His life had been depicted as an utter failure of self-will, an utter collapse of self-respect, even of essential humanity.
Of course they hadn’t told him before he signed the contract.
“We want to share stories of medically obese for our viewers,” were the exact words they’d used.
“We’ll be extremely respectful.”
And they had been while they filmed him recumbent in the extra-duty recliner that served as his bed, his chair, his platform for viewing the world through his laptop and television.
When the show had aired, he was appalled.
The low-angle shots of his face particularly grieved him.
I looked at the picture of the man you used in the froggy link and almost didn’t read it. I never watched that horrible program “The Biggest Loser” because I found it incredibly distasteful that it capitalized on showcasing people who were morbidly obese and already feeling terrible about themselves. You depicted your MC with clarity and empathy, so I’m glad I went ahead and read it 🙂
A well-written story about a very sad subject.
It’s sensationalism at its worst. Anything “different” is fair game these days. My daughter in-law told me about a show where people have unusual addictions. There is no end to it.
These are mostly exploitative shows. As for the angle of his face, perhaps that was easier for him to feel aggrieved about … oy. What a reality!
You wouldn’t catch me watching any of those dreadful programmes.
It’s sad how they exploit the venerable. Heartfelt.
I meant to write vulnerable. Sorry.