Rob Bolland states that the program Best Singers of presenter Jan Smit discriminates terminally known Dutch people. “This looks like a moral ‘Me-Tootje’”, says his manager.
It has been the great wish of the terminally ill Rob Bolland for years: to participate in Best Singers. The singer, who has a malignant tumor that cannot be removed, had his manager Koos van Dijk call the makers of Best Singers for the first time two years ago.
Rob not to Jan
Rob was always rejected by Frank Timmer, the producer of the show, because the choice for candidates had already been made. He also gets to hear that reason for the series that will appear on the tube this fall. “The shock was great that my brother Ferdi was asked!”
His brother Ferdi is in fact in Best Singers this autumn, but Rob is not. His manager immediately decided to call the Best Singers team again. “He was told that they had not gone for me because of my illness. The bottom line was that I wasn’t asked because I’m ‘terminal’.”
face to face
The stunned Rob then himself entered into a conversation with producer Frank. “In a first phone call he confirmed to me that he had indeed not asked me for Best Singers, because I am terminal. It hurt again to hear that.”
His manager Koos, like Rob, thinks there is discrimination: “This is going too far. This looks like a moral ‘Me-Tootje’. I understand Rob’s outrage and his sense of being discriminated against.”
Best Singers denies
Dear Singers producer Frank denies that this is the reason not to invite Rob. “The bottom line is: Rob was never asked. Point.”
Rob remains disappointed: “Last week I saw in the Ziggo Dome how a sick Rob de Nijs moved his audience. That was unbelievably beautiful. (…) But I can’t, and that turns out to be the decision of only one man…”
Fragment
Bolland & Bolland about their farewell single: