‘Survivor’s Remorse’ needs some awareness, like, now …

survivors remorse image

Recently “Survivor’s Remorse,” a show that airs on the STARZ TV network, had some dialogue which was quite belittling of anyone with a cleft lip and cleft palate.

The terms “fucked-up mouth” and “snaggleteeth” and “weird lips” were used to describe people like me.

Really?

I’m not sure what the point behind the writer’s words were. If they were trying to do their best “shock jock” type of vignette, then they succeeded.

Yes, you want to see the clip don’t you?

This comes via Facebook as posted by Rya Medassist:

There, you can see it for yourself.

I do want to let the producers and actors in “Survivor’s Remorse,” as well as those in charge at STARZ, that people like me with cleft lips and cleft palates have overcome a lot in our lives. We are brave, talented and gifted people. In fact, one of the stage and screen’s best actors ever — Stacy Keach — was himself born with a cleft lip or cleft palate or both. He’s done pretty damn well in front of the screen and in front of live audiences for a long, long time.

My intention in writing this post is to raise awareness, though. I am not writing this to wag my finger in your faces. I just want you all to know that there are people, real people, who have come a long way to simply live and, yes, breathe.

I make an open offer to any producer or actor involved with “Survivor’s Remorse” to reach out to me and have a conversation. Of course, I realize it is simply television and you are just doing a show for entertainment purposes. Take a minute … like, one minute … and consider what words you do write into the show. As a writer myself, I can appreciate the creative process … but at the detriment of 1 in 600 children who are born with a cleft lip or cleft palate daily?

Please.

Thanks for reading this.

To the international cleft and craniofacial community … just know that you are loved right where you are as you read this. Every minute counts, and you are loved.

Peace,

Joe Rutland

Host, “CleftCast”

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CleftCast

4 thoughts on “‘Survivor’s Remorse’ needs some awareness, like, now …”

  3. Juliet Siver says:

    I thought we weren’t “allowed” to make fun of people based on their appearance??? What if someone decided to write an episode that made fun of the skin color of the actors on the show? I can bet that would not have made it past the first editor and someone would be out of a job. Why is it okay, then, in the name of comedy, for anyone to make such comments about a birth defect?

    Like

    Reply
  4. Denise Gross says:

    That is horrible. My daughter is 21 and born with cleft lip and palate. That breaks my heart people are so mean . You are so gonna pay someday I hope for your comments!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment