Will The Basketball Wives Face-Slap Lawsuit Start A Trend?
So Jennifer Williams has filed the lawsuit heard around the reality TV show world. With all of these shows that revolve around altercations, how dare Williams file a lawsuit against Evelyn Lozada‘s assistant, Nia Crooks, for slapping her in the face while the cameras rolled!
We’re offended that a woman would press charges against another woman for assaulting her.
Wait a second…
Have we become so intoxicated with the reality show scrap that we’ve forgotten that it’s not cool for grown folks to beat each other up? Sure, it’s entertaining, but it can’t be all that fun for the person getting beat up. I know, what should they have expected when signing up for reality television? Well, when you think about it, shouldn’t you go on television with the expectation that people won’t lay their hands on you?
No, Nia Crooks pimp slap wasn’t life threatening by any stretch of the imagination, and Jennifer Williams is probably seeking something that will keep her relevant. I’ll give you that. But what this may do is set a precedent where people begin pressing charges against those that assault them. Surely, some of these reality shows will insert language in their contracts preventing talent from suing. But what kind of crap is that?
Morally speaking, fighting shouldn’t be something networks endorse. The “Jerry Springer” era should have passed us by. People who don’t want to fight shouldn’t be subjected to violence. Maybe they just want to be on reality TV without the fisticuffs flying. Is that such a bad thing? Maybe, maybe not.
Before, people that got their asses handed to them on television just had to go home with a well-whooped ass. Now, after Jennifer Williams lawsuit, we just might see more reality TV stars taking liberty in pressing charges against anybody who attacks them.
Is that so wrong?
She SUE, SUE, and SUE some more.
Reportedly there is a contract that the “Wives” cast members must sign that specifically states …. “Participant expressly assumes the risk of any physical or emotional injuries participant may suffer as a result of participant’s participation in the project.”” While most employers are trying to encourage bully-free workplaces, VH1 is encouraging the behavior and demanding that the participants of its show deal with the consequences of having bottles thrown at them or being assaulted with purses and slaps in the face.
As one author stated recently, “If there is no violence on “Basketball Wives”, there is no show. Let’s see if we can make that happen.
http://www.change.org/petitions/cancel-basketball-wives
i would sue and sue. i would make sure that the case drags on forever. i will be ready to spend my life savings to make sure i bankrupt the stupid assitant non lawyer fees. i would work just to make sure that i have enough money to pay for lawyers for at least 5 years. noone has a right to lay hands on anybody. i would sue evelyn also.
Even with the reported clause in the contract, they are still bound by state law, in this case I guess, Florida since it was filmed in Miami Beach. State law trumps a contract esp. when it comes to criminal code. If criminal code is broken, doesn’t matter what they signed. If that were the case, a person could literally get away with murder if they wanted to since, they “signed” something. Doesn’t work that way.