’Glee’ adoption story line target of online petition
The Fox musical drama “Glee,” which often goes after and gets a rise out of conservatives, is the subject of a new campaign on the petition-hosting website Change.org.
The petition asserts that a recent episode of the show includes “one of the most pervasive and harmful myths about adoption.”
According to the petition, which has more than 1,200 signatures and calls on program creator Ryan Murphy to make a public-service announcement that explains the realities of adoption, the plot “perpetuates myths about adoption that harm adopted children, adoptive parents, and birth parents alike.”
For the non-Gleeks out there, on the show, high school senior Quinn Fabray is trying to get back custody of her daughter, born a year earlier, from the child’s adoptive mother. The teenager, who was shunned on the cheerleading squad during her unplanned pregnancy, says she will do everything possible to get the child back. This story line didn’t fly with the petition campaign’s organizers.
“In real, legitimate adoptions, a birth mother cannot simply take a child away from their family or pop back into a child’s life; however, this is one of most pervasive and harmful myths about adoption,” the petition reads. “Furthermore, most adoptions in the U.S. are open to some extent, so these dramatic scenes with birth mothers never take place because a relationship exists from the start.”
The statement goes on to claim that “Glee” misinforms the public about adoptive situations and instills unnecessary fear in adopted children.
“For adopted children, the show raises the fear that they may be taken away from their adopted families,” the petition reads. “And for adoptive parents and birth mothers, the show creates confusion about the nature of adoption — confusion and mistruths that proponents of adoption constantly work to dispel. And for young women facing unplanned pregnancies, many of whom are in ’Glee’s’ target demographic, the show may give the inaccurate impression that adoption is a temporary solution, not a permanent one.”
As admitted fans of “Glee,” the petitioners “ask that ’Glee’ and Fox produce a Public Service Announcement that helps separate fact from fiction about adoption and points viewers to resources for finding out more about how adoption really works.”
Read more: dailycaller.com/2011/10/11/change-org-campaign-accuses-glee-of-showing-distorted-reality-of-adoption
Kanye, Russell Simmons visit Wall Street protests
It seems as though “All of the Lights” of the Big Apple were not enough to keep rapper Kanye West and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons away from the “Occupy Wall Street” protests Monday.
Mr. West briefly joined his pal Mr. Simmons at the protests, strutting through the crowded streets wearing a massive gold necklace, drawing lots of attention from the crowd.
“I just walked @kanyewest thru the #occupywallstreet,” Mr. Simmons tweeted. “I love how sweet and tolerant he was to the crowd.”
Mr. Simmons has been a part of the protests “kinda since the beginning,” he told CBS News. “I come because I love their intention and their effort and their courage. I’m just a big supporter of what these young people are doing.
“I’m happy to pay more taxes, though. I’m here to pay more taxes. I want education, I want health care … all these people are here because they want more community effort from this country.”
Mr. Simmons, a New York City native, is one of the first superrich celebrities to take after Warren Buffet and ask for more taxes.
Read more: dailycaller.com/2011/10/11/kanye-wests-attends-wall-street-protest-proving-hes-no-golddigger
Rihanna on Chris Brown: ’I’ve always been a fan’
Does time heal all wounds? For Rihanna, it appears it might.
The singer, named “Sexiest Woman Alive in 2011” by Esquire magazine, who was beaten by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown in early 2009, apparently has set aside her resentment toward the young man and even become a “fan” of his work again.
Rihanna, 23, told Esquire that she has put the past behind her and let go of the animosity she felt toward her violent former flame. The negative feelings, she said, were zapping her time.
“Obviously, I had some resentment toward him for a while, for obvious reasons,” the Barbados bombshell told the magazine. “But I’ve put that behind me. It was taking up too much of my time. It was too much anger.”
In the same interview, Rihanna demonstrated amazement over Mr. Brown’s musical comeback. Many expected the shamed crooner’s outburst to cost him record sales and popularity, but in late 2009, his first single since the altercation, “I Can Transform Ya,” landed on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
“It’s incredible to see how he pulled out of it the way he did,” Rihanna said. “Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know? I really like the music he’s putting out. I’m a fan of his stuff. I’ve always been a fan.
“I’m really excited to see the breakthrough he’s had in his career. I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never. I never have.”
Read more: dailycaller.com/2011/10/11/rihanna-i-am-a-fan-of-chris-browns-music
• Compiled by Laura Donovan and Betsi Fores © 2011 The Daily Caller
Please read our comment policy before commenting.