Big Brother is Watching You

By Ben Ehrlich

Published August 15, 2007, issue of August 17, 2007.
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CBS found itself in hot water last week. The 24-hour microphones and cameras on the network’s reality-TV show “Big Brother 8” caught contestant Amber Siyavus Tomcavage talking in whispers. “The majority of Jewish people I know, my gosh, so many are so selfish,” she said to another contestant. “So weird.” The 27-year-old Las Vegas cocktail waitress also said she was taught that one can tell who is Jewish “by their last name” and “by their nose.” The statements did not air on CBS, but appeared on both the “Big Brother” after-show feed on the Showtime channel and on the live Internet feed.

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, responded quickly and criticized CBS for its role in the incident. “What they’ve done is distributed antisemitism — which started as a private conversation — and by putting it on a reality TV show broadcast it to the world at large,” Foxman told the celebrity gossip and news Web site TMZ.com. “I want CBS to understand they are facilitating antisemitism. They should act responsibly to the community; they are legitimizing bigoted conversation.”

CBS offered a carefully worded response. “At times, the Houseguests reveal prejudices and other beliefs that we do not condone,” the show’s producer said. “We certainly find the statements made by Amber Siyavus on the live Internet feed to be offensive and they will not be part of any future broadcast on the CBS television network.”


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Comments
Leonard Thu. Aug 16, 2007

Hey, Shaul: Nowhere in the article are Zionists or Zionism even mentioned, let alone confused with Jews and Judaism, but somehow you have managed to make that distinction in excusing dear sweet Amber's anti-Semitism. Maybe the true problem is that people see and hear you and your fellow self-hating Neturei Karta types and confuse you with real Jews who love their fellow Jews despite their weaknesses, failings and all. By the way, Shaul, does your rebbe know that you watch television, let alone Big Brother?? You do watch Big Brother; after all, you wouldn't be commenting on something that you know nothing about.

David L Nilsson Fri. Aug 17, 2007

Good to see Abe is still earning his handsome salary by focusing on this terribly vital, important issue. Casual insults one day, pogroms the next-- eh, Abe? Keep on trucking!

Shaul Saulisbury Thu. Aug 16, 2007

I have to respond to this article because it gives me the opinion to state a fact and correct this dislike of Jewish people please people stop confusing Jews with Zionism. All of the worldwide choices that the Zionist do people think it is the Jews. Please look closer at any actions that one thinks are Jews but really are Zionist. Amber hatered towards Jews is misplaced. She really means Zionist not Jewish. Its a difficult concept but the Zionist are very clever. They do things in the name of Jews but it really is for themselves. True Jews do not believe that there should be a State of Israel. It is against what they believe G-d has choosen for them. But the Zionist hijacked the word Jews to build a State based on the happenings of the Holocaust. So its looks like this is being done by Jews but its really for and about Zionist. So, plesse stop blaming Jews for what Zionist are doing and have done. Its very hard to be a Jew. Please don't make it harder. Blessings to all and most surely to the true Jews. Shaul

Ora Thu. Aug 16, 2007

Bravo Leonard!

Albert Wendroff Thu. Aug 16, 2007

CBS would never allow anyone to besmerch the blacks or Musloms in the way the permitted positive anti semitism to be broadcast. I believe this case is actionable.

Martin Solomon Thu. Aug 16, 2007

Since when is the opinion of a Vegas [word deleted]tail waitress worth noting? The morons of the world are always first in line with anti-Semetic opinions.

Martin Solomon Thu. Aug 16, 2007

I don't know why I got a word deleted in the above comment. All I said was [word deleted]tail waitress.

Alan Black Thu. Aug 16, 2007

I have a very hard time believing Shaul is Jewish. His rant is way off base, it isn't about Jews it's about an anti-semitic, ignorant, former crack head, who talked out of her butt. She needs a visit to Yad Vashem, so she can see what her relatives did to the Jewish people because of their false stereotypes, and ignorance. Shaul, get with the game and realize that there is no difference between anti-semitism and anti-zionism, the core belief is the same, the hatred of Jews. Ugh..You disgust me...

Stewart Mash Fri. Aug 17, 2007

I watched Amber on YouTube make her antisemetic remarks. As a practicing Jew I found her remarks offensive to say the least. Amber also told how her mother and sister made similiar statements. As Americans we must protect Amber's right of free speech. But as Jews we must go after Amber, her mother and sister. They have a right to hate Jews, but we have a right to ruin their lives . Then if they want to hate Jews they'll have a reason. . We should insist that CBS play her statements. Let the world know what kind of people Amber and her family are. Let CBS also show the response by Jews. We can't back down from Goyim.

Henry Fri. Aug 17, 2007

I peek in on BB8 (both on CBS and via the internet) from time to time, and this is the first I heard of it. All I can say is that I hope, whenever she gets evicted, Julie Chen will call her out on this, though I understand that goes against the CBS statement about it not being part of any future network broadcast. The only way to fight ignorant stuff like this is to make it public and confront her with her own prejudice.

shayna Sat. Aug 18, 2007

think it's good to have anti-Semitism out in the open. Now we know what an ignorant person she is. Why hide it behind closed doors?

ha ha ha Sat. Aug 18, 2007

Shaul Saulisbury is right: that stupid waitress didn't say she hated Jews, just the ones with the big noses and funny names.... And who could object to that?

Tatiana Wed. Aug 22, 2007

I agree with Martin that Amber is an idiot, like most anti-semites. Amber hates the Jewish people because she's a loser who envies our success. Big Brother is for viewers with one digit IQ levels, which includes the participants. I do find it ironic that Amber has a bigger nose than most of my Jewish family and friends. CBS should air Amber's anti-semitic comments. Hiding or censoring offensive comments will not make them go away. They should be out in the open to make people aware that these attitudes still exist. "Shaul" is NOT JEWISH! There are thousands of people on the internet who claim to be anti-Zionist Jews. Don't believe it for a second! It's all a ruse by the pro-Arab anti-Israeli crowd to make it seem like there are a huge number of anti-Zionist Jews. We all know that they represent a tiny minority of all Jews. Real Jews support Israel.

Zionsake Tue. Aug 21, 2007

I have a Jewish sounding name, Blum, Bloom, Blum, etc. and I have a big nose! So I must be Jewish! Ah well, perhaps as far back as the Spanish Inquisition. But I don't need to wail about anti-Semitism like the Jews in the Diaspora who haven't learnt from the Holocaust, because I live in Israel - watching the civil war the liberal Babylonian/Vatican-run** government of Israel is waging against the Bible believing Jews -- the "sons of Zion" the Bible calls them! ** Check where Osloist Pres. Shimon Peres will drop in on his visit to Italy in the coming days!

Leonid Tue. Aug 21, 2007

Not very smart comments of the BB8 participant is nothing comparing with actions of Israeli government against Israeli Jews: ethnic cleansing in Gaza(Augist 2005) and pogroms in Amona(february 2006) and Hebron (August 2007).


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