All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness
Posted By atorturedsoul on August 3, 2009
Chima Simone Benson of Big Brother 11
CBS is airing statements that degrade persons with mental illness. If this offends you, take action now!
Are you a fan of Big Brother on CBS? Chima Simone Benson called Lydia a bipolar drama queen during the show that aired on Sunday, August 2, 2009. Lydia does not have bipolar disorder-Chima associated her actions with the disorder. Considering that she is a freelance journalist, she should know that it is unacceptable. Her reputation is important in her line of work and it is now tarnished.
I had read on the internet that she had made this statement but I assumed that CBS would not air it. Thanks, CBS, for helping to add to the stigma of bipolar disorder. I fully intend to express my anger that they did not edit this part. There are several house members that have made cracks about mental illness and while I realize that the network cannot control what the houseguests say, CBS can control what is aired during the primetime show.
Several weeks ago, Chima called Braden a bigot and a racist early in the game but now she helps to further stigmatize bipolar disorder. (Pot calling the kettle black?) CBS assisted her in doing so by airing this on prime time television. It’s a disgrace that she would call “foul” when it suited her and then commit the same type of offense. I AM offended.
If you would like to let CBS know that you are unhappy that they chose to air this statement, use this form:
http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php
In the box labeled “Regarding”, scroll to Big Brother and then leave your comment.
Chima’s profile can be found on Google at:
http://www.google.com/profiles/chimasimone
Chima is an entertainment reporter for:
You can email them at juice@hollyscoop.com to express your discontent with their reporter’s insensitive remarks about a disorder that affects approximately 5.7 million Americans.
The co-founder and CEO of DNA Group, Inc., which owns Hollyscoop, can be contacted through his LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/pub/raymond-attipa/8/b22/299.
I intend to contact CBS and Chima’s employers to let them know that this is unacceptable. I hope you will join me and do the same. We should not sit back and take this on the chin. When those who have been given “celebrity status” make derogatory remarks about mental illness, we must take action. I am asking CBS to issue a formal apology and I hope that you will too. Perhaps if enough of us speak out, it will prevent them from airing such statements in the future.
***Update: Hollyscoop responds:
“Chima is a freelance reporter and hasn’t reported for Hollyscoop.com for over a year…I’m sorry that you were offended by her comments…she is no longer working for Hollyscoop.com and hasn’t since 2008.”
Thank you, Hollyscoop, for your quick response to this matter.
Please continue to contact CBS and let them know that this is unacceptable.
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All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness- Are you a fan of Big Brother on CBS? Chima Simone Be… http://bit.ly/KcWDA
RT @torturedsoul All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness http://bit.ly/l5l6G
RT @torturedsoul All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness http://bit.ly/l5l6G
@torturedsoul All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness http://bit.ly/l5l6G
@torturedsoul All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness http://bit.ly/l5l6G
RT @torturedsoul: All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness http://bit.ly/l5l6G
CBS is notorious for allowing derogatory remarks to be made towards the mentally ill on their network. The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric is one of the biggest offenders. Any time there is a news story about a disturbing murder or violent crime, they put the fear-mongering spin on it that that particular crime is more proof that all mentally ill people are violent time bombs just waiting to go off, whether they know for sure that the suspect has been diagnosed with a mental illness or not.
Here’s one example that I posted about last year…http://themassdefective.blogspot.com/2008/04/who-is-considered-dangerous.html. After that news story, I have tried to refrain from watching CBS at all. Luckily that’s easy for me cuz I can’t name a single show on their network that I like.
Wow. I had no idea that they had a history of this. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
It’s certainly not something that I am going to let go. Since you have pointed out past incidents, I think I will start digging and compile all I can find to use in a press release–starting with Katie Couric.
All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness- Are you a fan of Big Brother on CBS? Chima Simone Be… http://bit.ly/KcWDA
RT @torturedsoul All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness http://bit.ly/l5l6G
@torturedsoul All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness http://bit.ly/l5l6G
RT @torturedsoul: All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness http://bit.ly/l5l6G
[...] posts:All About Bipolar: CBS airs comments degrading mental illness Are you a fan of Big Brother on CBS? Chima…No Kidding, Me Too! Celebrities talk about mental [...]
I have a BA in Psychology and I strongly support the idea that our society is in need of a better awareness about mental illness. On the other hand, I don’t think it is in any way necessary to contact one of Chima’s past employers to let them know this is unacceptable. Being offended by her comments doesn’t give you the right to try to get her fired! Her missuse and lack of awareness of mental illness, though awful, is a common occurence in North America. This is really not surprising considering the media’s represntation of mental illness. I definately agree that CBS should be contacted about this issue because they are a major media outlet which influences the minds of many young people (and older people) who don’t understand mental illness at all. It would be a pitty if all they knew is what they heard on TV from a person who misuses such terms to label people’s actions they do not agree with. Good luck with your mission to get this issue recognized!
I suppose it was also inappropriate for people offended by racist remarks made by radio host Don Imus to contact his employer to let them know it was unacceptable.
“Her missuse and lack of awareness of mental illness, though awful, is a common occurence in North America. This is really not surprising considering the media’s represntation of mental illness.”
Being a common occurrence does not make it right. If we sit back and say nothing, then people will continue to believe that it is okay to make comments like this. Ignorance can only be changed by education.
I would also like to say that I did not “try to get her fired”. In fact, this is what I asked of Hollyscoop.com:
“I ask that you request that she makes a public apology upon her return.”
I certainly do have the right to ask for a formal apology on behalf of myself and millions of others who suffer from mental illness. Even if I had asked for her employment to be terminated, which I did not, I would have been within my rights as well. I suppose it depends on where you stand on this issue. I have no tolerance for remarks made degrading the mentally ill and I am unapologetic for that.
I assume you have not heard many other derogatory remarks made by Chima Benson. She frequently refers to another cast member as a “terrorist”. She stated that it was okay because “Americans hate Middle Easterners”. I assume that they shouldn’t complain either.
“It would be a pitty if all they knew is what they heard on TV from a person who misuses such terms to label people’s actions they do not agree with.”
Unfortunately, there are millions of people who know nothing about mental illness aside from how they are portrayed by the media. Chima Benson should be reprimanded for her attacks on various groups and I sincerely doubt I would have to defend my actions if I complained about anything other than the remark she made about mental illness.
It is impossible to remove the stigma associated with mental illness when people believe that we should sit back and say nothing.
Keep talking and bringing this up! I suffer from mental illness, and I am of mideast descent, although i was north american born. I have complained to CBS about both of her bigoted slurs – the one against Russell, and the one against the mentally ill. THANK YOU for all your efforts and for your indignation. I’m right there with you, 100%.
What bothers me the most is that CBS doesn’t step in and say something to her. I read on the internet today that she threatened to walk out of the Big Brother house last night and they BRIBED her with gifts to stay.
I also suffer from bipolar maniac depression. I am glad Chima no longer works at her job. I can’t believe how offensive this comments were to me & the rest of Americans who suffer from this illness. It is not something we chose to have. I have struggled for over 20 years going through this illness & many years & many different medications to find what works for me. Some of them made me suicidal and had to be changed. I am glad Chima was Kicked off of the show. Her behavior is something she should be ashamed of..
I completely agree. CBS was flooded with calls asking for her removal from the house due to her offensive comments. Honestly, I was surprised that she was there this long before she was expelled.
@chimasimone Can you next address your denigrating the mentally ill? http://bit.ly/Lao20 #bb11 Thanks in advance. Smooches!
As it turns out, Chima was “expelled” from the house by the producers due to her continuing refusal to follow the rules.
Judge CBS all you want, but they air all of the houseguests’ offensive remarks. Living in that house, watched 24/7, brings out the worst in people, and what’s why people watch it. That’s what makes for “good” television. Sad, but true.
And as people sensitive to mental illness, perhaps a little sensitivity towards Ms. Benson is called for. She’s a very troubled young lady who has been through great difficulty in her life. Perhaps CBS didn’t screen her properly and shouldn’t have put her in the house, but contacting her former employers may have been uncalled for. See this article for more info about why there may be a place for compassion for her: http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article10463.art&page=1
Condemn CBS all you like, but I think Chima shouldn’t be targeted the way you seem to have done. She has enough troubles of her own.
Stacey
@chimasimone Can you next address your denigrating the mentally ill? http://bit.ly/Lao20 #bb11 Thanks in advance. Smooches!
I am well aware of Benson’s past and I do not feel the need to defend my actions, nor apologize for them or retract any of my previous statements.
I thank you for sharing your opinion and I thank you for reading mine.
Hello,
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“Type 2- A Tragic Comedy” is a sensitive, realistic portrayal of the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. The story chronicles the career of a stand up comic who suffers from the illness.We also journey into her life on and off psych meds.
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