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Hi all
I’ve just been reading an article in the Guardian newspaper about a TV reality show called ‘There’s Something About Miriam’. It aired on Sky in summer 2003.
The basic premise was that six men were flown to a luxury villa on the island of Ibiza to compete for the affections of a 21-year old Mexican model called Miriam Rivera. They were set a series of challenges to win dates with Miriam. Whoever she ultimately selected at the end of the series would win £10,000 and a romantic cruise aboard a luxury yacht. The men believed they were taking part in a series called ‘Find Me a Man’.
The climax of the series was the ‘big reveal’; Miriam was actually a pre-op transexual.
As the Guardian article says:
‘All hell broke loose. Contestants sued the show in an attempt to ensure it never aired.’
It might be argued that Miriam went into the show with eyes wide open. However, it was presented to her by the production company as ‘a social experiment about gender and sexuality’ intended to portray the trans community in a positive light.
The British Medical Journal wrote: “The premise was not a celebration of transgender people’s lives. It was designed to elicit horror from the winning contestant.”
In the aftermath of the show’s screening there was a media storm, mostly mocking Miriam with lurid anti-trans headlines. Ultimately, the negativity is thought to have contributed to her suicide.
The reason this is back in the headlines is that Channel 4 have produced a docuseries about the whole sordid affair. It’s called ‘Miriam: Death of a Reality Star’ and the first episode airs on Monday 29th April.
I can’t even begin to describe how angry reading about this has made me.
The Guardian describes it as 'a story of belief-beggaring insensitivity'.
Ellie x
Totally shameful,and knowing the media,done for ratings.
I recall that programme, an early modern 'Reality' series, a kind of dating programme where the viewers already knew the secret but contestants didn't. Through the programme a couple of the contestants actually said they thought she was a man. Obviously the 'contestants' at the end, two she had too pick from were fooled, as at the reveal she didn't say she was trans but said she'd been born a man, possibly something the producers wanted as even then trans wasn't really understood. Their faces were a picture and they sued getting payouts. Naturally the press went into overdrive and looked at the men being taken in but nothing positive or promoting trans in a positive light.
Miriam must have understood what she was letting herself in for and there would be some fall out as trans was still not really understood or have a broad acceptance. The commissioners realised this could garner good ratings and perhaps didn't consider the wider impact. Nowadays after some reality shows having participants suffering from mental health issues and negativity from their communities the programmers have guidelines to follow.
I doubt if anything like this would be made again unless the contestants were well aware and I doubt if it would get the ratings.
I suspect it made good viewing for many viewers but did not educate as most would see it as trans being predators and targets of fun.
The BMJ had it spot on and as you have seen Ellie it still rumbles on as there was also an article in the Metro on the same topic but in a more sympathetic style.
You got me thinking as there was a documentary in 1980 called 'A change of sex' which was a fly on the wall documentary chronicling the life of Julia Grant who at 24 embarked on the path to transition. It had 9 million viewers and was an amazing piece of television. It started at her work in catering and through all the medical appointments. This was very serious and sympathetic piece where there was acceptance among friends and family. She was seen shopping for clothes and shops that helped her along. She was a very open person and made some very profound statements about her life. It seemed the toughest time she had was with the medical professionals who were there to help her, or not as it seemed sometimes.
20 years later a follow up documentary was made 'The untold story' and finally in 1999 another where Julia gets her man. She worked hard running her own businesses and sadly passed in 2019.
I think the episodes are available on the BBC I player but You Tube has plenty of snippets.
It was groundbreaking for the trans community when it was screened because it was her and sensitive questions and amazing answers which bear relevance today, I urge any one who can to watch it if you think things are not good now imagine what it was like over 40 years ago.
Human suffering always makes money for a small portion of humanity, as if they deserve to be called “human”. How a person like that can live with themselves is beyond me. To hurt people, especially a community that is already slandered and oppressed, a community that already has a target on their back, can only be the prerogative of a person with no soul or compassion.
Obviously my heart goes out to Miriam, but also to the contestants who were looking for love, assuming that why they were there.
Jill 😢
That was really upsetting... i read about it on The Guardian, she was gorgeous, what enraged me the most was the fact that it all fell on her instead of the people that put this whole thing together and somehow thought it was a good idea, it's really messed up to think that in 2003 people thought this kind of thing was "fun", all in the name of entertainment...
that’s truly sad to hear producers don’t care about anything but money regardless of how it may effect other people lives I’m sure most seen and herd about Dylan Mulvaney With bud light and how that blew up once social media made this big deal over it sickening and sad know a days the world we live in
Miriam was born in Sonora, Mexico. I remember her. She was beautiful and very nice. She was an activist. Her end is a tragedy. Really really sad. One caddish after another. Criminal! I cried for Miriam several times. Of rage and helplessness. Five years ago she was found death in her apartment in Hermosillo, Mexico. Her husband Daniel said she was killed. Police said she committed suicide. When Daniel Cuervo asked that his wife's body be transferred to New York, where he was, he was informed that she had already been cremated, making it impossible to perform an autopsy. According to Daniel Cuervo, when he was preparing arrangements for Miriam's funeral, an unknown man called him and said: "Don't go back to Mexico or we will kill you too."
Iniquities like this makes me feel very bad.
Gisela
So sad. Thank you Ellie for sharing that...being aware of such sad tragedies and injustices is so important.
There are different realities throughout the world, where we do not all live in the same circumstances. Unfortunately in our Latin American countries, although there is undeniable progress, transphobia and discrimination are real and everyday. Hate exists. It is a big monster and it stomps, like the song says. Our fight is permanent and everyone contributes what they can from their situation. We manage to survive.
Gisela