A children's show host who was born with one hand is facing criticism from parents over her disability.

 

The BBC is receiving complaints about kids' show host Cerrie Burnell, who was born with one hand.

 

BBC spokeswoman Katya Mira said the corporation has received at least 25 "official" complaints recently about Cerrie Burnell, new host of two shows on the BBC-run CBeebies television network, which is aimed at children younger than 6.

 

The official complaints do not count the dozens of negative comments lodged in Internet chat rooms, Mira said.

 

In one chat room, a father lamented that Burnell being on the show forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities.

 

However, there have also been messages of support for Burnell. What do you think about the complaints?

 

"We have also received 99 appreciations of her," Mira said.

 

Burnell started as a presenter of the shows in late January after acting with theater companies in Manchester, England, and Brazil.

 

A BBC news release in January introducing Burnell made no mention of her disability, but a publicity photo showed the right sleeve of her sweater pulled up, showing her arm stops just below her elbow.

 

The issue has spurred a debate in England among newspapers, columnists and bloggers.

 

Burnell said she has heard the criticism and will not let it bother her.

 

'It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children. It just goes to show how important it is to have positive, disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general," Burnell said.

 

Michael Carrington, BBC controller of CBeebies, said the company is standing by Burnell.

 

"Cerrie is warm and natural and we think that, in time, all moms and dads and children will love her as much as we do," Carrington said.

 

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/02/28...x.html#soundoff

Fukkin' disgusting.... What the hell is wrong with these people...? What are they actually teaching their kids....? <_< This woman can no more do anything about her disability than Barrack Obama can do anything about being black, or Elton John can do anything about being gay....

 

These people bleat that their kids are "scared" or that they're "asking questions"... Well, kids are SUPPOSED to ask questions of their parents, and parents are SUPPOSED to answer them, or does that involve a little too much fukkin' interaction for some of these morons, too much bother, too much hassle to actually explain stuff.....? <_< If they're scared or confused, well, again, as parents they're SUPPOSED to communicate with their kids and tell them that it's perfectly natural and that there are some people in the world who are born "differently"...

 

Why should the BBC make a big show out of the fact that they've hired a disabled person, that would just draw attention to the individual in a detrimental way and make her out to be some kind of "freak" that the beeb has to "warn" people about.... Jesus, are we living in the bloody dark ages.....? One would have thought that with stuff like the Disabled Rights Act and things like the Paralympics which got good coverage that we'd outgrown this sort of mentality, and that we didn't treat disabled people in this manner anymore, seems like I was wrong... I am especially offended because I work with disabled students who have overcome all sorts of adversities to get to where they are...

 

Disabled people exist, so the beeb is absolutely right to hire her, I doubt it even crossed their minds that this was even a 'controversial' issue in this day and age...

 

 

Completely agree with Grimly's post above, it is absolutely disgusting that these people have reacted this way to this

woman's disability.

 

Disabled people exist, so the beeb is absolutely right to hire her, I doubt it even crossed their minds that this was even a 'controversial' issue in this day and age...

Fully agree.

 

It's surprising how prejudice people still are in this day and age.

Obviously the BBC are doing a good service by enabling these people to look at the fear around disability.

 

 

Here is something to open the mind. Nick Vujicic. As he says 'No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!'

Who cares about her physical appearance...

Completly agreed with what Grimly said, it's disgusting the way these people reacted.

People are dumb for criticising the woman. Also agrees with Grimly. :(

What the hell is wrong with a TV presenter having one hand?

 

Sick sick people, makes me sick to be a brit

Fukkin' disgusting.... What the hell is wrong with these people...? What are they actually teaching their kids....? <_< This woman can no more do anything about her disability than Barrack Obama can do anything about being black, or Elton John can do anything about being gay....

 

These people bleat that their kids are "scared" or that they're "asking questions"... Well, kids are SUPPOSED to ask questions of their parents, and parents are SUPPOSED to answer them, or does that involve a little too much fukkin' interaction for some of these morons, too much bother, too much hassle to actually explain stuff.....? <_< If they're scared or confused, well, again, as parents they're SUPPOSED to communicate with their kids and tell them that it's perfectly natural and that there are some people in the world who are born "differently"...

 

Why should the BBC make a big show out of the fact that they've hired a disabled person, that would just draw attention to the individual in a detrimental way and make her out to be some kind of "freak" that the beeb has to "warn" people about.... Jesus, are we living in the bloody dark ages.....? One would have thought that with stuff like the Disabled Rights Act and things like the Paralympics which got good coverage that we'd outgrown this sort of mentality, and that we didn't treat disabled people in this manner anymore, seems like I was wrong... I am especially offended because I work with disabled students who have overcome all sorts of adversities to get to where they are...

 

Disabled people exist, so the beeb is absolutely right to hire her, I doubt it even crossed their minds that this was even a 'controversial' issue in this day and age...

 

You're right Grim. Narrow-minded parents should actually communicate with their own children explaining about disabilites instead of being prejudice.

 

I hope the BBC disregard the complaints as this isn't even an issue!

Fukkin' disgusting.... What the hell is wrong with these people...? What are they actually teaching their kids....? <_< This woman can no more do anything about her disability than Barrack Obama can do anything about being black, or Elton John can do anything about being gay....

 

These people bleat that their kids are "scared" or that they're "asking questions"... Well, kids are SUPPOSED to ask questions of their parents, and parents are SUPPOSED to answer them, or does that involve a little too much fukkin' interaction for some of these morons, too much bother, too much hassle to actually explain stuff.....? <_< If they're scared or confused, well, again, as parents they're SUPPOSED to communicate with their kids and tell them that it's perfectly natural and that there are some people in the world who are born "differently"...

 

Why should the BBC make a big show out of the fact that they've hired a disabled person, that would just draw attention to the individual in a detrimental way and make her out to be some kind of "freak" that the beeb has to "warn" people about.... Jesus, are we living in the bloody dark ages.....? One would have thought that with stuff like the Disabled Rights Act and things like the Paralympics which got good coverage that we'd outgrown this sort of mentality, and that we didn't treat disabled people in this manner anymore, seems like I was wrong... I am especially offended because I work with disabled students who have overcome all sorts of adversities to get to where they are...

 

Disabled people exist, so the beeb is absolutely right to hire her, I doubt it even crossed their minds that this was even a 'controversial' issue in this day and age...

 

yep, full agreement here.

Scott summed it up perfectly

 

I would go further if I was head of the BBC and report those that complained to Social Services as they are totally unfit parents to be bringing up kids if they are biringing them up with twisted $h!t like that, they should have their kids taken into care, no doubt they probably think a BLACK presenter would scare their kids too :manson: :rolleyes: I remember that DJ that was sacked for phoning a cab company and saying not to send a black or asian driver as that would scare her daughter :rolleyes:

Scott summed it up perfectly

 

I would go further if I was head of the BBC and report those that complained to Social Services as they are totally unfit parents to be bringing up kids if they are biringing them up with twisted $h!t like that, they should have their kids taken into care, no doubt they probably think a BLACK presenter would scare their kids too :manson: :rolleyes: I remember that DJ that was sacked for phoning a cab company and saying not to send a black or asian driver as that would scare her daughter :rolleyes:

 

Oh god yeah, that's a sort of 50s "deep South USA" mentality... Couldn't believe it... And frankly I dont even believe for a minute that it had anything to do with her daughter, she was just using her child as an alibi for her own prejudices... Frankly, I think it's a similar case here... I doubt the kids are even all that bothered by it, they're just inquisitive, asking questions (which parents should be able to address without turning into bloody "outraged from Tumbridge Wells"), it's these "parents" transferring their own anxieties and fears onto their children... Kids are like blank slates, they dont know fear or hate or prejudice, that's what adults put into them.... So, indeed, yeah, I think you're right, it IS a form of child abuse to bring up children with a hatred or prejudice towards people who are disabled, of a different ethnic origin, gay, etc....

 

Do these children who are supposedly frightened never leave the house? Surely they must see people with disabilities occasionally - or they will soon enough. I'd have thought it was better for children to ask questions like this in the privacy of their home rather than in public where they might cause some embarrassment.

Just out of curiosity - if the parent is out with the child and sees a person with no/part of an arm, do they cover their child's eyes?

It's pretty sick tbh, I'm not for hardcore PC but come on it's ridiculous to shroud people from disabilities, they're everywhere! Surely it is a plus that there is a disabled presenter on kids TV, to stop 'em starring when they see somebody with a disability in person.

That's truly awful, unfortunately we still live in an age where there are many people out there who are that small minded.

 

It saddens me to think how this poor presenter lady must feel hearing that there have been complaints about it, I hope it doesn't dishearten her.

I hope it doesn't dishearten her.

 

She did a Breakfast Time interview last week, she seemed positive enough, she seems to have a strong character, but I would imagine it kind of shocked her when it happened though....

 

I think it's one of these "if you dont laugh, you cry" situations..... But it's well out of order and there's no way she should have to put up with that sort of treatment, it's not her problem, the people with the problem are the morons who complained.....

slap these complainers and parents with the Disability Discrimination Act. It's quite appalling really.

slap these complainers and parents with the Disability Discrimination Act.

 

Or, alternatively, just slap them.... :rolleyes: :lol: