Gordon causes a lot of annoyance to Lars Duursma, the man who started the discussion about down television. “I don’t think his reaction quite covers the load,” he says.
There is increasing resistance to ‘down entertainment’, entertainment programs about people with Down syndrome. The discussion was started by debate expert Lars Duursma, who has a brother with Down syndrome. His substantive objections have made it to an item in Arjen Lubach’s very popular TV show.
‘Does not cover cargo’
Due to the strong criticism, SBS 6 has doubts about a new season, according to Gordon, and he finds that outrageous. “You know, SBS has doubts about a new season of Down the Road. Which I find very unfortunate, because then they let themselves be intimidated by a few who make a comment about it.”
A ridiculous comment, Lars responds. “Hey Gordon, you don’t have to agree with my criticism. But dismissing substantive comments that are widely supported from the field as ‘one person who criticized because he happened to have a brother who has a more serious case of Down’, I don’t think fully covers the load.”
“It’s Not About You”
Gordon relates it all very much to himself, says Lars. “On Insta, Gordon was also so empathetic and nuanced with substantive criticism.”
He quotes Gordon’s sneer at Arjen Lubach: “May I remind you that I’ve been in this business for 35 years and you were still in your diapers when I scored my first two million viewers?”
Lars cynically: “But of course it’s all about the people with Down syndrome.”
Twitter thread
Lars’ Twitter thread that started the whole discussion:
