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Racy USArmenia reality-TV show faces criticism, boycott

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  • Racy USArmenia reality-TV show faces criticism, boycott

    Los Angeles Times
    June 1 2014

    Racy USArmenia reality-TV show faces criticism, boycott

    Brittany Levine


    ritics of an upcoming reality-TV show following a group of Armenian
    Americans who live in Glendale have created an online petition and
    fast-growing Facebook page in an attempt to pressure a television
    station to cut the program before it airs next month.

    Opponents have called "Glendale Life" on USArmenia TV "degrading for
    Armenians," "an embarrassment," and "tasteless" on the Facebook page.
    It features socialites clubbing in Hollywood, drinking, crashing cars,
    getting plastic surgery and lounging by a pool in its online trailer,
    according to Times Community News.

    The page, called "Stop 'Glendale Life' Show," has garnered nearly
    6,000 likes in about two weeks, while the online petition on
    change.org has more than 1,600 signatures.

    But Bagrat Sargsyan, chairman of USArmenia TV, said the show is not
    unlike any other reality television program, which are engineered to
    be "provocative and interesting."

    "Everyone has a right to express their opinion, especially the media's
    freedom which can't be threatened," Sargsyan told Times Community
    News. "Hopefully, this is just an emotional thing and people in time
    will understand the boundaries of freedom."

    The reality show takes place in Glendale because it has one of the
    largest Armenian populations outside of Armenia.

    This is not the first time a reality-TV show featuring a minority cast
    has faced backlash from others within its own community. Bravo's
    "Shahs of Sunset," which is about a group of Iranian American
    socialites in Los Angeles, sparked several petitions within the
    Persian community calling for a halt to the program when it premiered
    in 2012.

    "Shahs of Sunset" persevered and is now in its third season.

    Those who criticize "Glendale Life" say it will shine a bad light on
    the Armenian American community and will dishonor their ancestors who
    died at the hands of the Ottoman Turks during the Armenian Genocide
    from 1915 to 1918.

    "This show will do nothing but slander and deprecate the memory of
    each and every one of the 1.5-million men, women and children who died
    for our heritage," the petition states. "We are more than this. We
    will not be made a mockery of for their monetary gain."

    But Sargsyan said he found that statement extreme.

    "The two things are not related to each other," he said, adding that
    USArmenia TV is planning on airing a television series near the 100th
    anniversary of the genocide next April.

    http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-racy-usarmenia-reality-tv-show-faces-criticism-boycott-20140601-story.html




    From: A. Papazian
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