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Making Fun Of Gluten Issues On New Cbs Show

Kate79

By Kate79
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

I'm glad to have found this post on here, because I was absolutely disgusted about the "joke" as well. I posted on facebook about it & was told (more than once) that I was overreacting. Of course, by people who don't have celiac disease, so I guess I should consider the source. I sent a sharply worded email to CBS letting them know that the joke was in poor taste. Ignorant attitudes like this are the reason we aren't taken seriously. I've been accused of having an eating disorder bc of my weight & not only is it untrue but also extremely hurtful. CBS just lost me as a viewer completely.

I don't know your age but maybe at some point you will learn to let this stuff role right off you. No one is ever going to understand Celiac because people are food obsessed these days and will not listen to anyone if it means a dietary change.

I hear people complaining ALL THE TIME about symptoms that are text book Celiac yet try and tell them about it or suggest a dietary trial. They practically have a stroke on the spot and then absolutely refuse to see the problem if it means no bread as they know it.

I, too, have been accused of having an eating disorder because I was down to 97 pounds at diagnosis. However, I am older (52) and I have learned that what other people think doesn't matter at all. I have also learned that as you get older, something amazing happens and you just don't care, for the most part, whether people get it or not. It might be more self confidence, I don't know, but one of the biggest reasons this disease gets bad press is because people are threatened by those who learn the truth...you are what you eat and food can kill you. No one is going to take us seriously until there is a pill for it anyone can take so they can eat whatever they want. Just do what you do to stay healthy and if someone makes stupid remarks, ignore them totally. They are not worth my energy to respond to. Honestly...you are dealing with people today who eat to medicate themselves and who don't understand why we choose not to do that.

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kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I have also learned that as you get older, something amazing happens and you just don't care, for the most part, whether people get it or not. It might be more self confidence,

Not sure about the self-confidence - I think I'm just too busy feeling better to care! :D

aeraen Apprentice
aeraen
Posted

Gemini, I don't think the issue is worrying about what what "other people" think. However, I AM concerned that anyone serving, cooking or handling my food takes this disease seriously.

I have a hard enough time trusting restaurants the way it is now. Characterizing Celiac disease as a self-proclaimed eating disorder may lead a server to be less careful with my order in the future.

srall Contributor
srall
Posted

Gemini, I don't think the issue is worrying about what what "other people" think. However, I AM concerned that anyone serving, cooking or handling my food takes this disease seriously.

I have a hard enough time trusting restaurants the way it is now. Characterizing Celiac disease as a self-proclaimed eating disorder may lead a server to be less careful with my order in the future.

I agree with both you and Gemini. I have also sat and listened to people complain about a host of symptoms and realized they don't want to hear that it might be worth a try to go gluten free for a couple of weeks. They think I'm crazy even though I suffered from the exact same symptoms for years. I cannot understand why people won't even attempt to feel better by just giving something a try (free and legal)...but I too have learned to just keep my mouth shut. I am very quiet about my diet.

HOWEVER...last night we got take out from my "safe" Indian restaurant and I am really suffering today. I don't know if it was gluten or dairy...but I feel like I have the flu. I hate not being able to trust eating out. It has turned into too big of a risk. At this point I've cleared my schedule tomorrow so I can lie on the couch and recover. Just having a better educated public would help imo

Menic Apprentice
Menic
Posted

I think the real reason to be upset with CBS's portayal here is that it reinforces the stereotype that people just choose to pick up the gluten-free diet for whatever reason, be it as a fad or a coverup for an eating disorder. It's these kinds of things that reinforce in the public's minds that gluten-free doesn't have to be taken seriously. If the joke had been something more in the context of expecting gluten-free in a greasy-spoon diner is impossible, then it would be acceptable.

AzizaRivers Apprentice
AzizaRivers
Posted

I filed a complaint on CBS's website. You all should too. Here's what I said:

"I have a medical condition called Celiac Disease that causes my immune system to attack my small intestine if it detects even trace amounts of gluten in something I eat. I was repulsed when I heard the gluten joke in 2 Broke Girls. I have been made seriously ill at restaurants when I was not taken seriously by the server, and I rarely eat out because gluten intolerance is not taken as seriously, as common as it is becoming. I do not appreciate TV shows perpetuating the widespread discrimination against people with medical diets or food allergies. Would a joke about sugar-free foods for a diabetic have been funny? Not to mentioned the fact that the joke also was discriminatory against people with eating disorders, which may have been worse because media is often a major factor in eating disorders.

You have lost me as a viewer, and I suspect you have also lost the 40 some thousand who suffer from Celiac disease or other forms of gluten intolerance. I doubt the 8 million sufferers (mostly young girls) of eating disorders in the US found that joke very funny, either."

Finally-45 Contributor
Finally-45
Posted

That's too bad, I'm finding it awkward to tell people about gluten-free eating because I can tell some people think it's weird or that a little cake really won't hurt me.

Shows like this make it even harder to discuss.

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tennisman Contributor
tennisman
Posted

Wow that's very stupid joke :( Really no need for something like that .

I think celiac disease is treated as a joke , with all the celebs and athletes going " 50 % gluten free " . Makes it worse . Hopefully know more pathetic jokes will be made about gluten free . I find a lot of tv programs joke about gluten or give the idea to the public it's not serious .

If only we could pass on celiac disease to the people who make fun it would be great :P

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

Also......since when is making fun of people funny? I watched a few other of the new sitcoms. I heard penis and vagina and fat jokes. Not funny to me. TV is literally crap anymore.

A lot of people seem to think making fun of people is funny. I can remember seeing Don Rickles on the Tonight show and he almost had me in tears. I was a kid back then. Not funny to me at all.

Gfresh404 Enthusiast
Gfresh404
Posted

eh - I think you guys might be overreacting a bit.

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

This is upsetting :(

Marie1976 Enthusiast
Marie1976
Posted

I get that it's a comedy, but I still find it offensive. I submitted a complaint as well.

rainer83 Newbie
rainer83
Posted

I saw this too! Usually I'm very chill, and I can take jokes. I really don't take much seriously at all, but this actually made me pretty damn angry. It's just ignorance. I don't think you need to lighten up, cause neither do I, and this was just a cheap shot at something clearly the writers of this show don't understand in the least.

espresso261 Rookie
espresso261
Posted

I'm not really too bothered by this. Unfortunately, I think there are people who do believe that misconception. I'd rather spend my time writing letters to food manufacturers or restaraunts to create awareness and more gluten free options, then write letters to cbs to complain about a show that probably won't last another season anyway. Its amazing what we are capable of if we just channel our energy in a positive direction.

lucia Enthusiast
lucia
Posted

Please send your opinion to CBS if you think this is wrong. It takes two minutes with the online form.

Open Original Shared Link (thanks to jetsgar)

I believe a complaint will make a difference. I formerly worked in corporate America, and companies take complaints (unwarranted or not, and this one is warranted) very seriously. It should be the same for a mainstream network.

And, yes, it's offensive. Celiac/gluten intolerance is a serious medical condition, and the script makes it sound frivolous.

Gfresh404 Enthusiast
Gfresh404
Posted

Will you guys relax? Seriously who cares - it's a TV show. It's not like someone close to you insulted you.

Stephen Fry's thoughts on being offended - http://i.imgur.com/EX5v4.webp

saintmaybe Collaborator
saintmaybe
Posted

Will you guys relax? Seriously who cares - it's a TV show. It's not like someone close to you insulted you.

Stephen Fry's thoughts on being offended - http://i.imgur.com/EX5v4.webp

It's exactly this attitude that bothers me. It's okay to be rude as long as you don't know someone? This is why gluten-free is considered a fad diet, not a medical diet. It's also why celiac disease continues to be underdiagnosed to the tune of 95%.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

Will you guys relax? Seriously who cares - it's a TV show. It's not like someone close to you insulted you.

Stephen Fry's thoughts on being offended - http://i.imgur.com/EX5v4.webp

Well I'm personally offended not only for the people that have celiac/gluten intolerance but also for the people with eating disorders such as anerexia and bulimia. I wasn't going to write and complain, but your insistence that this is no big deal just caused me to write a complaint to CBS. Thanks for the motivation! :)

bigbird16 Apprentice
bigbird16
Posted

Without someone taking offense, racial slurs and hurtful names for those with mental and physical challenges would still be considered appropriate. And where does the misinformation stop?

lynnelise Apprentice
lynnelise
Posted

The point is not so much that the joke was offensive, the point is that the joke makes people watching the show, some of who work in restaurants and prepare food think that this isn't a real medical issue. I don't care if a particular show offends me but if I go out to eat and someone disregards my gluten free order because they think I'm just being picky well that is a problem.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

The point is not so much that the joke was offensive, the point is that the joke makes people watching the show, some of who work in restaurants and prepare food think that this isn't a real medical issue. I don't care if a particular show offends me but if I go out to eat and someone disregards my gluten free order because they think I'm just being picky well that is a problem.

Yes, this.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

Please send your opinion to CBS if you think this is wrong. It takes two minutes with the online form.

Open Original Shared Link (thanks to jetsgar)

I believe a complaint will make a difference. I formerly worked in corporate America, and companies take complaints (unwarranted or not, and this one is warranted) very seriously. It should be the same for a mainstream network.

And, yes, it's offensive. Celiac/gluten intolerance is a serious medical condition, and the script makes it sound frivolous.

For some reason your link didn't work for me but the one given by Jestgar earlier did work. Here's the link: Open Original Shared Link

jmrogers31 Contributor
jmrogers31
Posted

What's the big deal? Others have said it already, this is standard practice on TV these days. Fat jokes, jokes about religion, sexual orientation, race. Why not throw in food allergies? (end sarcasm) I honestly wasn't that offended because I don't expect much from sitcoms these days. I do get more offended by people that dismiss it completely that you know. I have a sister in law who gets horrible migraines and has to go to the ER the pain is so bad. The doctors have ran scans and can't find the cause. I one time asked her if she considered trying an elimination diet to see if it was food related. I never mentioned the word Celiac or gluten. Knowing my medical condition she got really defensive and said, "Oh my gosh, I don't need to go gluten free." That is what things like this on TV won't help with. I am aware that what helped me won't help everyone. But not just gluten free, changes in diet would help so many people if they would just try it out.

saintmaybe Collaborator
saintmaybe
Posted

What's the big deal? Others have said it already, this is standard practice on TV these days. Fat jokes, jokes about religion, sexual orientation, race. Why not throw in food allergies? (end sarcasm) I honestly wasn't that offended because I don't expect much from sitcoms these days. I do get more offended by people that dismiss it completely that you know. I have a sister in law who gets horrible migraines and has to go to the ER the pain is so bad. The doctors have ran scans and can't find the cause. I one time asked her if she considered trying an elimination diet to see if it was food related. I never mentioned the word Celiac or gluten. Knowing my medical condition she got really defensive and said, "Oh my gosh, I don't need to go gluten free." That is what things like this on TV won't help with. I am aware that what helped me won't help everyone. But not just gluten free, changes in diet would help so many people if they would just try it out.

But see, that's a really sad story. I suffered terribly from migraines for years and years. It was one of my very first symptoms, and no one could ever find a cause or an explanation. That your sister in law won't even *try* gluten free, just to see if it would help...I just want to throw up my hands some days. Even my own fiance, who's SEEN up close the health benefits of giving up wheat still won't stop eating it himself. It's not a line in the sand for me, at least not yet, but our whole society is just INGRAINED (pun very much intended) with a wheat culture.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Will you guys relax? Seriously who cares - it's a TV show. It's not like someone close to you insulted you.

Stephen Fry's thoughts on being offended - http://i.imgur.com/EX5v4.webp

If misrepresentation of our disease is fine with you great. People have very valid reasons for being upset that celiac and eating disorders were referred to in this way. Hopefully your next meal out won't be served by a waitperson who saw the show and doesn't take your needs seriously. I would also suggest that if it bothers you that others are bothered by it this may be a thread you might want to skip over.

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