AIBU to be angry about another misleading programme on Romany Gypsies?

[IronEverything]

I just can't believe this is happening again.

Some of you may remember the show called "my big fat gypsy wedding" on channel 4 from years ago. It did absolutely awful damage to my community (Romany gypsy). It was complete and utter trash and majority of those featured weren't even gypsies.

Well they're at it again.

They are advertising a new show, something along the lines of "secret lives of gypsy wives". Yet the star of the show is a social media influencer (?) named Trewly Precious who is neither of those things. I think her father was a gypsy but she wasn't raised in the community and she isn't married.

Why are they doing this to us? There are so many amazing gypsy women who could have shown what it's really like to be a modern day gypsy. Yet they have once again chosen entertainment value over the reputation of a community who are already marginalised and hated by a large portion of the public. AIBU to be so angry about this?

I have lived in the area where there were gipsies - like the ones you see on the "big fat gipsy wedding". The programme seemed quite legit to me. I also have a friend who works for the regional council dealing with gipsies/ travellers and who also kind of reinforced the "stereotype".

But I get that this portrayal could be a bit exaggerated; however, no one would want to watch a trash programme about ordinary sensible people. Its the same as portraying people on benefits as retarded job shy inbreds and not as an ordinary people who fell on hard times.

Don't feel singled out- the media do this with everybody- any story in a paper or on the telly you personally know something about will illustrate they wil say any old garbabe that suits their purpose.
My Big Fat Gypsy wedding centred on the wedding dress maker, and she did make it clear all her clients are Irish Travellers not Romany Gypsies.
Like you though, I would be furious too.

Someone mentioned upthread ‘showmen’ - do you perhaps mean people who work on the travelling fairs?

I worked in shops many years ago and we would often get settled irish travellers and fair people coming in. They behaved quite differently and their accents, although only very slightly, were different too. I have an ear for dialects so noticed it more than most (maybe). I also recall having a chat with some of the ‘fair people’ and they were very keen to distance themselves from the Irish travelling community.

edited to say: very interesting thread.