Big Fat Gypsy Wedding": A Glimpse Into A Secretive Worl

Big Fat Gypsy Wedding is a British documentary series that explores the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families as they prepare for a wedding. The series also features Romanichal (British Gypsies) in several episodes. The show has been criticised by some Romani people for not accurately representing England's Romani and Travelling community. The show has also been criticised for racism in its advertising and for instigating a rise in the rate of racially motivated bullying.

The show follows British Traveller families and their traditions

The British documentary series *Big Fat Gypsy Weddings* explores the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families as they prepare to unite one of their members in marriage. The series also features Romanichal (British Gypsies) in several episodes. The show was first broadcast in February 2010 as a one-off documentary called *My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding*, filmed as part of the Cutting Edge series. It was voted the Most Groundbreaking Show in the Cultural Diversity Awards 2010.

The show has been criticised by some Romani and Traveller communities 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."

Billy Welch, a spokesman for Romani Gypsies, also commented on the show's focus on Irish Travellers and their traditions, stating that despite the show's title, it did not feature any Romani Gypsies.

The series has faced a number of controversies, including allegations of racism in its advertising and instigating a rise in the rate of racially motivated bullying. One episode, "No Place Like Home", caused particular controversy after it showed young girls provocatively dancing and wearing full make-up.

It has been criticised for misrepresenting the Traveller community

The British documentary series *Big Fat Gypsy Weddings* has been criticised for misrepresenting the Traveller community. The show explores the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families as they prepare for a wedding. The series also features Romanichal (British Gypsies) in several episodes.

Jane Jackson of the Rural Media Company (publishers of the Travellers' Times) criticised the show for claiming to reveal the secrets of the traveller community:

> 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.

Jackson also criticised the show for making the Traveller community look "totally feckless" and not to be "taken seriously as an ethnic group".

The show has also been criticised for focusing too much on Irish Travellers and their traditions. Billy Welch, a spokesman for Romani Gypsies, said:

> They called the show Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and you've yet to see a Romani Gypsy in it.

The show's advertising campaign has also been criticised for promoting damaging stereotypes that denigrate Gypsy and Traveller children. One billboard poster advertising the show featured photographs of young girls looking nearly naked and a scary-looking young boy, accompanied by the slogan "Bigger, Fatter, Gypsier". Christine Cawley, an Irish Traveller living in London, criticised the campaign for making a joke of her community's ethnic identity. She also questioned whether it would be acceptable to use similarly mocking words and pictures about other ethnic groups.

The show has sparked controversy, including allegations of racism

The British documentary series *Big Fat Gypsy Weddings* has sparked controversy and faced allegations of racism. The show has been criticised for misrepresenting the Romani and Traveller community in the UK.

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 series has also been criticised for focusing exclusively on Irish Travellers and their traditions, with Billy Welch, a spokesman for Romani Gypsies, stating:

> "They called the show Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and you've yet to see a Romani Gypsy in it."

The show's advertising campaign also caused controversy, with almost 100 complaints being made to the Advertising Standards Authority that the campaign was offensive and racist. The campaign featured the words "Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier" printed over images of Gypsy girls and children. The London Gypsy & Traveller Unit and London assembly members Jennette Arnold and John Biggs were among those who lodged complaints, with Arnold and Biggs calling the adverts "totally inappropriate, offensive and disrespectful".

Christine Cawley, an Irish Traveller living in London, criticised the campaign in an article for the Guardian, arguing that:

> "Channel 4 seems to be using who we are against us in a way that feels very hard to take."

In addition to the allegations of racism, the show has also been criticised for instigating a rise in the rate of racially motivated bullying.

The show explores the lives of families as they approach a girl's wedding day

The documentary series *Big Fat Gypsy Weddings* explores the lives of several British Traveller families as they approach a girl's wedding day. The series delves into the traditions and lives of Traveller communities, including the Romanichal (British Gypsies) and Irish Travellers.

The show provides an intimate look at the biggest milestone in a Traveller girl's life, with weddings being a visual spectacle of flamboyant dresses, sometimes weighing more than the bride herself. The series also highlights the complex relationship between the Traveller community and the "non-gypsy" community, as well as the challenges faced by the Traveller girls in their everyday lives.

One of the notable aspects of the series is the extravagant fashion choices, where ancient traditions meet modern, extravagant fashions. The wedding dresses are often frothy and bejewelled, with some brides even opting for glow-in-the-dark gowns or pineapple and palm tree-themed costumes. The series showcases the unique excitement and mayhem that go into creating these incredible outfits.

In addition to the wedding preparations, the series also explores the broader context of Traveller life, including births, evictions, divorces, and the community's relationship with the outside world. It provides a glimpse into a secretive and largely misunderstood community, provoking massive debate and attracting high viewing figures.

While the series has been popular, it has also faced some criticism. Some members of the Romani, Irish Traveller, and British Gypsy/Traveller communities have spoken out against the show, arguing that it misrepresents their culture and portrays them in a negative light. There have also been concerns about the young age of the brides and the implications for their future lives.

The show was first broadcast in 2010 as a one-off documentary

The TV show "Big Fat Gypsy Weddings" is a British documentary series that was first broadcast in February 2010 as a one-off programme called "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding". It was aired on Channel 4 as part of the Cutting Edge series and was voted the Most Groundbreaking Show in the Cultural Diversity Awards 2010.

The show explores the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families, including Romanichal (British Gypsies), as they prepared for a wedding. It delves into the intimate stories of these families, laying bare an exotic and unseen community that exists within the UK. The weddings are a visual spectacle, with flamboyant dresses that sometimes weigh more than the bride herself.

The show was initially well-received by viewers, with the first series of five episodes, which aired in January 2011, attracting high ratings. A second series began airing in February 2012, and the show ultimately concluded with eleven stand-alone specials, the last of which aired in 2015.

However, "Big Fat Gypsy Weddings" also faced significant criticism and controversy. It was mainly criticised by the Irish Traveller and British Gypsy/Traveller communities for misrepresenting their culture and way of life. Jane Jackson, of the Rural Media Company, stated that the show portrayed Traveller communities in a negative light and did not accurately represent England's Romani and Traveller community as a whole.

In addition to allegations of racism in its advertising, the show also sparked controversy with an episode that depicted young girls dancing provocatively and wearing full makeup.

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