\'Big Brother\' Condemned by autism group
 

Autism advocacy group Autism United is trying to speak with US network CBS over comments made by a Big Brother contestant, reports the Associated Press.

Contestant Adam Jasinski, who claims to work for an autism foundation, spoke about wanting to win the show's cash prize to build a hair salon "so ******* can get it together and get their hair done".

Fellow contestant Sheila responded quickly, saying: "Don't call them that."

The 29-year-old from Florida replied: "Disabled kids. I can call them whatever I want. I work with them all day, OK?"

John Gilmore, Autism United's executive director, said that he had been trying to contact CBS to lodge a complaint since the show aired.

CBS released a statement calling Jasinski's comments "offensive".

"We certainly find the statements made by Adam to be offensive but believe they were countered by the immediate reaction of shock and condemnation from a fellow houseguest, Sheila," the statement said.

"Adam's remarks would not have been permitted to air unchallenged."

The show, currently in its ninth series in the US, has previously had to remove some contestants following incidents deemed to be violent or racist.


Source DS

well u dnt call them ******* full stop.

He seems to be helping them and seems to care about them so what the hell is the problem with calling them "*******"? It's ridiculous! They are "RETARDED thus they are "*******".. just because he didn't pussy foot around his choice of words!

I can never recall BBUS removing any houseguest for something said. They didn't remove Eric or Evette for their comments about muslims. They didn't remove Amber for her Jewish comments.

The only time I can ever recall them removing someone is in season 2 when that guy (josh?) held a knife to the drunk girl (that he was making out with)'s throat.

Autism is not a disorder which causes retardation, infact, it can dramatically increase IQ and so they are the opposite of "*******".

Furthermore, "*******" isn't actually a dictionary definition of what you call someone with mental retardation. It's a slang term and so shouldn't be used with anything who has retardation.

It's not pussyfooting around with words, it's common manners not to call someone an offensive word.