A 2006 episode of ABC's news show Primetime called "Stepfamilies in Crisis" depicted a fifteen-year-old girl being punched by her stepfather. That girl, Kyle Nelson, is now twenty, and she wants to know why ABC didn't intervene. She's suing the network for "gross negligence," reports the Press Republican. According to the AP, by the time ABC aired the footage, the statute of limitations had expired, so it was too late to prosecute the abuse.
When the show aired, viewers were furious to see no one stepping in to stop the violence. ABC addressed the controversy by having Kyle on Good Morning America to defend her stepfather. Here's an excerpt from CNN's coverage of the fallout:
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYLE NELSON, DAUGHTER: Stop! Stop! Stop!
VARGAS (voice-over): A father beating his 15-year-old daughter.
DON NELSON, FATHER: I have never (expletive deleted) lied to you. Never have I lied to you, you little bitch!
VARGAS: This is the "Prime Time" footage that`s causing a big-time fuss, shown to the public but not reported to the authorities. ABC aired this controversial footage Friday night as part of "Prime Time`s" special focusing on pressures that stepfamilies face. It`s very hard to watch.
It all starts as the Nelsons, a New York family, discuss grades and homework. When things get heated, suddenly it`s an argument, and the father is out of control. He unleashes his fury on his daughter. ABC`s cameras catch the repeated hits.
The daughter, Kyle, screams as her stepmother not only watches from the couch, but pretends to hit her, as well. This particular piece of tape has viewers and authorities outraged. Thousands flooding the ABC web site, angry and disgusted viewers wanting to know why the tape wasn`t handed over to authorities.
D. NELSON: You dirty little bitch!
VARGAS: ABC News didn`t think Kyle was in danger. In a statement posted on its web site, ABC says, "While we felt the incident in question was disturbing, it was the only scene of physical punishment in the hundreds of hours of footage that ABC News reviewed."
A discussion of moral vs. legal responsibility ensues.
It seems pretty clear that even if the First-Amendment-protected press had no legal responsibility to report the abuse, there's a pretty strong moral obligation to do so. Who were they to decide that the girl wasn't in danger?
ABC's weak response - "it was the only scene of physical punishment" - suggests parents are allowed to abuse their child without penalty if it only happens once (in view of cameras).
It will be fascinating to hear what the court has to say about it now.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 5)
31. Definitely the victim's fault. No one should own responsibility at all.
Sarcasm.
Raven at 7:49PM on Feb 22nd 2008
32. Depending on state law, ALL adults may be legally as well as morally obligated to contact the authorities if abuse is witnessed. This is the case in Texas. I wouldn't be surprised if yankee states didn't care enough about their children to do the same.
Oh, and Christopher - I recognize your style of prose and twisted logic. You're Christopher Kidwell, the pedophile. I won't disgust anyone with the sordid details of your crimes.
anonymous at 10:12PM on Feb 22nd 2008
33. was made aware of potential problems, and they, as professionals, could assess the families and provide assistance if necessary. That is all that ABC had to do, and they failed this child miserably, all for a story. And, if this father did such things to a child when he knew that he was being filmed, he obviously didn't understand that what he was doing was inappropriate. He needed guidance and support in boosting his parenting skills, not exploitation from a news program. And, above all, the child deserved protection, which she didn't receive. I hope that she wins a huge settlement and donates it to programs for abused children.
L.M. at 11:31PM on Feb 22nd 2008
34. If the father loses his temper to the degree that he did, knowing that the cameras were filming, I can only imagine the degree of abuse that took place when the cameras were off.
The mother is every bit as guilty as the father. Where are her maternal instincts to protect her child?
It does not matter what a child says in defiance...the parents are the adults who are supposed to be setting an example. Parenting can be extremely challenging but abuse is NEVER acceptable. Perhaps ABC did not know how to handle what they observed..perhaps they chose not to handle it so the program would not have to be scrapped. However, there is a moral obligation to do the right thing. A simple telephone call to Child Protective Services would be warranted...anonymously if need be. At least the girl would have an opportunity to let the authorities know what was going on so she could be helped.
I was severely abused as a child. So many people over the years knew what was going on or suspected that bad things were happening. They chalked it up to the fact that my mother was mentally ill and did nothing. My brother and I are in our 40's now and have endured tremendous suffering physically and mentally. It is a miracle that we both survived and we feel blessed that God saved us from a living hell. Our X-rays show the evidence of years of broken bones and fractures that were never tended to. The emotional scars have prevented my brother from having relationships with women, or a family. He is scared that he will become like our parents.It is a tragedy because he is a kind and well loved person.
I have been blessed with children and worked hard to be sure I didn't end up being abusive through learned behavior. However, I married an abusive man...I could not see the signs that were there from the beginning. I turned my husband in for child abuse the first time he lost control. He was incapable of changing and I divorced him. I agree with some of the posts that physical pain may diminish but verbal abuse scars a person forever. It simply cannot be tolerated.
If people had the courage to intervene when I was a child, I can only wonder what kind of life I and my brother could have had. I cannot live my life dwelling on it. God saved me for a purpose, which clearly is to help others who have suffered from abuse and to help protect children. The ABC staff will have to live with their neglectful choice. We should not fault Kyle Nelson. Suing is part of her healing process. We have not walked in her shoes nor do we know the whole story. We need to be sure not to blame the victim.
It is presumptuous to assume that a 15 year old girl should have called for help on her own. It is a possibility that after years of abuse, she was scared of the repercussions. I was threatened with death if I said a word to anyone. I also was quite aware of newspaper articles describing the failure of Protective Services to take action, sometimes resulting in tragedy. There simply is NO trust. Fear is paralyzing. A teenagers mindset is distorted following years of abuse.
Kyle Nelson's mother may have been abused by the father as well. However, she is the adult and she must protect her children. Many woman stay silent because they fear financial ruin and loss of "stability" if the father has to leave. Some women have grown up in an abusive environment and lose all sense of self worth when they realize they married an abuser. It is understandable. Many of their fears are valid but they must rise above their situation and seek help. If it is too overwhelming to call the authorities, they need to get to a counselor or a local Womans Resource center for help.
Above all, please pray for Kyle and her family. If you see abuse, report it! You could save a life...or give a child hope for a healthy future. The worst thing to do is blame the victims...don't judge or be so bold to assume that you know what they "should" have done. Believe me, every possible scenerio involving a means of escape cycles repeatedly in the minds of those who are abused. No one would choose such a life.
God Bless you all...make a difference!
dayle at 12:21AM on Feb 23rd 2008
35. I thought there WERE laws requiring the reporting of known child abuse. If there aren't, there certainly should be, nation-wide, especially in instances like this, where it's clear that ABC had a profit motive, and hence real complicity.
The "not revealing sources" press protection hardly fits any and all situations. These "sources" are allowing themselves to be FILMED!
The only one who really had no choice or power is the girl. The lack of compassion and intervention on the part of ABC must have caused much more severe psychological damage than even the horror of her family, since the mind always wants to believe that there is a better place, better people...
I hope she wins the case, and especially that she realizes that there are many people who care.
We're about as close to "Running man" on the teevee as we can get without broadcasting actual snuff films.
anonymous is right at 1:10AM on Feb 23rd 2008
36. Learn more about the pedophile Christopher Kidwell at http://www.corporatesexoffenders.com/wiki/Christopher_Kidwell
anonymous at 3:08AM on Feb 23rd 2008
37. I watched this show and it was completely appalling.
This is the childes biological father, NOT stepfather.
The step mother was horrible to the young girl. She would make things up just to punish her. Treat her totally different then the other children. The 15 year old was ostracized by her own family.
It is disgusting when a parent will allow a significant other to alienate their own child. I have seen this again and again. The child is treated like crap by the step parent and the biological parent does not intervene. It is ABC responsibility to report this behavior. Perhaps not the camera guy, but defiantly the execs. I agree with Dayle, if daddy was beating her knowing the camera was rolling just imagine what happened when a camera was not around.
I have a step mother and we have a wonderful relationship. She is like a second mother. I have known her since I was 10. My father would have never brought a woman into our life unless she loved me just as she loved him. I am very grateful for the relationship I have with my step mother after watching shows like this one.
Gwen at 10:00AM on Feb 23rd 2008
38. WES - VERY WELL SAID!
STUSHIE - No, ABC cannot be held accountable for failing to report this abuse, if it was abuse. They are not mandated reporters - NOR are ordinary citizens. So before you make a call to the child abuse hotline as an ordinary citizen, remember you are NOT mandated to report anything - so YOU will be responsible for causing Social Services to disrupt the lives of people and cause permanent damage. Your comment, "...if the state law insists that citizens report...". There is no such thing. Only a handful of people in NYS are mandated reporters (Police Officers, Teachers, Physicians, etc.). Think long and hard before calling social services on someone. You may only be making a situation much worse.
Chris at 11:20AM on Feb 23rd 2008
39. I think that punching someone and calling her a "little bitch" is a physical, unlawful assault no matter the players.
Not to mention that the victim is a 15 year old ward.
What do you think you'd do if someone punched you? Most of us-- ADULTS-- would call the police.
Yes, Social Services can be extremely screwy, but it's what we've got, and in this case the evidence was tangible and there were many witnesses.
People have also been discussing moral and/or ethical (if "moral" sounds too "uptight" for some of you) motivations to help, not just legal mandates and lawsuits.
If ABC wants people to watch, they might do well to apply-- to themselves-- a standard their audience can stomach.
your name here at 11:35AM on Feb 23rd 2008
40. Being a reporter doesn't relieve you of your human obligations. If you see wrongdoing, you report it. If you see someone starving, you don't just photograph them, you feed them. If someone is hurt you help them.
What makes you think that you have a right to ignore the needs of your fellow man just because you have a camera in your hand?
Beatrix at 11:47AM on Feb 23rd 2008
41. I grew up In a situation like that. My father started out being abusive to my mother. Then as I got older, my mother figured out that when "dad" came drunk and wanting to fight, all she had to do was make up something that I did wrong. So I got the beating that was meant for her. Both of those parents, and the entire t.v. crew, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, both in criminal and cival courts. Shame on you all!
Larry Lewis at 11:59AM on Feb 23rd 2008
42. The saddest part is, my "mother" hid in the basement with my sisters threatening them if they ever told anybody what was happening.
Larry Lewis at 11:57AM on Feb 23rd 2008
43. I just shared this with a friend, her reply was "she'd die for her kids", my response, "it's like my mother would rather we die for her". I guess i'm being so vocal about this because my heart goes out to that child. There aren't many who can understand what we went through.
Larry Lewis at 12:12PM on Feb 23rd 2008
44. Hitting is wrong! Violence especially against someone weaker is very wrong! It amazes me the number of people that can't grasp that simple concept.
Adults should set the example for even "unruly" children. Adults should be in control of themselves or remove themselves from the scene when they feel their temper getting out of hand.
The weak can't always speak up for themselves, those stronger, more responsible, more "adult" should.
mpass at 12:55PM on Feb 23rd 2008
45. ABC should be sued and every last dime taken, This company needs to be run out of business alongith all of the others. They never report the real news and they pander to select canidates yet refuse to report on or nterview all canidates. Where is the interviews from Dr Ron Paul or ALLEN KEYES - you know the other Black American that is running for president. Communist reporting.
TINNINPIM at 10:50AM on Feb 24th 2008