Michelle
Bridges with Biggest Loser contestants. Picture: Channel Ten
Channel 10 bosses have defended The Biggest Loser against claims of bullying, saying the show does not subject contestants to humiliating challenges and helps viewers lead healthier lives.
An opinion article on The Biggest Loser published yesterday by adelaidenow columnist Petra Starke, which accused the show of bullying and exploiting overweight contestants for ratings, has provoked an angry denial from the network.
In a letter to the editor published in The Advertiser today, Ten's director of corporate and public communications Neil Shoebridge said Ms Starke's article was "incorrect and unfair", "misleading", "ridiculous" and "defamatory".
He denied the show deliberately embarrassed its contestants for entertainment value, saying it helped both them and viewers to become healthier.
"We do not subject our contestants to `humiliating challenges' as your article suggests. We are not in the business of humiliating contestants," he said.
"Contestants chose to take part in the program because they need help transforming their lifestyles and their bodies.
"In fact, The Biggest Loser has a long history of helping people - both contestants and viewers - address their weight issues and lead healthier lives."
This season, contestants have been secretly filmed to reveal their bad eating habits, been made to jump off a cliff into the ocean and have had buckets of water dumped on their heads for failing to hold their arm in the air.
Ms Starke's column yesterday attracted more than 75 comments from adelaidenow readers who overwhelmingly agreed with her criticism of the show.
"I agree totally - we are trying to stamp out bullying in the schoolyard and in the workplace and yet a program like Biggest Loser promotes bullying behaviour by belittling those participants involved," one read.
Another comment read: "You have hit the nail on the head Ms Starke - these people all have eating disorders. Shaming and humiliating them is not an acceptable `treatment' method."
Other commenters described the show as "offensive", "cruel" and "a horrific abuse of people who are desperately unwell".
Mr Shoebridge said Ten took its "duty of care" to contestants "very seriously".
"The well-being of our contestants is always our number one concern," he said.
"All contestants have, at all times, continuous support from Network Ten, the production company, the trainers and a highly qualified medical team."
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Ten's corporate and public communications director Neil Shoebridge's letter to the editor
Dear Editor,
Your opinion piece "Ratings race feeds cycle of bullying" (April 4) is disappointing and misleading.
It is incorrect and unfair to accuse Network Ten of pretending The Biggest Loser is "some sort of important community health service", and to describe The Biggest Loser as "a tragic freak show for ratings" and "one big schoolyard bullying session" is completely misleading. If your writer had contacted Network Ten, we would have been more than happy to discuss her extreme view of the program.
To insinuate that Network Ten has been involved in creating and perpetuating a cycle of bullying is a very serious and defamatory accusation with legal implications, which Ten strenuously denies. To suggest the program is "bad" for the contestant's health is completely false, while describing The Biggest Loser as "the modern equivalent of throwing the Christians to the lions" is ridiculous.
Network Ten is fully aware of the duty of care we have towards all contestants on The Biggest Loser, a duty of care which we take very seriously. The well-being of our contestants is always our number one concern. All contestants have, at all times, continuous support from Network Ten, the production company, the trainers and a highly qualified medical team.
We do not subject our contestants to "humiliating challenges" as your article suggests. We are not in the business of humiliating contestants.
Contestants chose to take part in the program because they need help transforming their lifestyles and their bodies. In fact, The Biggest Loser has a long history of helping people both contestants and viewers address their weight issues and lead healthier lives.
Regards,
Neil Shoebridge, Director of Corporate and Public Communications
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