My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding": A Cultural Journe

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding is a British documentary series that first aired on Channel 4 in 2010. It explores the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families as they prepared for marriage. The show has since expanded to include several spin-offs, including My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding, which follows the marriage customs of Romani-Americans. Both the original British series and the American spin-off have faced some criticism and controversy for their portrayal of the Romani community and allegations of racism in their advertising.

The series has faced criticism for misrepresenting the Romani and Traveller communities

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding is a British documentary series that aired on Channel 4. The series explored the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families as they prepared for a wedding. The series also featured Romanichal (British Gypsies) in several episodes. The show has faced criticism for misrepresenting the Romani and Traveller communities.

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's 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, criticised the show for focusing on Irish Travellers and their traditions, despite the show's title. He said:

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

The series has also been criticised for its advertising, with allegations of racism and instigating a rise in the rate of racially motivated bullying.

The show's portrayal of its subjects was summarised by one viewer on Twitter:

> So far they get married @ 16, live in trailers & dress like sluts.

Another viewer wrote:

> I now understand why all of Europe hates gypsys.

The show has been described as "voyeuristic, stereotypical, judgmental, and shallow" in its depiction of the Romani and Traveller communities. It has been noted that the show fails to provide historical or political context about the place of these communities in the United Kingdom and Europe more broadly.

The show has also been criticised for perpetuating dangerous stereotypes and instructing viewers to see the Romani and Traveller communities as "other". The language used in the show's PR and marketing has been described as perpetuating a dangerous stereotype by referring to these communities as living in a "hidden world" and having a "highly secretive community".

The show has also been criticised for failing to provide a clear explanation of the differences between the Traveller and Roma groups' origins, and for not exploring the reasons behind the prejudice and discrimination faced by these communities.

The series has also faced allegations of racism in its advertising and instigating a rise in racially motivated bullying

The British documentary series *Big Fat Gypsy Weddings* aired on Channel 4 and TLC. The show explored the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families as they prepared for a wedding. The series also featured Romanichal (British Gypsies) in several episodes.

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. The show's advertising campaign, featuring the strapline "Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier", received almost 100 complaints that it was offensive and racist. The London Gypsy & Traveller Unit and London assembly members Jennette Arnold and John Biggs were among those who lodged complaints.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that the campaign depicted a 15-year-old child in a sexualised way, reinforced negative stereotypes, and that Channel 4 had acted "irresponsibly". The broadcaster apologised for any offence caused.

The series has also been blamed for an increase in bullying and negative stereotyping of the Gypsy and Traveller communities. Educational consultant Brian Foster, who chaired the advisory council for the education of Romanies and other Travellers, said there was "no question" that the series and its poster campaign had caused "real, measurable and long-term harm". Foster was commissioned by law firm Howe and Co, which represented the Irish Traveller Movement in Britain's (ITMB) complaint against the Channel 4 ad campaign, to consider the impact of the show in its evidence to the ASA.

Arthur Ivatts, an expert in the education of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities, was also commissioned by Howe and Co to provide evidence to the ASA. Ivatts said:

> There is no doubt in my professional opinion that this advertising campaign has seriously damaged and harmed Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and caused harm (physical, mental and emotional) to very many GR&T children. Supposing the posters had said, 'Bigger, Fatter, Blacker'? Hopefully, this example illustrates the point being made here in this report.

The Romani Gypsy community has also criticised the series 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 series explores the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding is a British documentary series that explores the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families. The series, which was broadcast on Channel 4, follows these families as they prepare to unite one of their members in marriage. The series also features Romanichal (British Gypsies) in several episodes.

The series first aired 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 at the Cultural Diversity Awards 2010. Due to its success, a series of 5 episodes were commissioned, and the series returned in January 2011. A second series began airing in February 2012.

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding has been the subject of some controversy, with some members of the Irish Traveller and British Gypsy/Traveller communities criticising the show for misrepresenting their culture and way of life. Despite this, the series proved to be highly popular, with the second episode attracting 7.4 million viewers at its peak and the final episode being watched by 6.5 million viewers.

The series covers a range of topics related to the lives and traditions of British Traveller families, including the importance of family, education, courtship and marriage, and the challenges of living a traditional life within the context of modern British society. It also explores the unique excitement and extravagance of Traveller weddings, with dressmaker Thelma Madine revealing the secrets behind some of her most outrageous wedding dress designs.

The series features Romanichal (British Gypsies)

Romanichal in Great Britain live predominantly in England, with smaller communities in South Wales, Northeast Wales, and the Scottish Borders. There is a sharp north-south divide among Romanichal in the country, with Southern Romanichal living in the southeast, southwest, midlands, East Anglia, and South Wales, and Northern Romanichal living in the northwest, Yorkshire, Scottish Borders, and Northeast Wales. These two groups have distinct dialects and accents, leading to the formation of separate regional identities.

Romanichal have a distinct ethnic and cultural identity within the United Kingdom, referring to the non-Romani population as "Gorjas" or country people. Their culture emphasizes the importance of family and extended family, traditional gender roles, birth and death rituals, hygiene, and household cleanliness. They also have a traditionally nomadic lifestyle, although many Romanichal now live in houses or caravans. Historically, Romanichal earned their living through agricultural work and casual labour, with specific skills in gardening, fortune-telling, hawking, selling, and collecting scrap.

The series "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" has been criticized by some members of the Romani community for not accurately representing England's Romani and Traveller community. Billy Welch, a spokesman for Romani Gypsies, pointed out that the first three episodes focused exclusively on Irish Travellers and their traditions. The series has also faced allegations of racism in its advertising and has been linked to a rise in racially motivated bullying.

The series has been described as amusing [and] a glimpse into another world

The series *My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding* has been described as "amusing [and] a glimpse into another world". The show explores the lives and traditions of several British Traveller families as they prepare to unite their families in marriage. The series also featured 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 series has been praised for differentiating between Irish Travellers and Romani Gypsies. However, it has also faced criticism from the Irish Traveller and British Gypsy/Traveller communities for misrepresenting them. Some members of these communities have stated that the show makes them look "totally feckless" and that it does not accurately represent England's Romani and Traveller community. The series has also been criticised for instigating a rise in the rate of racially motivated bullying and for containing allegations of racism in its advertising.

Despite the criticism, the series has been a ratings success, with the second episode of the first series getting 7.4 million viewers at its peak. The final episode was watched by 6.5 million viewers, easily beating the 2011 BRIT Awards which had an average viewership of 4.8 million. The series has spawned several spin-offs, including *My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding*, which has also faced similar criticism from the Romani Gypsy community for misrepresenting the ethnic minority with non-Romani characters posing as “Gypsy”.

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