The Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has made a decision on Rob Frenette’s complaint regarding the show Bully Beatdown.
The CRTC found that MTV Canada did not breach the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Violence Code by airing the show.
Frenette, a New Brunswick anti-bullying activist, said this is a “little bit alarming.”
The reality show films a fight between a school-yard bully and a martial arts fighter. If the bully wins the fight, he or she receives $10,000. If the martial arts fighter is victorious, the bully’s victim receives the money.
“They are saying that the show doesn’t promote violence? That doesn’t sit very well with me,” Frenette said.
In a four-page report on the decision, the CRTC says the show does not support or promote violence or retaliation from the victims being bullied.
“Rather, the licensee submitted that the program shows how a bully measures up after taking on someone of his own size, and how a bully is instilled with a sense of empathy when faced by someone who might cause him fear or anxiety – much the same way that a bully’s victim is made to feel,” the report states.
And after a two year fight with the CRTC, Frenette, a New Brunswick anti-bullying activist, is feeling the disappointment.
“I was really, really surprised at the decision,” he said. “We’re upset on the decision as a whole, but also question really how much time the CRTC spent on it. It doesn’t really look like there’s anything that’s concrete about it.”
Frenette is already working on an appeal. Michael Murphy is Frenette’s lawyer. He says it’s a long process to even make an appeal.
In order to have the CRTC’s decision overturned, there has to be valid evidence that proves there is a good reason for an appeal. This is decided by an independent tribunal. If that goes through, then an appeal can be made to the federal courts.
“I think it’s going to be a tough one,” Murphy said. “But at the same time, I think Bully Beatdown really trivializes the issues at hand.”
But Frenette is ready to continue the fight.
“It’s the only other option we have at this point,” he said.
