We spend on our kids mostly. When we get old, we don’t need a nest egg, we are not put into rest homes. We are taken care of by our loving children as we have cared for them. (Contrary to public opinion we are GOOD for the ecomomy. We are consumers and spenders in every market. We don’t hoard money until death.)
3)Who am I to decide when enough is enough? The father of my children. Who are YOU to decide for me? I don’t dictate what you should do…
4)Regarding your comments: “Marrying your children off before they are old enougn to know who they are is cruel…”, “The lack of clothing on these children is giving them permission to accept these sterotypes…”.
THESE ARE ETHNIC IRISH TRAVELERS YOU ARE WATCHING!! NOT ROMANIES/GYPSIES!!!
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. THIS IS MY POINT EXACTLY. SEE HOW YOU ARE HATING ME FOR HOW ANOTHER CULTURE BEHAVES. YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT US.
THE IRRESPONSIBLE PRODUCERS AND NETWORKS HAVE DUPED YOU AND MILLIONS LIKE YOU.
THEY ARE USING THE TERM “GYPSY” TO ATTRACT RATINGS BUT THEY ARE SHOWING IRISH TRAVELLERS. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. ROMANI GYPSIES ARE A RACE!
Thats why we will sue.
Finally,
5)”For a group that claims to have such strong values and morals, it sure appears to be a cover up for something that may not be legit”.
Whats that supposed to mean? Are you implying that an entire race of people are somehow part of a worldwide conspiracy to commit some terrible unknown crime?
What the hell are you saying? We are secretly genetic criminals?
Thats what Hitler said before he commenced to systematically exterminating 75% of the Romani population. But whatever, “you people are all alike”.
I would like to start by saying that I think you may be on the extreme defense in regards to my commentary. I do absolutely agree that the group the show depicts could very well be very uncommon among your culture as a whole. You have certainly made excellent points in response to my concerns and beliefs. I appreciate that. I may not agree with it all, so here we will, as you said, agree to disagree. As for my last statement, that was solely in regards to the clothing. I absolutely can appricate a strong moral sense and guidelines, but, for those who were cast on the show, I feel that its time to practice what they preach. In no way was that meant as an attack on your culture. I realize that your hostile response stems from frustration. I would like to ask you what it is you are aiming to achieve with this petition? Is it the show off the air? A change of name???
I’ve done some research on the history of Romanies. I truely do find it all very interesting. I was completely unaware of the persecution that your race suffers still. It makes me wonder why people are not aware of this constant genocide attempt. Perhaps this show is making people aware of what is still occuring in this world that we call civilized. It has opened a door that most people, I’m assuming, never knew existed. It also makes me wonder how the intolerance began? This I was unable to find.
Mario, I couldn’t agree more. TLC is exploiting all of us and it’s a shame some of them can’t see it. It’s not only us, I saw a show called toddlers and tiaras. Talk a about exploiting young girls. I saw some if them 5, 6 and 7 doing dances my girls would be grounded over. Don’t even mention heels and dressed half naked. These girls are ages from 4 to 7 and are MADE to wear clothes my girls aren’t even allowed to buy. They are pranced around in shows like animals for people to judge. And just look at the poor girls reaction when they don’t win. Little girls shouldn’t be subjected to such things at any age. They should never be judged. It really made me SICK. I guarantee you WON’T see ANY out cry to have this show stopped. WHY????? I feel so sorry for the person above that thinks all those things just because of some TV show. Where was Kaylee Anthonys family when she needed them? I know if one of our relation goes missing we don’t take 30 days let alone 30 minutes to figure out what happened to them. All I’m saying is there are bad apples in every bunch. This should not speak for the whole barrel. Including cops, politicians, public servants such as mayors, governors and even presidents. People that we hold in high regard and should have the utmost integrity have let us down with their actions. I’m not pointing any fingers but everyone is only human and are subject to error. I could go on and on and on about everything else this uneducated person said, but an intelligent person would have got my point already. Feel sorry that you have this OPINION “Prefer not to list” but you are seriously wrong. Apologize for any misspelled words or punctuation. I’m typing from my cellphone and hope anyone can read this good enough to get my point across.
Also, I think we should start a petition to stop toddlers and tiaras. Maybe we can stop the exploitation of these young innocent girls and save them from a life of depression and low self esteem before it’s to late. I just hope we get to them before TLC does.
God bless us all
And don’t even get me started on designer this and that. The “trustworthy” people running America have us trillions of dollars in debt. Why is this? Maybe their living beyond their means a little and taking advantage??? I dare you to ask someone who they think is costing them more, government or romanichal??
Signed, your worst nightmare, aka EDUCATED ROMANICHAL.
We’re out there.
i would love to help your cause as i agree that this show has done a lot of damage to your people both in the states and in the u.k, where i live. the show caused outrage among the romany and traveller community when it was shown in britain, but i am not a romany or traveller myself and so was unsure if it would be appropriate for me to sign your petition…..if you would still like my signature despite my not being a traveller or romany, would you please let me know….and if my signature would be deemed inappropriate, and there is some other way i can help fight the bigotry being shown your people please let me know by e-mail. all people should are equal!! big love and good luck!x
Thank you Nia.
The only reason you can’t really sign this petition is because you don’t qualify LEGALLY to be a part of the “Class Action”
Its like if we were suing a drug company but you were never prescribed the drug. It just doesn’t apply.
SO, to include great people such as yourself we’ve created a separate petition where you can show your support. Please go to http://www.petitiononline.com/7178/petition.html.
This is a petition for non-Romani to show support.
We need more good people like you!
-M
that show is a joke.we dont live like that at all.
Clearly, there are people who do. Which is why this site exists. Perhaps you should be blaming those that depict your community as such, not the network.
Dear Not Applicable,
Yes there are people who do. They are called Irish Travellers you idiot. Haven’t you been reading this page?
This page exists because The show films Irish travellers and calls them Gypsies.
This makes millions of people like you think we are them.
Even after reading all of this which clearly explains there is a difference, you still don’t want to accept that.
I wonder. Why does it bother you that we should take offense at being erroneously stereotyped? The way people act on this show is embarrassing.
Would you lke it if they showed this crap and called it “Meet the Not Applicables”?
You certainly are very defensive, and I can assure you, this isn’t helping sway any opinion. I do want to point out that these people audition for these slots. And these are the people who call themselves Gypsies. The network has various shows documenting weddings. These people also audition. I feel that your anger may be directed towards the wrong party. Perhaps remembering the initial concept of the show, to document these weddings for the dresses, cakes, and receptions, may be something to consider. Let me ask you this, if the show were to approach you and ask to film your daily life, would you say yes?
Yes I am defensive. First, I’m not trying to sway YOUR opinion. This single page website doesn’t really stand a chance in swaying the opinions of millions of people. It would be foolish to even attempt to win a PR war against a Network.
The goal here is to educate and organize concerned members of the ROMANI community to establish a base class for a class action law suit. It’s also to let Romanies know that we are capable of producing our own film and using our own voice to AUTHENTICALLY show the world who we REALLY are. I really won’t repeat this again in response to any further comments. It’s been well stated above. As such, I’m speaking to us and no one else really. I’m not excluding non-Romanies out of ignorance; it’s just that, legally, no one else qualifies to participate in the court action.
Second, people aren’t “Auditioning”. Firecracker is hounding people and soliciting them on Facebook and other social media. They had some initial success, but as people start to realize they are being ridiculed, this has been substantially shut down. Did you know that “Pat” the tough Irish Traveller from the show has said that he wished that he had never done the show. Did you know that his son was stabbed by other Irish Travellers who were offended and embarrassed by his participation?
Before you shout back that the stabbing was done by “us” which further proves how low “some of us” can be, I will remind you again. Irish Travellers are not “Gypsies” and do not call themselves Gypsies. So the misconception promoted by this show continues to group ridiculous actions by the most ridiculous individuals of separate, DIFFERENT cultures and throwing them into a pile under the stigmatized stamp of “Gypsy”.
I am Romanichal. That is Romani. A recognized ethnic group labeled “gypsy” by non-gypsies for nearly a thousand years.
Let me put this in terms you may understand. The language I’m about to use is inappropriate and politically incorrect for good reason. What I’m about to say is in every way offensive but I’m forced to say it so that you might understand.
Please excuse me, this does not represent my views, it is a description of what Firecracker Films and TLC/Discovery Network are doing:
If this show was called “My Big Fat Nigger Wedding” and the producers followed a group of Mexican immigrants around as they had their Quinceañeras, wouldn’t you find it inappropriate?
How long would that show last? Would you write to the NAACP and say,
“Why are you so defensive? You know that some of those Blacks (actually Mexican immigrants but what’s the difference right?) really do wear skimpy clothes and what’s with all that booty shaking? I wouldn’t let my kids dance like that. And why do they take such offense just because we call them niggers? I hear them calling each other nigger all the time.”
Do you understand this is EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO US?
Now you will probably blast me for using outrageous language and then further deny me the right to be outraged when I am discriminated against. You are ignorant of us because we are not readily visible like Blacks and Hispanics.
Well I’m not trying to be your friend. I’m a militant “Gypsy”. Go troll a different website.
P.S. They HAVE asked to film my family using Facebook messages to both my daughter and my sister. Never going to happen. Ever. I would let them work under my direction provided I had full control and complete final edit. That’s the only way they could ever get it right.
Not understanding makes us ignorant. I find your race fascinating. Make me understand why I should sign your petition and not consider this show as something more disturbing as the Real Housewives of where ever. All of these shows serve no purpose, yet people watch them regularly and do not sue for false generalizations. How is this show any different?
First of all, I can’t even make you understand that you don’t qualify legally to sign the petition.
Am I Frustrated? A little.
Look, If you go back and carefully read all of the above, one of the following three results must apply:
1) You have a hidden agenda and do not want to know the facts.
2) You are incapable of rational understanding.
3) You will understand and agree that the show is wrong to the point of being outright racist, slanderous and harmful to a recognized ethnic group. People have been stabbed because of this show. Young girls have been assualted because of this show. Hell, young girls have been assualted ON this show. AND A “GYPSY” DIDN’T DO IT.
I really hope it is number 3.
-Mario
Mario, I am a non-traveller/gypsy and am watching this dreaded show right now. I, as a woman, am horrified that they would portray this “grabbing” as something socially acceptable in any culture. I was so outraged by the sexual assault that the show sensationalizes (and then refuses to go into the explanation of it by simply saying that Irish Traveller society is a “secretive” society) that I had to begin an internet search on it. Thus, I found this petition.
I am just horrified at the possible violence Romani women and girls face by men who may now think that it’s okay to grab them and force themselves on these women. I’m disgusted that your culture is being portrayed as one that’s rife with brutish and sexually offensive traditions.
Now I’m off to write on TLC’s website to express my absolute disgust and fury at their irresponsibility in airing this.
Thank you so much Maryanne.
If I seem a little too angry in some of my posts, this is why.
I don’t want some man looking at my underaged duaghter and thinking she is fair game or would actually WANT to be assaulted.
If more people could comprehend how harmful this show is…
Really appreciate you Maryanne.
is there any truth to this website? I have know gypsies before and they had spoken in front of me but their language was different
http://www.globusz.com/ebooks/Romano/00000013.htm
Thats a (mostly) correct lexicon of Angloromany. Also known as Rumness or Pogaddi Jib. Its spoken by Romanichal as opposed to the inflected Romani spoken by most European Romanies.
why do most non-gypsys think that there better than gypsy?
there’s good in bad in all race some are educated some are not that’s and every race not all non-gypsy live the same and either do gypsys you wouldn’t want some one to paint all non-gypsy with the same brush but yet that’s what you all do to gypsys GOD MADE AND LOVES ALL.
I was just informed about your cause, You are correct about the feedback in the uk i have many friends there and most are horrified at the portrayal of our fokie. I have been to england, and i dont know what transpires at all of the irish camps. But the ones i visited along with many other english romanichal sites, The young girls and men dressed and acted very respectful. Yes they stood out from the crowd, just as we do. I can take my family to any restaurant , or gathering in the country and be able to pick another romanichal out of a crowd of hundreds. We carry ourselves , dress, and speak very uniquely.
And that applies to our chavies. Firecracker productions are indeed going through with the show here in the u.s. And i am sure some will participate .I hope you can follow through with your project as well, I know Mr Hancock, and his writings have been very positive and acurate . All the best cushty bock., Curtis Jeffery and family Baton Rouge La.
I feel like many more would sign including myself if we were reassured that we Not traceable by anyone other than you.
I feel like many more would sign this If they were reassured that it could not be traced back to them by gorgas……
Im sure they would Mom.
But what can we do? Many will wished they signed when they see folki booty’in on TV. I think the wives could sign for the husbands and maybe the younger folki (over 18) could sign if the Dad is trashered.
HI i just have a few things that i would like to put across about the show “big fat gypsy weddings”
I am an Irish Traveller living in Ireland and i really hope that this show will never be aired.
It has portrayed us to be low life scum and very much all of it is based on nonsense.
Firstly most of the people on the show are not full travellers or gypsies , they are settled people that have links to the Travelling Community .
Since this show has been aired over here it has been really hard for my husband working as no one wants to hire a traveller.
My child has been bullied in school for being a traveller , and therfore i have taken her from the school but will home school her , so I can understand Traveller Girls not going through the School System . But however I am a fully qualified Accountant and most of my family have professional careers. I am highly educated and yet I feel like most women in the world the need to take care of my family.
Also on the show there was a lot of pretending to be really virtuous and old fashions because thats whats making them out to be angels.
And to mention that Channel 4 (the original owners of the show) PAID IN FULL for all the weddings including dresses and hotels and everything . They were given money to go away and plan the biggest bling wedding that they could dream of . I wouldnt be surprised if TLC are doing the same.
Dont be surprised when the Tax authority come knocking. Over here they recently ambushed a local traveller housing estate and went to the extreme of tearing up one mans wooden floor looking for cash and refused to replace it.
And for the person that said THEY ARE USING THE TERM “GYPSY” TO ATTRACT RATINGS BUT THEY ARE SHOWING IRISH TRAVELLERS. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. ROMANI GYPSIES ARE A RACE!
Travellers and Gypsies have a shared history especially in this country where there are lots of them intermarried . The people on this Show are more like settled people pretending to be Travellers and it sickens me. This is the way we have been portrayed by a small amount of Money grabbing fools who dont know how to make money and they will view you all in the same way . We tried to get this stopped before it aired and we are still suffering.
And fools over here are signing up for the next series to get their Fifteen Minutes.
Anyway my bottom line is Please dont think that Its IRish TRavellers that are portrayed in this because we were just as make a mockery out as as much as the gypsies were
Thanks for your post Ellen.
I want to apologize. After reading your post, and some of my own, I realize this show has even effected my perception. Of course this show doesn’t represent all Irish Travellers. I personally know many Irish here in the US. Some may act out a bit, but I’ve never seen anything like the filth they put on this show.
Your people are suffering with us. Again.
Make sure to get your people to sign the petition.
Mandis folky kur dover Aki in America tlc folky lelled our fb an tortured us out. The only yeks that kured Dover churner Romanis or diddikais. Roms vort vasible churner an gammy suvin opre Romani navs. Mandi keker kur booti gorjas Jin mandis Romani mandi pogered from these gorjas suv them folky I’m behind yas kushter boc wit Dover
Pariker tutti Kel Cory.
Mendi’s tryin to sikker duver suvlahols opre.
BTW, are you any relation to the Kellers?
I haven’t vorted old Cory Keller in ages.
It’s a bad thing the gorgers makin our folky out to be the laughing stock.
It’s hard enough from the discrimination we already face
from the muskers (police) an I cur cushter booty for folky (I do good work for people).
Never lelled in any toog for booty (never got in any trouble for work) in my life an I’ve been paving for the last 20 years.
They would not call a calla a n!@@3r so I take it personal an offensive
When they call me a Gypsy cause I’m 100% pure English Romanichal
The yek who made the big fat bad luck deal id com to have a Turk to chiv some
Vasable boc on um burn some candles on um lord forgive me
But they r going to make us out to b tramps an cons they will
Never jin the truth the people who run this world the illuminati won’t
Allow it. And the truth is we r people a culture high morals family
Orieniented we care for one another just people fuck they r makin
It out like we’re the Taliban damn idiots any way they can to make a dollar
They wood sell their mothers for a couple dollars
I would like to c them make a show called “my big fat n!@@3r wedding.” The NAACP would
own that station! They fucked themselves with me. I’m not being predjedice I’m just using
what I said in the same damn way they r portraying my people to the world.
From what I’ve seen against it looks like we are fighting a losing battle- not enough of us care I guess.
I’m gonna move to china where mayb I’ll b accepted or Australia an jive in the bush run around
In a pair of drawers Cory hung out like the native bushman an haul berrys an bark kel around a big
Fire.
They’re coming out with a “Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding”
We’ll all care soon enough.
When we can’t hide anymore and the hate starts hitting us here and no one can get a job, you’ll see something.
They are trying to make a show about hot loaders. You think you are mad now?
Keep Checking back and go join http://www.Gypsy.com
Some of us do care. Bunches.
I’m actually glad this show has come out as it’s got me onto this site and made me more determined to not only trace my roots (I’m 1/4 Romani from my Spanish grandmother who settled in Scotland), but to re-embrace my heritage that I’ve always secretly been proud of in a more open way.
So – the million dollar question – how does a 1/4 Romani get back from effectively being a Gadje (a dealin’ Gadje all the same) to being Romanichal?
Thanks!
If your Grandmother was Spanish then it is most likely that her family was Cale aka “Gitanos”.
These are not Romanichals but they are Romanies.
They probably aren’t very much like the Romanichal you may see in the UK.
Cale are the originators of Spanish Flamenco Music. So – the 2 cent answer – get in touch with someone deep into Flamenco and see where you end up.
MY big fat Hoosier reff weddin needs to b banned! It’s Gonna ruin us all.. The show is a joke! …
I’m a non-Gypsy and I hate to see any group of people treated unfairly. I do want to point out a couple of things:
1. The people on the BFGW show refer to themselves as Romanichal. I’m interested to know whether the actors/participants were coached to call themselves Romanichal Gypsies when they may in fact be some kind of hillbilly mulungeons unrelated to Ethnic Romanichals. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time television producers intentionally misrepresent facts.
2. If Gypsies are stereotyped, it’s probably because the only interaction we non-Gypsies have with them is VERY negative. Perhaps a few unsavory characters are casting a negative light on an entire race, but you have to be aware that for most of us, we don’t have any experiences with normal, non-threatening Gypsies to off set the impressions made by the thieves and con artists we’ve encountered….You see, if you were robbed by a Mexican person, or a black person, you have literally thousands of examples of blacks and Mexicans who are regular folks, many of whom you know and trust.. to offset the negative experience. You know their families and even if you have a bad experience with a member of their race, you don’t really connect that bad experience with your friends at all. With Gypsies it’s different. Because Gypsies life apart from us, most of us don’t know any – and unfortunately the only ones we encounter are the bad guys.
As to Mario’s question about whether Gypsies are genetic criminals, I don’t believe a whole race would be genetically coded with a predisposition to criminal activity. In my own family, a good percentage of us are criminals, including myself, and I’ve often wondered if there’s a “felony gene” in our DNA.. there may be, but even if there is a gene that gives a person criminal tendencies, it seems unlikely that an entire race would be afflicted.
I think the issue is that due to negative experiences being the only experiences we have with Gypsies, many are under the impression that stealing and lying and conning are a way of life… driven by a culture that encourages criminal activity and shuns education.
If that’s an incorrect understanding of Gypsy culture, I hope your lawsuit is successful, and I hope you get a show that showcases the best of Gypsy society.
We r all equal in Gods eyes. This show was jus a work from the devil but our Lord fights our battles! And the devil is a liar just like that show
I saw a snippet of my Big Fat Gypsy Wedding this weekend. I am stunned at how the mothers treat marriage and sex for their daughters. It seems the girls are not told ANYTHING and it appears that these girls being forced into a life of abuse and pregnancyl. How can any mother not educate their daughter about sex? How can a mother casually say that they were not told anything so they are not going to tell their own daughters? Is this really what the Romani culture is all about? I certainly hope not – this group is setting the stage for their daughter to be considered property … shame on those mothers …
This is one of the misconceptions we are trying to fight. TLC and the Firecracker Films are spinning the show and leading the “Actors” in an effort to make everything more sensational. Profits above all- at the expense of the world’s more persecuted and least understood ethnic minority.
You have been mislead.
Get ‘em. It is not my heritage, but that show irks me, even with only the little bit I have actually watched. Any person can *claim* to be anything they want, but where is TLC’s proof of who they put on the show. The people on there seem like little more than rednecks with money.
Dress like a teenage slut (with parents who seem proud of it, even when the kid dances like a stripper) with a single goal of becoming a housewife… Embracing sexual exploitation and being men’s property to do as they want and keep at home — this show isn’t for womankind either.
Hi Mario, I am a gorger who has complete sympathy for the way TLC is portraying ya’ll. No race of people should be setup for ridicule like they have done to the gypsies on both sides of the ocean. For centuries the gypsy people have lived quietly and kept to yourselves and now this mockery of a show has come along. Hope eventually you can get this madness to cease and all will be set aright.
Wow! I am not of any traveller or gypsy decent, just a person who stumbled across a show a TLC. I just wanted to share a word of encouragement to you all. I know nothing of your lifestlye or the abuse you have taken. It breaks my heart that you face discrimination because of who you are. I was unaware that “gypsy” people were still around and I have enjoyed learning more. I personally don’t think less of this group of people and wish there was more to the show because I feel I have learned so much from what little I have watched. I have tried to do more research but there is very little out there. I think people are scared of what they don’t know. the more real information you give people the better everyone will be for it. If you find TLC’s approach to be mockery you should find another option for representing yourselves because I find it all very enchanting and wish I knew more about a life that is so very different from my own.
Maria,
I commend your actions, and I would like to support you in your efforts to attain fair and accurate depictions of the Romanichal culture here in America. However, as I am not of your culture, it would be inappropriate for me to sign your petition (as any winnings, should that be possible, should remain within your community).
So… how may I help?
Marjorie
Hi Marjorie,
Save this url and sign up for the social network of activists we are creating there.
The website won’t be finished for about another month.: http://www.rromanizor.com
Thanks for the support
Ooops! I apologize for calling Mario by Maria… I saw Maria’s name in a reply, and I believed she was moderating the page.
Marjorie
I have seen these shows on televison and franlkly they find the way that you are depicted just disgustingly awful. I am not a traveller nor a gypsy just a normal person and I feel that they could find trash in any race, culture, community etc if they did this to just the avrage Joe do you think it would be allowed? No.. society has come to a point where they just believe what they see and hear on tv and what you say about taking your children out of school to be home schooled is the best thing you can do when in highschool there were so many drugs around girls having sex at 13 getting pregnant and never having the father around rape and so much more… I understand why your lives are kept in the dark people do not understand due to if anything is not like them they will judge and in a bad way. I support you in everything you are saying if you would like any help in a legal way I am currently a law student and my husband a lawyer also my father a lawyer and I have told them about this and is has disgusted them emensly. Anything I can do to help please do not hesitate to email me.