Feb 23, 2008 7:30 pm US/Eastern
Big Brother Controversy May Lead To Investigation
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
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A national autism group has demanded an apology from CBS over a remark Adam made during an episode of Big Brother.
CBS
South Florida parents are reacting to offensive comments made by a Big Brother cast member. Adam Jasinski, currently on the CBS reality show, recently referred to autistic children as "retards" and now the president of the advocacy group Autism United is joining angry parents in Broward County in calling for an investigation into Jasinski and the organization that he runs.
Jasinski, from Delray Beach, describes himself as PR Manager for the United Autism Foundation (UNIAF). On its Web site, the organization claims to be a 501c3 charity, which means deductions made to the organization would be considered tax deductible under current IRS regulations. However, the organization Autism United claims Jasinski's UNIAF has not filed with IRS charities and there's no record of the organization under the Better Business Bureau.
Evelyn Ain, President of Autism United, joined with angry parents outside the Broward County courthouse Friday morning calling for an investigation of Jasinski and United Autism Foundation.
CBS4 tried contacting the foundation by phone, but a recording explained the phone service had been disconnected. Later, CBS4 went to its Miami Beach office, which was a post office box, and later a person answered the door at the address listed for its Fort Lauderdale office, explaining the foundation was a previous tenant.
The Florida Attorney General's office has been asked to review the United Autism Foundation after getting several complaints.
Jasinkski's UNIAF Web site doesn't provide any information about autism and only has an apology regarding "any and all inappropriate, unprofessional and misleading comments made by Adam Jasinski on BIG BROTHER 9." The site also offers T-shirts and stickers for sale.
During the second episode of the season, 29-year old Jasinski said if he won Big Brother he would use the prize money for a hair salon for people with developmental disabilities "so retards can get it together and get their hair done."
The comment didn't go over too well with his partner, Sheila Kennedy, who expressed outrage at the remark. "Don't call them that," she said. Replied Jasinski: "Disabled kids. I can call them whatever I want. I work with them all day, okay?"
"I was speechless, I was shocked when I heard this kind of comments he made on the show," said Olaf Hambel of United Autism of Fort Lauderdale.
Hambel founded the autistic organization several months ago and says people are blaming him for what Jasinski said.
"He ruined my life because people right now make me and the organization responsible for what he said, and I think is wrong," said Hambel.
Hambel told CBS4's Shomari Stone he received 600 hate mails and death threats.
Autism United executive director John Gilmore called the remarks "repulsive" and "dehumanizing" and demanded an apology from CBS for airing the disparaging remark. He also asked CBS to remove Jasinski from the show, citing Don Imus' firing from CBS Radio over racial remarks as precedent.
CBS issued a response condemning Jasinski's comments but also stating they do not represent opinions held by the network or the program's producers.
"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 network said. "Adam's remarks would not have been permitted to air unchallenged."
Big Brother also has been condemned for contestants' remarks on incest, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Some contestants have been removed following incidents that were deemed violent or racist.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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