“It is a shame that you haven’t featured any Gypsy or Traveller designers because the clothing that we were actually more traditionally known for before your ‘documentary’, is actually far more interesting than amusing.” Speaking with The Guardian, Helen, a Traveller in her 20s, revealed: “I don’t know anyone so rich that they can afford to splash out on wedding dresses like that. “I’ve been to many Gypsy and Traveller weddings, but I’m yet to attend a wedding where the bride’s dress weighs more than my whole family,” reveals Roma Pip. While Irish Travellers originate from Ireland, we can trace our routes back to India, so it was hardly surprising that I was somewhat confused when you use the word Gypsy in the title of your ‘documentary’ about Irish Travellers.” Not all wedding dresses are that extravagant The majority, like myself, are in fact Romany, yet your ‘documentary’ seems to ignore our existence. He continued: “Viewers are instead offered an overly simplistic view of the cultures of Travellers and Roma with scarcely any historical or political context about their place in the United Kingdom and Europe.” What’s more, “there is no explanation of why tradition dictated for centuries that they live nomadic lifestyles.”Įuropean Roma Pip seconded this sentiment in an open letter to show producers, writing: “Just 10% of the Gypsy and Traveller population are actually Irish Travellers. “Travellers are ethnic Irish, while the Roma came from Eastern Europe (and originally, historians think, India),” explains Seyward Darby, online editor for The New Republic, in an article titled Big Fat Disgrace. One of the biggest criticisms the show has received to date is that it groups Travellers and Roma together, despite there being very prominent differences between the two cultures. On April 13, 2011, TLC revealed that it was working on adapting the show for a seven-part series and, in 2012, announced that it would use original footage from its British counterpart, but replace the original narrator with Ellen K, co-host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest. 9 For women, it’s often far from happily ever after It used to be a British TV showįirst premiering in the United Kingdom and Ireland on Februunder the title Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, the show enjoyed two seasons on Channel 4 and became the “eighth highest-rating programme ever” on the station, with 6.4 million curious viewers tuning into its first episode, and a whopping 7.5 million coming back the following week.
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