[Karen&Michael]

I just received this email today about the NON-Mom title.

Marie posted this statement on her website:

Monday, May 12, 2008

To all my friends, fans and viewers of America’s Favorite Mom, I would like to take this opportunity to address the emails I received this past weekend about America’s Favorite Mom.
I have read your thoughts concerning the “Non-Mom Mom” category as it appeared on the Today Show and in other promotions before the special was taped and televised.

Please understand that as an adoptive mother myself; I totally understand why this category concerned you. I would never address any of us women who love and raise our children as a “Non-Mom Mom.” When Donny and I arrived at rehearsals for the show, we came to understand that the category now included women who had adopted or who had taken in children to raise as their own. Though the Today Show segments had already aired as “Non-Mom Mom’s,” Donny and I were both 100 percent in favor of changing the name of the category for the actual show, no matter what, and the producers agreed. At one point I suggested “Non-Stop Moms,” because I know that when a woman feels that inspiration to parent a child absolutely nothing can stop her. The final, agreed upon choice, was “Adopting Moms.”

Donny and I both consider motherhood as the most important job in the world. Thank you so much for expressing your concerns. It’s always appreciated.

Marie Osmond

[giovanni7460]

Yep just a second ago I received the same one.
Patty

[Oceans]

Hmmm... I'm a bmom but I have felt pretty indignant about this. Not only for my great amom friends here but for my Son as well... His Mom is his Mom... End of story as far as I'm concerned...

I really have to wonder tho... How, How, HOW did this get by ANYONE (including the Osmonds?)... I mean really people.... Who on this planet who has every had anything to do with motherhood would want to be called a Non-Mom?

This never passed the sanity test from day one - I think some execs need to spend some time out amoungst the living. Obviously they've lost perspective.

So that was my repressed feelings about that but back to Marie... I am disappointed in her! She should have spoken up to begin with... Did she just get to the party? I would have respected an apology way more than this attempt at indignity...

Whew, I need to stop... This still makes me mad

[nurse_reedle]

I got that one too....and here was my response.


As an adoptive mom, I do not know how in the world you could possibly think that lumping adoptive mothers in with neighbors and orphanage workers would ever been seen as ok. I am still appalled and had hoped that someone would step up and recognize that as wrong. Very wrong. Instead, I and other viewers/readers are just getting run around "explanations" without a true apology. You have permanently lost my support and hopefully that of many friends and family.

[JPDakota]

Before I became a data geek I worked in television. It is an ugly world. The 'talent' or stars of these shows rarely have any pre-screen rights or obligations about promos, titles, bumpers or any of that. Also, I worked with Marie Osmond on a number of occasions with the Children's Miracle Network. Don't get me wrong. I was a very little fish on the national scene. She's cool. She cares, and I'm pretty sure she can be taken at her word. The 'faces' often get the blame for back-office gaffs. In my experience that is often misplaced blame.
Everyone can draw their own conclusions. That's just mine.

[Guatemom]

Originally Posted by JPDakota

Before I became a data geek I worked in television. It is an ugly world. The 'talent' or stars of these shows rarely have any pre-screen rights or obligations about promos, titles, bumpers or any of that. Also, I worked with Marie Osmond on a number of occasions with the Children's Miracle Network. Don't get me wrong. I was a very little fish on the national scene. She's cool. She cares, and I'm pretty sure she can be taken at her word. The 'faces' often get the blame for back-office gaffs. In my experience that is often misplaced blame.
Everyone can draw their own conclusions. That's just mine.

I appreciate your insight on that side of the fence. However, if it were truly a "back-office gaff" and she's just the "face" being "blamed", then why did she send an email upholding them by supporting the separate category? That's what we're still upset about (at least me and from what I'm reading from other posts, this thread and the previous one concerning this), is that we're not only not important enough to consider as a 'mom', but even changing it to 'adoptive mom' still puts us in a separate category--ie, unworthy to still be considered a "real mom".

[JosieWales]

I got the same response.

I agree w/JPDakota--Marie prob didn't ahve any say in most of it. Unfortunately, she's the face of the show, so I think that's why she wrote the email. A lot of the negativity is aimed at her, since she's the public figure.

[Michelle Smiles]

Thanks for sharing that.

I didn't and don't blame Marie Osmond...I assumed that she wasn't aware of the title until they went on air. However, I will say I am disappointed in her response. I would expect something a little more heart felt and compassionate from an adoptive mom. But, what can you do? She probably has to try and please the public as well as the network.

[Guatemom]

True, but her response still disappoints me. Especially given she has adopted, I expect more--public figure or not. I'm still a little worked up, sorry!

[SmileLaughLearn]

I have to agree with JPDakota, I met her many years ago while working at a CMN event as well and found her to be a caring, professional, and hardworking woman. She hosted this show, but she didn't create it, and I'd bet that she was unaware of the categorization of "non-moms". As she said, when she arrived at the show and learned of the situation, she agreed that it should be changed immediately and brainstormed solutions. As only a host, I'm sure her opinions didn't have as much weight as the execs who were running things. And, as far as the limited apology goes, as a performer, I don't think she can lash out against television networks, etc-- because then who would put her on television? I don't think she deserves the blame for the ridiculous lapse of judgment used for this show-- to me, the blame lies with those who created the categories and those who approved them.

Just my opinion.

[bethy724]

I am sick of being a segregated mom because I'm a foster/adoptive mom. (a single working mom at that!) Workers that raise our children before adoption (foster, orphanage workers) also mothered our children & have earned the title of "mom" The woman who carried our children are "mom" (or tummy mommy or whatever language we use - she IS a mom) I don't care about wording or high ups having no base of reality - I am sick of the segregation of mothers-we are ALL mothers to our children-working or at home-bio or adoptive - we are all moms - nothing before the title - nothing after the title - WE ARE ALL MOTHERS PERIOD!!!

[NJNative]

Originally Posted by JosieWales

I got the same response.

I agree w/JPDakota--Marie prob didn't ahve any say in most of it. Unfortunately, she's the face of the show, so I think that's why she wrote the email. A lot of the negativity is aimed at her, since she's the public figure.

Believe me. I work as a writer. Marie Osmond did not write that e-mail. Someone in the communications department did. Marie may have approved it -- MAYBE -- but I would bet my next paycheck she never wrote it.

Robin

[One_Happy_Momma]

I'm still boycotting the Osmonds, NBC, Teleflora, Kraft, and any other sponsor of "America's Favorite Mom". If they made an error in judgement, it was made public, and the apogoly should be public as well!

They don't need my non-money anyways!

[BosMom]

Wow... The real issue is still the marginalization of anyone who didn't give birth to her child...that is WRONG.... and the 'new' category title STILL MARGINALIZES.

Here's an option... Marie and her brother walk (without the check).

[thanksgivingmom]

I understand that "faces" of shows may have no rights or obligations where promos or titles are concerned. BUT if the email (whoever wrote it) is accurate, then the Osmond's knew at dress rehearsal that Non-Moms was a category and what that entailed.

It is my firm belief that at that point, responsible or not, something could have - SHOULD have - been said. As a "face" it's your responsibility to know what you're representing.

This doesn't mean she's not a "nice" person - no doubt she could still be sweet as pie. It doens't change the fact that when faced with an opportunity to make things right, that opportunity was allowed to slip away. By lots of people, not just the Osmonds.