My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding": Scripted Or Real

My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding is a reality TV show that first aired in 2012. It is a spin-off of the UK's Channel 4 series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings. The show focuses on the marriage customs of Romani-Americans and Irish Travellers, and has been criticised for misrepresenting the ethnic minority with non-Romani characters posing as Gypsy. The show has also been accused of glorifying negative stereotypes and omitting major cultural details. While some sources claim that the show is fake and that the weddings are not real, others suggest that it offers an unbiased portrayal of the culture.

Fake weddings

The TLC reality TV show "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding" has been accused of being fake, including the weddings. In a 2014 Facebook post, Season 1 participant Priscilla Kelly revealed that producers hired actors and faked weddings to get their specific narrative across. In her post, Priscilla wrote:

> "Basically [producers] told me if I would just get married it didn't matter who it was it didn't have to be legal just so they had something to put on TV."

The show has also been criticised for misrepresenting the ethnic minority with non-Romani characters posing as "Gypsy", omitting major cultural details, and cultivating racist stereotypes.

Despite the show's claims of giving audiences exclusive access to a secretive community, it has been pointed out that the celebrations portrayed are not much different from modern weddings. While the show often features over-the-top events, gypsies, and their culture, it has been noted that not all wedding dresses are that extravagant, and that the outrageous 'grabbing' ritual depicted is not real.

In addition, the show has been criticised for portraying women as "slaves to men" and for omitting the domestic violence and welfare needs of Gypsy and Traveller women in the UK. The show has also had a negative impact on Traveller and Roma communities, with reports of discrimination and bullying.

Hiring actors

The TLC reality show "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding" has been criticised for misrepresenting the Romani Gypsy community by hiring actors and fabricating weddings. In a 2014 Facebook post, season 1 participant Priscilla Kelly revealed that producers went to great lengths to get their desired narrative, including hiring actors and staging weddings. According to Priscilla, she was told that it didn't matter who she married as long as it was done for the show.

The show has been accused of glorifying negative stereotypes, omitting major cultural details, and portraying a simplistic view of Traveller and Roma cultures without providing historical or political context. Critics argue that the show fails to represent the majority of the Romani Gypsy community, who face discrimination, poverty, and social exclusion.

In response to these criticisms, some have pointed out that the show is not intended to be a factual documentary but rather an entertaining glimpse into a unique world. However, the Romani Gypsy community has expressed concern that the show strengthens stereotypes and ignorance, impacting their daily lives and perpetuating discrimination.

The controversy surrounding "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding" highlights the challenges of representing minority cultures in media. While the show has attracted millions of viewers, it is important to consider the potential consequences of misrepresenting and stereotyping ethnic groups, especially those already facing marginalisation and negative perceptions.

To address these concerns, it is crucial for media producers to engage authentically with the communities they portray, ensuring that their stories are accurately and respectfully represented on screen. This includes consulting with community members, incorporating their feedback, and providing context to avoid perpetuating simplistic or harmful stereotypes.

Stereotypes and misrepresentation

My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding has been criticised for misrepresenting the Romani Gypsy community and cultivating racist stereotypes. The show has been accused of being wildly misleading, with non-Romani characters posing as "Gypsy".

The show has been criticised for grouping Travellers and Roma together, despite there being significant differences between the two cultures. The show also omits major cultural details, such as the historical and political context of their place in the UK and Europe, and the reasons behind their nomadic lifestyle.

Many of the weddings on the show are fake, with one former participant revealing that producers asked her to get married for the show, saying: "...it didn't matter who it was it didn't have to be legal just so they had something to put on TV". The show has also been criticised for exaggerating the extravagance of wedding dresses, and for portraying a ritual called "grabbing" which most in the community have never heard of.

The show has had a negative impact on the Traveller and Roma communities, with one Irish Traveller mother reporting that other parents at her children's school won't let their kids mix with hers because they believe negative stereotypes about Gypsies.

Over-the-top events

My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding is an American reality television series that revolves around the marriage customs of Romani-Americans ("Gypsies") and their over-the-top events. The show claims that the participants are members of Romanichal clans, although some are actually of Irish Traveller descent.

The series has been criticised for cultivating racist stereotypes and misrepresenting the American Romani community. Despite the criticism, the show has gained popularity for its hot-mess appeal, with viewers tuning in to witness the outrageous weddings, teen brides, and trailer park fighting matches.

The weddings featured on the show are characterised by extravagant dresses costing upwards of $50,000, giant celebrations, and horse-drawn carriages. One episode even featured a Greek gypsy bride-to-be who set out to make history by wearing the biggest, most blinged-out wedding dress ever made.

In addition to weddings, the show also covers other celebrations such as birthdays, Halloween parties, and Thanksgiving family reunions. No matter the occasion, the events are always over-the-top and extravagant, with participants going all out with their outfits, makeup, and decorations.

While the show offers an unbiased portrayal of the Romani Gypsy culture and traditions, it has been accused of glorifying negative stereotypes. In 2014, a Facebook post by a Season 1 participant, Priscilla Kelly, revealed that producers went to great lengths to create a specific narrative, including hiring actors and faking weddings.

Cultural differences

The TLC reality TV series "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding" has been criticised by the Romani Gypsy community for misrepresenting the ethnic minority with non-Romani characters posing as "Gypsy". Billy Welch, a spokesman for Romani Gypsies, stated: ""They called the show Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and you've yet to see a Romani Gypsy in it".

The show focuses on the marriage customs of Romani-Americans ("Gypsies") – allegedly members of Romanichal clans, although some are actually of Irish Traveller descent. The Irish Traveller and British Gypsy/Traveller communities have criticised the show for misrepresenting them. Jane Jackson of the Rural Media Company (publishers of the Travellers' Times) said:

> It's posing as a documentary, the voiceover is saying we're going to let you into the secrets of the traveller community – and it [sic] just not true. It might be true of the particular families in front of the camera, but it's not generally true. They're made to look totally feckless, not really to be taken seriously as an ethnic group.

The show has also been accused of cultivating racist stereotypes and causing racially motivated bullying.

Frequently asked questions