Would you do this chick?
(Thanks to OutOutBlogger for the story!)
Contestants in transsexual show to sue Sky
Jason Deans
Thursday October 30, 2003
Miriam: contestants discovered the ‘gorgeous creature’ was a man after the winner was chosen
Six men are suing Sky TV after they took part in a reality TV show in which they competed to win the affections of a beautiful woman - who later turned out to be a man waiting for a sex-change operation.
The contestants have instructed law firm Schillings, which specialises in media cases, to begin legal proceedings against Sky One and the show’s producer, independent company Brighter Pictures.
The men claim they were tricked into kissing, cuddling and holding hands with the “woman”, Miriam, and say it was only after three weeks of filming that they were told she was male.
While viewers know from the start that Miriam is a male-to-female transsexual, the contestants, who include a Royal Marine commando, a ski instructor and an ex-lifeguard, only discover the truth when Miriam picks the winner and then lifts up her skirt.
One contestant was so furious he is said to have punched the show’s producer when he found out.
The programme, There’s Something About Miriam, is due to be broadcast on November 16 but the contestants are now trying to stop it going on air.
A central element of the case is said to revolve around whether contracts the six men signed - giving Sky permission to broadcast the show before filming began - are legally binding.
There’s Something About Miriam was filmed in Ibiza over the summer.
It pitted seven single men - all aged between 20 and 35 and described as “lively and outgoing” - against each other in a contest to win Miriam’s affections.
The men had to pick the woman they found most attractive from a line-up and all selected Miriam.
Members of the Brighter Pictures production team on the show are said to have been very upset by what happened and have offered to help the contestants in their legal action.
Cameras filmed the men attempting to woo Miriam, including scenes of them kissing and fondling her.
It is understood one of the areas of legal contention are the consent forms they signed.
Sources say they were signed just before Miriam’s secret was revealed, although neither Schillings nor Sky were available for comment.
A spokesman for the programme makers said they had made a point of never referring to Miriam as a woman when getting the men to take part.
“As Miriam is a transsexual, I would never refer to her as male or female. She is a gorgeous creature,” he said.
There’s Something About Miriam follows in the footsteps of US show Joe Millionaire, in which a group of women vied to win the hand of a wealthy businessman, only to discover he was a cash-strapped builder.
Another article…
TV suitors shocked as dream girl turns out to be a man
By Catriona Davies
(Filed: 31/10/2003)
Six men who competed for the affection of an attractive brunette called Miriam for a reality television programme have threatened legal action after discovering that the object of their attention was a transsexual.
Contestants have accused Sky One, which is due to broadcast the show, and Brighter Pictures, the programme makers, of offences including conspiracy to commit a sexual assault.
The programme, called Find Me A Man, was filmed in Ibiza over the summer and the contestants, all aged 20 to 35, were invited to pick the most attractive woman from a line-up. They were then filmed on dates with her.
All of them chose Miriam, who, unknown to them, was born a man.
Some of the men are believed to have been intimate with Miriam before discovering at the end of the show that she was a pre-operative transsexual.
They were allegedly asked to sign release forms, before Miriam’s secret was revealed, consenting to their appearances being screened.
Lawyers for the six men have written to Sky and Brighter Pictures accusing them of conspiracy to commit a sexual assault, defamation, breach of contract and personal injury.
They have also asked for the programme not to be broadcast until after a trial or court order.
Sky said: “We have received a letter of complaint regarding this programme. We will examine its contents carefully before making any response.
“The transmission date has not been confirmed and the show is not in the Sky One schedule at present.”
A spokesman for Brighter Pictures said it had made a point of never referring to Miriam as a woman when getting the men to take part.
“As Miriam is a transsexual, I would never refer to her as male or female. She is a gorgeous creature,” he said.
Brighter Pictures is a subsidiary of Endemol, the company that makes Big Brother.
sure! does she have a dick?
Uh, I think “DO” is an understatement!
Dude…that’s an awesome costume…
I dunno… I mean, does he/she like to cuddle afterward?
That is funny that they are suing. Serves them right for agreeing to be on a reality show. They should know that there is ALWAYS going to be some sort of twist.
I’ll agree with the show’s producers, Miriam is a gorgeous creature. Anyone who would argue that probably needs glasses.
one of the articles said, “The men had to pick the woman they found most attractive from a line-up and all selected Miriam.” a person is a person — if they were atracted to him/her, who cares the gender?
and for the record, given the chance (and if i wan’t married), i’d do Miriam in a minute.
they werent given contracts to sign just b4 the reveal was made…she didnt lift up her skirt to show she was a man she merely tells them and no-one hit the producer who in actual fact is a woman. you’ll all find this out soon.
I find it to be soo silly how men could be so uptight and ignorant about certain issues…The guys all liked her so who cares if she isn’t biologically female. She is still female nonetheless. Guys please stop be sooo uptight…
hello all,, well i must say as a pre-opertive transexual myself,, i dont agree at all with the show content,, i feel it was a joke on both parts,, of course on the men for being tricked into thinking and being lead to all doubts that she is nothing more than a “real woman”, after the guys kissed her and what not. thats just plain wrong.!! I been asked amny times to be on talk shows about transsexuals,, buti feel that the mediadont take it seriously, and that shows like: SOMETHING ABOUT MIRIAM” depict transsexuals as deciveing , manipulating people who dont let their partners know about what they are.Even subject for ridiulce, discrimination and even violence.!! whats really sad is taht these guys were used as jokes,, and humiliated on national televison. Whats worst its that this pretty girl had no sence of self or self validation, and took part in such a tasteless cruel joke,,!!!! and what is sadder is she is that joke..!!! soo actually theres is nothing really about miriam!!!