A 1983 two-part episode of the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" is about child molestation. It's clear from both a message delivered by Conrad Bain, who played the father in the series, and the content of the show itself, that it was intended as a "public service" to educate people on child molestation.
While the show is educational in a sense, it can't be forgotten that Hollywood protects star pedophiles and many child stars have been abused and exploited. So, the motive for this show being done have to be suspect.
In the episode, the character played by Gary Coleman, Arnold Drummond, and a friend of his, are groomed by a child molester, played by actor Gordon Jump, who gives them ice cream and pizza to lure them in, and then wine. The grooming experiences are presented in a lot of detail, and seem to accurately portray how a molester would use twisted logic and deception to gradually draw children in. It's disturbing to watch.
I was trying to think of some of the social context for why this show would be made, and perhaps it was due to high-profile cases of child abductions and murders like those of Adam Walsh, Johnny Gosch, and the Atlanta child murders in the prior year or two. By doing such a show, Hollywood be putting itself in the "crusader" role.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYpVGaL81VQ
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eucalyptus_spearmint ago
Sad bit of trivia (not that there's anything "trivial" about it) regarding this episode....actor Todd Bridges who co-starred as Arnold's big brother Willis begged to be written out of the episode as much as possible. He later revealed it was due to the fact that he had been previously molested and the subject matter was giving him flashbacks of the abuse.
The documentary "An Open Secret" regarding pedophiles operating in Hollywood is a must see for anyone concerned with this topic.
Psalm100 ago
I didn't know that. Thanks for the information. Did he ever reveal what the molester's relationship was to him?
I've seen at least parts of "An Open Secret" so far. It was either most or all of it. Agreed that it's a must see.
eucalyptus_spearmint ago
Yes he did. I warn you, he quickly yet graphically describes the sexual abuse: http://www.starpulse.com/todd-bridges-talks-graphically-to-oprah-about-child-molestation-1847942818.html
It made me so sad and angry to read. He says he feels it ruined his life and he struggles with what happened to this day.
The man was a publicist by the name of Ronald. No last name is given but you can probably find out if you dig.
Psalm100 ago
So even as he filmed that show, he'd been abused by someone in the entertainment industry, and perhaps even people connected with the show knew that. And many of the t.v. executives responsible for the show would have known how common the abuse of child stars was.
eucalyptus_spearmint ago
Abuse occurred around 3 times beginning when he was 11 and ending when he was 12. The man appeared at his home (he was a family friend in addition to Todd's publicist) and Todd said that he had buried the pain of the abuse and been suffering to the point that for some reason when the man appeared in his living room he "snapped" and lunged at him in the presence of his mother. (GO TODD!) His mother pulled him off the man. But his mother said she also realized in that instant what had happened to her son because she herself had been sexually abused as a child. She threatened the man with a knife and told him to leave the house, then called Todd's father....who sadly did not believe that this person molested Todd.
It seems that the refusal of his dad to believe his story was the final nail in the coffin of Todd's childhood. He turned to drugs and crime and had brushes with the law for years until he got his life together. He's now been clean for 17 years and has a family of his own but still struggles with emotional pain. He went on to say that for the most part his experience with the show Diff'rent Strokes was very positive and the man who played the father on the show was more of a father to him than his real father (sad!) But that particular episode was a huge struggle because at the time he had not gone public with being molested. Molestation victims struggle with shame and guilt (even more particularly when they are male) which often prevents them from making an outcry to someone.
Sometimes reading this shit makes me think of the song "The Wall" by Pink Floyd with the lyrics changed. "HEY! PEDOS! LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE!"