Discovery Misses The Point Claiming Amish Mafia Cast Are “Actual People” Not “Paid Actors”
January 2, 2013 by Hollywoodite
Amish Mafia is Discovery’s answer to the success of TLC’s Breaking Amish that claimed to be about young people leaving the Amish for “the first time” even though some had left their communities for “English” life a decade prior.
Discovery has faced claims of similar fabrication since its show is ostensibly fake and relies on the credulity of the audience. For example, the show is only on its fifth episode (which airs tonight). In which time it’s been revealed that the show is based on “eyewitness accounts” and “reenactments” and “legend” because there is no Amish Mafia. The cast may no longer be part of the Amish nor Mennonite community. Scenes of purported criminal acts are staged to make sure no one is hurt. At least one of the cast is an actor who pitched reality show ideas in 2005. Episode one used the name of a fake police department and fake mug shots. And the scenes about collecting protection money from local store owners were completely fabricated.
Even though they’ve already been exposed as fake several times over, Discovery obfuscate by pointing out the cast is not “paid actors.” Just “unpaid” then, in the case of Alan Beiler. And it’s irrelevant whether or not they’re experienced actors when they’re clearly acting for the camera and there’s anecdotal evidence of staged scenes.
Laurie Goldberg, Discovery’s vice president of public relations, misses the point entirely by claiming: ”They are actual people. These are real people in the Amish and Mennonite communities.” So what? Even regular Amish or Mennonite can follow direction and contrive a scene. And that’s evidently what’s been happening.