Children ‘scared’ by disabled presenter

By johnberesford on February 23rd, 2009 11 comments

My word, there’s some horrible shits out there. See, on CBeebies, they’ve got a new presenter called Cerrie Burnell. Now, Cerrie was born with one arm and now, some parents are worried that their children are going to have nightmares about the whole thing! The decision to hire her has prompted a series of complaints to the BBC from angry parents. One father said that he wants to ban his daughter from watching the channel because he fears she may ‘suffer nightmares’. The CBeebies message boards have been a bit clogged with idiotic parents moaning about this poor girl’s disability, very much sounding like they may well palm off their own prejudices on to their sprongs. Read over for some of the dribblings.

Speaking on the CBeebies message boards, one parent wrote, “Is it just me, or does anyone else think the new woman presenter on CBeebies may scare the kids because of her disability?” with another adding “there’s a time and place for showing kids all the “differences” that people can have, but nine in the morning in front of two year olds is NOT the place!”

It defies belief huh?

Another message reads; “how do you explain to a three year old child why the one of the presenters has half an arm. She was extremely upset and confused by this and continues to ask questions.”

However, thankfully, all the posters aren’t complete tits, with one saying; “I am completely appalled by a number of posts in this thread. It worries me that my children are growing up in a world full of prejudice which some parents see fit to perpetuate.” After looking through the boards, it certainly seems that more parents are disgusted by the anti-disability attitude than not, which is great news.

However, it’s dreadful that there are sections of the TV watching public who think that employing someone with a disability is ‘PC Gone Mad’ or indeed, something bad at all. I wonder what these people thought of Britain’s Missing Top Model? Well, as you judge a woman for a missing arm, so to I judge you for having a missing brain.

[via DS]

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Category: Columns and Opinions, TV News
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Chris Mann

Let these narrow minded, selfish, ignorant, prejudice losers complain as much as they like. What we don’t have to do is listen. These are the morons who shout the loudest but have the least to say. God help the kids who have parents like this. I can only imagine their sick views on race, sexual orientation, religion etc. These are the individuals who give parenting a bad name. Get a grip you bigoted losers.I hope this presenter does not get hounded out. Chris Mann
Lisa Lucchesi

i was reading some of the comments wrote about the new Cbeebies presenter, i think its shocking that these parents cant explain to their children, that some people are different. My 4 year old son has a skin condition, that causes his skin to blister and thicken, when he asked why her arm was like that, i explain that lots of people are born differently, and like him go to hospital to see if the doctors to help. He was fine with it and has never mentioned it since.
melanie

how pathetic, children have to learn that not everybody is perfect.
My cousin has the same disability as Cerrie, and now she is a physiotherapist.
The only people with a problem is the parents, i bet the kids haven’t even noticed!
http://diversity.co.nz Philip Patston

Yes awful and… I wonder if the producers are encouraging these presenters to take the opportunity to talk about disability and diversity on-screen, addressing Cerrie’s experience constructively. It would be great if kids could start turning around to their hysterical parents, saying, “Chill folks, get over it.”
emily milner

i think its good for children to see that having a disability dosent stop you from doing things if your child had a limb missing youd probally be moaning there wasnt enough disabled people on the tv if more people with limbs missing etc appeared on the tv then the world would begin to accept better but i still cant understand whats to accept shes lovely to the children and very calming at bedtime reading the stories by children will continue to watch cbeebies and i will explain she is just different. for all thease people moaning about this i wonder if they moaned that poi was chinese and sid is a coloured man?? the parents need to act more grown up for there childrens sake its 2009 we are multicultural britain and accept disabled people if the bbc sack her over this i hope she sues them! good luck dear xx
valerie

I am a young woman with a similar disability to Cerrie and am married with a 4 year old son. To say that i am appalled by the ignorance of these parents is an understatement. Children don’t recognise the differences in people with the same narrow mindedness as adults. My son just notices mummy’s arm is different to his, not something awful or something to be scared of. It is these same parents that will be responsible for racist comments etc because anything that isn,t the “norm” to them just isn’t acceptable. If one of them lost an arm or leg in an accident for instance what would happen? Take them away from Mummy because they may get bad nightmares? I think its great having people like Cerrie on TV, we’re all the same but some just look a little different.
http://fbrak.blogspot.com Samuel

Great post, blogger. It apalled me when I heard that there were complaints by parents worried the presenter might “scare” their children. Remember, all the complaints were by parents speculating that this would happen, none portraying children actually being scared.
It beggars belief.
Lyne Houston

I think the people that think this woman should be sacked, should be disgusted with there self. How would you feel if that was you? How would you fell if your parents were like that or you had a child like that yourself, yous are all moaning about your child being scared what if your child was born like that? What if you have an accident and lose both your legs are your kids supposed to be taken off you because they would be scared. Grow up yous are nothing but bully’s. I think you should be disgusted with yourself.
keith

It’s a disgrace that people have complained about this!

Why are they sheltering their children with things that are happening in this world?

People with missing limbs exist in this world, so what are those parents going to do when they come across people with missing limbs in the street, cover their eyes and tell their children not to look until the “scary” person has gone away?!

I think Cerrie is a very attractive person and it’s a pleasure to see her on TV.

Long may she go on!
lin hendry

well how pathetic some parents are, there is nothing wrong with her, i have 2 small children and i dont see anything wrong with them watching her, some parents needs to have a life
Guy

Can the insensitive ignorant narrow minded controlling numpty who said he would ban his child from watching the program,please step forward and vow to remove his blinkers and endeavor from now on to indulge in constructive nurturing parenting .saving his no doubt long suffering progeny from any more nonsensical outbursts ! I detect a frustrated self loathing parent. what a shame He wont resort to getting help.and spare all from his pathetic retorts.