Anderson on 'Human Barbie': 'I Regret Having Her On'
Friday, August 10, 2012 5:00AM
"I regret having her on in the first place," says Anderson after he cut his interview short with Sarah Burge, who holds the Guinness World Record for undergoing the most plastic surgeries. Anderson added, "And I regret how things ended."
Burge walked off the stage after Anderson said, "I honestly have nothing more to talk to you about, I have to be honest."
"I always try to be respectful to a guest," Anderson told our Backstage Cam, "but I also think if you have someone on you should have someone communicating honestly. I got the feeling this was about publicity for her."
Filed Under: Backstage Cam, Web Exclusives
Comments
I was shocked to see and hear how unprofessional you were in addressing your disagreement on the Barbie moms life style in regards to her children. You obviously had already had her condemned in your eyes prior to her arriving on your show. I'm assuming you asked her to be on your show and you immediately dress her down and she responds with her self defense mechanism of being a bit snotty. You deserved this, you were the first to be rude. I don't think what she is doing no more dangerous than those parents that allow thier 2 year old to sit on the back of a horse with no saddle or bridle and take pictures and post them everywhere, and all the people thinking how cute is that. I don't think it's cute at all, it's dangerous and no horse should ever be underestimated and to believed that they can be 100% calm and cool, then there is the parents that allow their small children to barrel race, ride 3 wheelers, quad bikes, dirt bikes etc. A child posing as a pole dancer is no worse than a child dressed up as the wicked witch and playing the role in a play. As for pole dancing, if thats what it takes to get her child to do some cardio excercise then so be it. Today's youth are overweight and extremely inactive. The parents that make me sick are those that allow thier child to become obese at a toddler age, thats a bad parent! And for the daughter that wants botox, well thats unfortunate that her child feels she needs it but her mother is doing and allowing her to do these things because she knows that if her daughter really wants something that she will find a way to get it, safe or unsafe. The mom here failed her daughter by not raising her to feel comfortable in her own skin, but this is a problem with many moms and their children. Again I just wanted to voice my opinion on your childish behavior on that show. You should of never invited her on your show and now your guilty of doing something just for the publicity. I'm very disappointed, I thought you were more professional than that. I have been looked down and judge by the way I raised my daughter and I resent people who judge others and not know the whole story, I'm an unconventional mother and I'm damn proud of it and I have a wonderful 18 year old daughter. So pole dancing mom has not done anything that most parents today have done, that is unconventional things and should not be ostrosized about it and publicly humilliated, she did not deserve that, shame on you, I know your mother raised you better than that.
Sincerely,
Sherry Osborne
A gay Ken doll saying that Barbie is dreadful. This is funny! LOL
Anderson,
I am disappointed in how you handled that guest. You had your mind made up about her long before she walked on stage and you seemed to have no interest in listening to her side of anything.
Just for your awareness: Botox is used to treat excessive perspiration. Google it or ask a regular doctor.
Pole dancing is used for regular exercise and when you're not taking your clothes off or dancing suggestively there is nothing sexual about it. There are multiple campaigns to get it to become a regulated official sport.
I'm not saying "Barbie" mom is awesome and is doing nothing wrong. I am simply disappointed in your professionalism and inability to discuss things with her. Right, wrong, or indifferent, she had valid arguments that you didn't know how to respond to.
That being said, I do love your show and consider you one of my favorite media personalities and newsmen.
Thank you for getting her off stage. I wish more interviewers did the right thing and gave no more questions to abusers like her.
Thank-You so much Anderson for feeling and acting on the Human Barbie story. I for one do not like their choice of surgerys...to look like a doll is unreal. She really does not look like the doll, nor can she ever. She should not "train" her daughter that this is the way of life. So sad for that upbringing into the "real" world. Those of us who do not have the money, or insurance for just what is really needed to seriously help us...do not want to hear about someone such as her. Thanks again, Anderson for stopping the interview, and yes she should not have been on in the first place.
she's one sick puppie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I so agree with you regarding that publicity hound she is a bad example to all young woman of to-day. I love your show Anderson and I hope they keep you on the air just sorry it happens to be Fox Channel.
I wanted to add, Burge was extremely intelligent, and I don't think Mr. Anderson knew how to handle her., pure and simple.
I'm sorry, and I know Anderson doesn't care, but I thought he was absolutely horrible to that guest (Barbie) He must want additional publicity. She walked off, he didnt' tell her to leave. I would have left too, if I had been spoken to like he did to her. I watch all the Anderson shows, but he owes that lady an apology for how he spoke to her...............even if he doesn't believe anything she says. Don't have guests on, if you plan to jump all over them. This is not YOUR night show.
If you book a guest, you see it through. If you don't like the way it's going, you thank the guest for their time, and you move on. I consider the seeming uneasiness of Anderson Cooper with his subject's responses, and I consider interviews I've seen conducted by professionals who have taken on war criminals, murderers, sex predators and the like who have endured the unpleasantness for the purpose of letting a subject reveal the depth of his/her depravity. Therein is the value of having true professionals conduct interviews instead of entertainers who pose as professionals.
I totally agree with Cooper on this. He is always extremely professional, funny when he has to but on this one he took the right stand. The lady (freakingly weird and obviously lost her marbles..)has a serious problem specially when she ENCOURAGES a minor and her teen to get surgery. It is not normal, and glad he interrupted the interview it was merely publicity for this wako mom. I hope next time she is in the media is in COURT charged with child abuse or innappropiate parenting. I wonder where the father of the children is? He should get custody of them - she is TOTALLY OUT OF IT...unless he is worse than she is. Poor kids!
I imagine by the time she turns 80 (if she makes it that far..) would she want to be mummified? ahah
That is a bunch of BS!
A GREAT PROFESSIONAL journalist KNOWS when the interview is going nowhere, is offensive to the viewer's intelligence and knows when all the interviee wants is publicity.
YOU would not know CLASSY act if it landed on your face obviously....
GREAT JOB ANDERSON!!
She was LUCKY to even be on the show.
She should have been interviewed by a SHRINK instead....
I love You and I respect how you ended your segment with Sarah Burge. Good for you and us for not having to watch this women.Keep up the good work and the best to you.
Lesson learned. There are high expectations from you and your comments were perceived as rude and dismissive.
I think his explanation was perfectly fine. I mean, we're all human and he was disgusted (rightfully so, I think) and reacted. It would be one thing if she was doing this only to herself, but she is affecting her daughter, which is child abuse (imo).
Yes, she needs therapy, but Anderson is free to express his opinion. It's not like he threw a chair, Jerry Springer-style. I respect him even more.