Is the public fascination with California’s Octomom running out of steam?.
A two-hour TV special on single mom Nadya Suleman’s life with her eight new babies and six other young children was watched by just 4.1 million American viewers on Wednesday night, while more than double that (10.3 million) tuned in to see the latest episode of “America’s Got Talent.”
Suleman, 33, has garnered wall-to-wall media coverage since giving birth to octuplets in January and the show compiled video footage approved by her not just of her chaotic life at home and with the paparazzi, but also film shot inside the hospital delivery room.
The Fox TV special appeared to have made few new friends for Suleman and her (mostly) screaming brood. Entertainment Weekly called it a “repulsively grim two hours of TV” while the New York Times said it “failed to produce a second’s worth of contrarian evidence that Nadya Suleman isn’t a self-obsessed, publicity-driven lunatic.”
But the New York Daily News was slightly more forgiving, calling the program “an oddly fascinating look into the life of a woman who alternates between totally dysfunctional and easily sympathetic.”
Suleman herself admitted in the show that she “screwed up my life, I screwed up my kids’ lives”, adding, “I have to pretend like I don’t regret it. I can’t regret it now cause I love them, they’re here. But what was I thinking?”.
However she has sought to trademark the name “Octomom”, has a thriving web site, and has signed on for a reality TV series, suggesting that she and her children expect to be in the public eye — willingly or not — for years to come.
Trackback
38 comments so far
Previous | 2 | 1 | Next
Okay, so I was not one to watch this fiasco. I couldn’t bring myself to do so. There are so many people on here tearing “Octomom” down. Then there are the few that thinks she’s “terrific.” Well, the way I see it, this woman is sick. I am one of the last people in the world to think that everything is a medical or psychological condition, but there just is something missing with this woman. I feel sorry for her. She is doing this for attention, not the love of her children. She probably really does love them, in her own way, but it’s not healthy. It’s like the mother that does drugs and constantly goes back to her addiction and tries so desperately to stop. She wants to because she loves her children, but she also loves her drug, thus she isn’t fit to take care of them the way they need to be. The same with “octomom.” She loves them, but has too many emotional things she is dealing with to be able to take care of them properly. I don’t care about the bill (even though it ticks me off that she was given a handout to do IVF). I don’t care that this television show is probably paying for everything. I just care that those children are not getting the right kind of love. I’m worried that one day she will snap and hurt herself or them. I care that those children will be followed by the media for the rest of their lives and have every mistake they do in the limelight. I hate the fact that they will not be able to grow up as well-rounded and stable as other children have the opportunity to. It’s not fair to put them in the public view. It’s not fair that that child can cuss at his mom and people think it’s repulsive but they still watch it. I think it’s horrible that everyone is cutting her down but no one is offering her real help, they are just offering her the limelight and money. It’s sick that those types of shows can interest so many people because then family value shows go out the window…My advice, if you really think it’s so repulsive and that she’s a horrible mother, stop watching it. Because everytime she gets a viewer, it’s more reason for them to keep airing it. It may make you feel good about your parenting skills, but the ratings give it all the more reason to stay on and for the horrible behavior to continue. And as for the people that think that people just cut her down because we have a warped view of motherhood, give me a break. I am a mother. I would never allow my daughter to talk to me that way. And if I was unable to take care of my children in the way they should be taken care of, I would find someone that could. Or, how about this, I would never go get IVF in the first place if I was living off the state and my mother. That shows complete selfishness.
- Posted by children need loveI could not believe that she got a tatoo and how she held some of the babies. Her lips leave something to be desired i can not watch her talk makes me gag.
- Posted by Flo VasquezI’m not watching!
- Posted by Bev MabryWhy does the media (including news) take the absolute dumbest people and incidents to make into television stories and follow endlessly on the news?
I would love to hear about smart & successful people for a change!
I want to know how to be like, admire and follow, not who is doing the dumbest things out there.
To GMT: No insurance paid for her IVF, she paid herself. Each IVF costs atleast $15000 with medications. The question then being, of course, how did she pay for so many IVF procedures while qualifying for public assistance? There’s only one way. Fraud. I would like to see them go after her to repay welfare for all the money given her to date. She also admits in a radar video that along with the 7 IVFs that we know of, she had some that did not work. So hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent while she was on public assistance. The Doctor’s job is not to screen recipients of IVF. I don’t think any IVF clinics across the Country screen their potential clients for financial ability to provide for children or even if they are single, partnered, or married. Octo is the one who decided to do this and how many embryos she wanted implanted, and I don’t believe for a second it was only 6 (when she conceived the octuplets). It certainly does not look like there are 2 sets of identical twins in the group which would have to be the case to conceive 8 babies from 6 embryos. I believe she was shooting for the record and transferred more than 6, perhaps many more. The Doctor is governed only by ‘guidelines’ but when it’s all said and done the patient’s demands can overrule, especially if she initially agreed to selective reduction. He can only advise. No one knows for sure becuase that medical information at the clinic is confidential…we only know what she says..and we all know by now she’s a pathological liar.
- Posted by JayWhat is being done about the Dr. who did the IVF. And how was it paid for? Did the insurance company not dispute the need for IVF for a mother of 6? Did the govt actually pay for this? Is the Dr being prosecuted for negligent behaviour? Are there no qualifying tests for IVF? How did Octo-Mom convice the Dr. she needed more children?
- Posted by CarolThose children are some of the most miserable unhappy looking children I have ever seen - aside maybe from videos of babies in Romanian orphanages I saw once. It was heartbreaking, and telling, to watch. I think every parent’s heart broke some at the lack of eye contact those babies had with their Mother, and their negative reaction to her. Those poor babies are going to be in trouble down the road. She lays them down to scream and cry it out apparently…she doesn’t seem to want to comfort or bond with them. Too busy with her ‘career’ I guess. The older children are out of control. The 2 year old that hit her in the face, bites her, and calls her ”bitch’ is acting out based on how he’s been treated. It’s pretty obvious to me there has been abuse in that home. I shudder to think what has went on in that home behind closed doors…but judging by the children’s behavior it’s very very bad, and will likely get worse. I’ve heard she currently has 11 children on disability (3 older ones and the 8 babies due to low birth weight), collecting over $600 per month cash for each. Do the math. As lon as they stay ‘disabled’ they are bringing in a ton of money for Octo. I don’t know why CPS has not intervened. What she’s doing to poor innocent children, for the sake of greed and vanity, should be criminal.
- Posted by Keely[...] Suleman says that she “screwed up my life, I screwed up my kids’ lives. I have to pretend like I don’t regret it. I [...]
- Posted by CelebrityBase.info - Clebrities News, Videos, Pics, Stories… » Octomom documentary: Nadya Suleman Reality Showi think shes a great gal doing a magnificent job most women could not handle because they do not have the maternal skills that she has for a large number of kids.many women can do it and raise more than that, always have.the only screaming going on worth looking at is the totally dysfunctional response of press and society towards this woman’s choice to have kids despite her income.excuse me?poor women all over the world have larger families than richer ones.leave them alone and stop going on about the bill.each of us costs more to the state than we can ever repay in a lifetime because taxation does not bill us literally, only as a token contribution.we’d all have failed to have been born we had to pay the true costs in medical care, breathing clean air, and the endless hidden costs of running our society.not a single argument against this family works but only shows up those whose value judgements are deeply suspect.its an emotional response to a lot of issues, like, single parents, economic class, recession, sperm donation, ivf, faith, etc.that poor woman is bearing the brunt of a highly dysfunctional society that has total disrespect for motherhood deep in its soul.blame the mom, go on, what’s new.
- Posted by myguyI was disgusted. I had 2 wonderful children, then their father (my legally wed husband) left. I would have loved to have had more children, but I felt it would be selfish to have children without a father. By the time I met my second husband I was already in my late 30’s. I had my third and last child 2 months before my 38th birthday.
Although I would have liked to have more children after that, the risks associated with advanced maternal age discouraged me.
As a former Labor and Delivery RN (for 16 yrs) I was alarmed by the videographer and her disregard for the running of the OR. The circulating nurse has the responsibility for running the or, keeping it safe for the patients and staff, and tons of documentation. I would have called security on her and had her removed.
I have a good suggestion for the state of California. Octomom should start repaying the state for the enormous burden of the medical bills for mom and babies out of any profit she makes off of her children.
- Posted by Kellywhen i heard this woman was going to have a show i just had to watch it. i could not believe this woman she is having kids just so she can finally have what she missed in her childhood! i feel sorry for these for children who have to have this crazy lady as a mother at least there is one normal person in these kids life..the grandmother. what she needs to be doing is discipling her kids who in the world lets there kid call them a b***h and kick the new baby and get away with it!
i cant believe she compared herself to kate gosselin saying that she is better than her and is better t. Hello Nadya just because you found a stupid doctor to implant you with these embryos doesnt make you better than her!!!
i just hope someone can interven before it gets anymore out of control!
- Posted by jennyRadaronline has destroyed this family yet, by demanding nasty fake stories and selling them. Now soil is burnt and Nadya Suleman should take her kids and move away, emigrate and restart a happy, natural life, Nadya!
- Posted by MotheroffiveJohn-
- Posted by DuhI’m currently taking classes in preparation of becoming a foster parent and can tell you unequivocally; NO, kids do not just magically overcome emotional and psychological damage from a bad upbringing. YOU ARE AN IDIOT!
This has turned into a complete media circus freak show, I’m so sorry for those kids.
- Posted by 12 Weeks Pregnantdoes anyone not see how she is trying to get our sympathy by saying she realizes she screwed up? She is so pathetic—those children are really going to have a hard time in life. They are so uncontrollable and have no discpline what so ever. And she has the gall to critize Kate(although, she isn’t exactly charming either).Totally disagree with John, These children need the right behavorial direction to grow up as decent.That is what parents are suppose to do—to teach them—-they can’t learn by themselves. Sorry, most kids don’t go around calling their Mother Bitch especially at that young age. Granted he probably doesn’t even know what it means, but it won’t be long and the pattern and habit has been established.
- Posted by likeacatAmazing, I for one did not watch this train wreck, but I was curious as to how many people did. The sad part is the kids of course and what they have to endure for the sake of a self-absorbed, dysfunctional excuse of a Mother. There are no guarentees in life, you can come from the best of all possible upbringings and be a total societal reject, or you can come from the bottom of the barrel and thrive and be prosperous. Unfortunately for these kids, I doubt they will be given that opportunity. They will always be associated with this circus they call their lives.
Of the 6 original children some are already receiving aid for handicaps, how many of the octuplets will have the same issues. It is too early to tell for some handicaps but guess what, she doesn’t care if she brings in more dysfunctional children. This just PROVES she could care less about them. She professes to love her children and I am sure in her own sick sad way she does, but she is willing to risk more profound issues with these kids just so she can have more pups.
I really do hope they prove me wrong, for their sake. But I can feel nothing but sadness for them at this point.
- Posted by KByea you’re right john. that’s why there are no criminals, delinquents, and crazy people in this world. because all kids overcome their adversities no matter their upbringing. yea
- Posted by what?There are thousands of children in this world that are not cared for or provided for nearly as well as these children. Please stop wasting your time and efforts here and focus them where they are really needed. Having a large family is not that uncommon. There was even a point in time when large families were the norm. Yes, it is difficult raising so many children but it is not impossible. I think she is truly doing the best she can to raise her children in a home filled with love. After watching this special I don’t doubt for a minute that she loves her kids and is doing everything she can to provide for them. I understand that she was irresponsible in having more children than she could afford to provide for at the time but she is now working to rectify the situation. Leave her be. Leave her kids be. Let them live their lives. Move on to worrying about homes where the children are not being fed, are being abused (physically, verbally, sexually)or are truly being neglected.
- Posted by Time To Move OnI watched the special and came away feeling the older children are miserable and the two year old boy is acting out in a manner that needs professional attention. Calling her a “bitch” and slapping her is not okay. She appears to be very paranoid which perhaps is totally natural given the fishbowl life she has. I feel very sorry for all of the children and hope someone will be appointed to represent and watch over them. No, I don’t feel any sympathy for her but a great deal of sympathy for the children.
- Posted by Tanner