Jenny McCarthy is an idiot
Posted
October 1, 2008 at
5:23 pm by
Jessica
Since we look to Hollywood to shape our political views, why not our medical ones as well? Actresses Jenny McCarthy and Amanda Peet are having a bit of a spat over the subject of vaccinations. See, McCarthy, who thinks showing off your surgically enhanced tits makes you an expert in human anatomy, has been very vocal about the MMR vaccine being the cause of her son’s autism — a link that has not been scientifically proven — while Peet is champion of vaccinations, calling anti-vac parents “parasites” in a recent interview. But what really takes the cake is that McCarthy claims to know not only caused her son Evan’s autism, but says she has also found a “cure” for the disease as well. McCarthy has been giving her son vitamin B-12 shots, as well as keeping him on a strict diet, methods she says helped him “recover”. When asked about the science behind all these notions, she stated, “My science is Evan, and he’s at home. That’s my science.” To quote her famous live-in boyfriend, “Well, alrighty then!!”
McCarthy has been making the TV rounds for a while now, on such think tank shows like Larry King (who loves to give publicity to crackpot psychics) and Oprah Winfrey (recently known for her endorsement of the giant hoax The Secret) — basically anywhere that will let her share her “wisdom” unchallenged. Even though the general consensus amongst medical scientists around the world are that such claims remain unproven and possibly dangerous and nothing more than gossip/rumor, some parents look up to the protruding boobs of Jenny McCarthy and take in the information as if they were listening to somebody who actually knew what they were talking about and had some kind of medical or clinical expertise to back it up.
Honestly, if supplements were the cure for Autism, don’t you think that somebody other than Jenny McCarthy would have figured that out? Don’t you think that scientists and doctors would have latched onto such “cures” and capitalized on it?
Many forms of autism are still being diagnosed rather subjectively, so certain behaviors can foster such a diagnosis which can lead to nothing more than a label. A child labeled with austim might not truly have autism to begin with, but his/her behaviors cannot be explained under any other label. I know this firsthand. My son was diagnosed with Aspergers a year and half ago which is part of the autism spectrum, and just as soon as one of the top pediatric neurologists gave him the diagnosis, a year later, it was taken away. Turns out, he was given that diagnosis because they didn’t know how to label his developmental delays and wanted to give us a path to receive services. This neurologist, at a well known University, gave him an IQ test and said, “Well there you have it. His brain is over-developing in the areas of processing information and analyzing subjects and as a result, his emotional and physical development is lagging behind. Here’s a book. You’ll need this in order to navigate a school system that has very little to offer gifted children. Good luck… oh, and his development? Don’t worry about that. He’ll catch up. No need to schedule a follow up.”
Yes, I realize this is anecdotal, but no more so than the “expert” Playmate… but, my son really loves chocolate and eats more than he should. If I follow McCarthy’s logic, perhaps it’s chocolate that “cured” him! Await my appearance on Oprah next month.
Tags: aspergers, Autism, B-12 shots, celebrity fools, Celiac disease, cure for Autism, Jenny McCarthy, vitamins |
53 Responses to “Jenny McCarthy is an idiot”
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1. TheYoungMother
October 1, 2008 @ 7:23 pm
Honestly, you sound more like a jealous, disgruntled woman, than anything else. So what if she makes money off of her sex appeal? I’m just thankful she’s using her fame to bring attention to autism. She loves her child just like any of us mothers do, and while you may not agree with her, it seems to be working for her child. Hell if my son had autism and they told me that by doing back flips I would cure him, guess what? I would do it in a second to save my son. And you said Doctors would make money off of finding a cure? No they wouldn’t. Doctors and pharmecuetical companies make money by keeping people sick, not by curing them. In My Honest Opinion.
2. Prescott
October 1, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
Medical researchers — you know, the ones that would be the most likely to study a link between autism and diets — are very motivated to find cures for diseases. Not only does it get their names in lights in prominent medical journals (along with minor honors like Nobel prizes), but it goes a long way to getting those future big grant $$$. So there goes your conspiracy theory.
Hell if my son had autism and they told me that by doing back flips I would cure him, guess what? I would do it in a second to save my son.
Doesn’t it matter to you who the “they” in your statement are? It does to me. I would rather come to terms with reality than getting false hopes from snakeoil salesmen.
3. FindingHope
October 1, 2008 @ 8:34 pm
McCarthy believes their is a cure for her son - she is a mother that is living on hope. Yes being realistic is important, to ensure that as a mother your are providing adequate care for a child with autism or any other disability for that matter. Believing that something (anything that would not harm your child) will or can make him/her better is called hope. The world would be a better place if more people had hope. That would explain why her science is her son - she believes in him. By sharing in what she believes is inspiring other parents to find hope that is what should really matter.
Doctors are people - some are good and some are bad. So both theory’s are quite possible. Some will work to find a cure some will not.
As for ALL the comments on her sex appeal/playmate etc. That in no way is related to her son, his autism and the ‘cure’ she believes she has found (or whether or not the vac caused it). The author is showing ignorance and jealousy by bringing such items that have no relevance to the table.
ALL in my humble opinion.
4. TheYoungMother
October 1, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
Come to terms? meaning that if a doctor told you there was no way to save your child you would just leave it at that? I wouldn’t. I would keep searching for another answer, remedy, something. I wouldn’t just leave it at that. I would do everything in my will to try to help my child.
5. Jessica
October 1, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
She can believe whatever she wants. Just because she believes that she has a cure for autism doesn’t make it a fact. She has a right to her beliefs, it’s unfortunate that she’s touting herself as some sort of autistic expert on whatever talk show that will have her and taking advantage of parents who are in very vulnerable positions.
Accusing me of being jealous because I’m not buying that Jenny McCarthy is some sort of scientific genius with a cure for autism pretty much tells me that you’re her target audience.
6. TheYoungMother
October 1, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
My Comment @ 8:42 was directed at prescott.
Findinghope: I agree with you 100%. I know this is a very touchy subject, we all have different ways of helping our children. But with one thing in common. Most of us, have our children’s best interest at heart. I just wish we would be discussing how great it was that we have found a cure, not discussing whose the worse evil for helping our children the best we know how. I was scared to get my son his vaccinations. (Personally I felt that if it came down to it, I would rather have an autisic child I can possibly work with, than a child suffering from a painful disease. If worse came to worse) But I in NO way am judgemental for the parents that don’t. Its the most dificult decision I have had to make. I hope I don’t regret it. I’m just glad people have to courage to discuss other options. Not just staring into the black and white, but looking into the gray for hope.
7. TheYoungMother
October 1, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
Jessica:
What do her boobs have anything to do with her speaking out on autism. NOTHING.
Just with your negative statements alone that you made about her being a playmate, shows your indifference with her for her sex appeal. You pointed it out in your article yourself. Jenny Mcarthy never said that we had to follow her regiment, all she said was that we should look into other options. She gave us examples of what she did. She showed us that there ARE other options available for us to look into. This article indeed is ignorant. Instead of applauding her for giving other mother’s the strength and courage to look into our choices, you bash her by saying “McCarthy, who thinks showing off your surgically enhanced tits makes you an expert in human anatomy.” She never said she was an expert. Like findinghope said, she’s showing us what a mother with hope can do. And I’m happy that she has found something that works for her child.
8. Prescott
October 1, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
“Come to terms? meaning that if a doctor told you there was no way to save your child you would just leave it at that? I wouldn’t.”
No, not *a doctor*, but if almost the *entire medical/scientific community* told me I would perhaps try to deal with it rationally and enjoy my family instead of chasing rainbows and following the nonsense spouted by a C-list celebrity with absolutely zero expertise on the subject.
“Hope” is when you have cancer and there’s a 52% chance that treatment will work. “False hope” is believing in something that has zero proven chance of working. If you can’t comprehend the devastating emotional effects of false hope and denial, well, any further conversation is pointless.
9. Prescott
October 1, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
She never said she was an expert.
Yet she’s on a national campaign encouraging parents to forgo vaccinations based on disproven studies. She’s had numerous doctors and neurologists tell her that perhaps her son was originally misdiagnosed (which — shockingly — actually happens, and which I’ve experienced first hand) but somehow *they* are all the ones in denial. She, in her own words, calls the vaccine industry a “profit engine then a means of prevention” which clearly displays her extreme lack of knowledge on the subject. Thimerosal has not been included in MMR since 2001, yet there’s been no decrease in autism diagnosis. Correlation does not equal causation.
I don’t care if she explicitly puts herself out there as an “expert” or not — in this Idiocracy people actually *listen* to her and treat her words as fact. She knows this, and is leveraging her celebrity to advance her cause. I don’t see how filling parents’ minds with inaccuracies does anybody any good whatsoever.
And I don’t know why you keep hammering the point home, but it’s fairly obvious that pointing out that McCarthy is known for posing nude and making TV shows with crude humor is merely to accentuate how far removed she is from any sort of expertise on the subject of pathology.
10. Debbie
October 1, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
Thank you, Jessica. Despite what some of your respondents said, Jenny McCarthy IS doing harm by making all of her unsupported claims. She has a ton of publicity because of her fame and unfortunately, many people will believe what she says merely because she’s famous and she has a son with autism. More and more credible, scientific studies are being published all the time showing that there is no link between vaccines and autism. These studies are being published in peer-reviewed journals, which are not often read by the general public. Some paranoid parents have already stopped vaccinating their children and we’re starting to see the comeback of diseases (e.g., measles) that are easily prevented by vaccines. The fact that the number of vaccines has increased so much over the past 30 years is because we can now prevent more diseases, thanks to scientific research. The correlated increase in the number of cases of autism is just that, a correlation. Ice cream sales and homicides both increase in the summer months, but that doesn’t mean that ice cream makes humans more violent. The *only way* to acquire solid evidence of a cause and effect relationship is through controlled, scientific experiments. Period.
– A research scientist in SC
11. a concerned parent
October 2, 2008 @ 2:29 am
I couldn’t agree more. Jenny McCarthy is an idiot. But she’s worse than that, she’s exploiting her son the way she used to make money exploiting her silicone implants, botox’d face and bleached hair.
12. TheYoungMother
October 2, 2008 @ 9:28 am
Prescott: you said
“No, not *a doctor*, but if almost the *entire medical/scientific community* told me I would perhaps try to deal with it rationally and enjoy my family instead of chasing rainbows and following the nonsense spouted by a C-list celebrity with absolutely zero expertise on the subject”.
Trying to help your child when the majority is telling you there is no way to do it, doesn’t mean your being irrational. It means you care for your child enough to help him find another solution. And as for following “nonsense” by a c list celebrity… lol. There is a huge community of parents dealing with this differently, and not just because they are “following” her. but because they realize there may be other options aailable and they care enough to help their kids out. And somehow all these parents are all wrong? Who knows your their children more than their own parents? While I do understand the people in the medical community have more knowledge when it comes to disease, these doctors have no clue what its like to have a child with autism. And if these Parents are coming out of the woodwork, saying that these other remedies are actually working for their kids, I highly doubt every single one of them are wrong.
And as for the
“If you can’t comprehend the devastating emotional effects of false hope and denial, well, any further conversation is pointless.”
I personally would rather try and fail, than not try at all, and fail knowing I didn’t give it my all. Our children do deserve for us to take that extra step to help them.
13. Prescott
October 2, 2008 @ 9:41 am
“Our children do deserve for us to take that extra step to help them.”
You mean like giving them vaccines to protect them from awful, potentially fatal illnesses? I agree.
14. TheYoungMother
October 2, 2008 @ 9:49 am
lol. I’m glad you do. Because I do as well. I never once said we should not give our children vaccinations. I just believe we shouldn’t judge mothers for doing what they feel is in the best interest of their children. ha.
15. Prescott
October 2, 2008 @ 10:01 am
I never once said we should not give our children vaccinations.
You didn’t, but the subject of this blog post does.
I just believe we shouldn’t judge mothers for doing what they feel is in the best interest of their children. ha.
Hypothetical: I’m a Christian Scientist. My child had a lung infection, easily treatable, but I had “hope” in God to heal him so I did not seek medical attention. Unfortunately, he died. Do you judge me? If so, why? I just did what I felt was the best for my child. And if you *do* condone such behavior, well that speaks volumes.
16. TheYoungMother
October 2, 2008 @ 10:13 am
But see, now your crossing lines with medicine and religion. These parents aren’t looking for another solution because of a higher power that they believe in, they are looking for another solution because this solution that doctors have given them doesn’t seem to be working for their kids.
Honestly.
I think its a wonderful thing that anyone would come out and speak about autism and their own experiences. Even if its a woman who makes money off of her gorgeous body. She may not know a lot in the medical field, but she can relate to parents dealing with autism better than anyone who doesn’t know. Because frankly unless your living with it at home, we don’t know. She knows what its like having a little child with autism, feeling frustrated, and trying to help him the best she knows how. And you know what, if it works for her, I’m happy for her. As for you, If God Forbid our children be diagnosed with the same…. If you believe that just by listening to what the Doctors are telling you, and you feel thats the best you can do for your loved one. Then great for you. As parents we do as we see fits. I Personally wouldn’t just leave it at that. I would research it with whatever resources I had, and give it my all. But to each their own, there is no right answer to this. My only hope is that we find a cure.
17. Prescott
October 2, 2008 @ 10:25 am
You were the one that started talking about “hope”, not me. And encouraging parents to skip vaccinations because of a highly ignorant opinion is not “medicine”.
I don’t see how wishing that a wheat-free diet will cure autism is somehow more reasoned than thinking God will do it.
She may not know a lot in the medical field
Then she should shut up and stop giving other parents medical advice.
18. TheYoungMother
October 2, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Well then don’t listen to her sweetheart. No reason to get your panties in a twist.
We all take what we see fits. While I don’t condone skipping vaccinations, I’m not opposed. But if you don’t like it, then its simple, don’t listen to her. She can say whatever she wants. Freedom of Speech. And if you don’t agree, you have the freedom not to listen. Its just sad that people can’t look outside their comfort zone. Not everything is in black and white. There IS such thing as looking into the gray.
19. Marie
October 2, 2008 @ 11:49 am
@TheYoungMother - Thank you for sticking to your guns!
@Prescott who says “No, not *a doctor*, but if almost the *entire medical/scientific community* told me I would perhaps try to deal with it rationally and enjoy my family instead of chasing rainbows and following the nonsense spouted by a C-list celebrity with absolutely zero expertise on the subject.”
I’m sorry that you think/feel that way. Yes, I could care less about Jenny McCarthy’s “opinions” THOUGH I know at least 11 people (family and close friends) who chose to take a holistic approach and cured themselves… CURED! This includes – CANCER, MS, and so forth. Nothing is 100%. I’m a firm believer in science though if you are to throw human error and greed into the picture you have a large gray area. Of course they want to keep us sick otherwise how would they make “The Big Bucks”? If you choose to believe solely in the entire medical/scientific community you are just as doomed as the person who prays for a god to heal their loved ones.
@ Jessica – Doctors would NEVER capitalize on CURES! Illness keeps them in business. Why ruin the profits? Also, please do you research about vaccines before you write your posts. Do you know what they’ve been putting in vaccines? What they’ve been adding to it? I know many people who have never been vaccinated and are in PERFECT health and have HEALTHY immune systems. I also have a family member with autism so I felt the need to speak out. Why ever since he has been treated holistically he has improved ten fold? Do you have an answer? There may not be a cure per say but perhaps there are healthy ways to improve?
The medical system is flawed.
Here is a random link among many: http://www.naturalnews.com/023911.html
People are taking a stand all over the world!!
20. Jessica
October 2, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
So can I, and I did, because Jenny McCarthy is full of BS.
21. Jessica
October 2, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
Actually, that’s not how science works, LOL.
First of all, it’s impossible for me to believe you are a “firm believer” in science if you actually believe that vitamins and herbs can “CURE” cancer. There is absolutely no scientific basis that supports holistic remedies are curative for diseases like cancer or neurological disorders like autism etc.
See, in science, you have to have a lot more than Jenny McCarthy or even yourself and family and friends, claiming causation in order to prove it. It has to undergo rigorous studies that can be repeated by other scientists (peer reviewed) and offer statistically relevant results. Going on Larry King and claiming B-12 shots cure autism doesn’t make it true or even ethical.
22. TheYoungMother
October 2, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
Thats fine that you think that. But what do her big boobs and beautiful body have to do with this article? Other than the fact of your own personal issues with her…
It has nothing to do with her stance on Autsim. At least the last time I checked…
The only bs I see here is the fact that people are criticizing her for speaking out on something that actually worked for her son! and thats great. What more could we wish for than to hear that someone’s baby is doing better?? Regardless of who she is, I would wish no less on anyone. While I don’t agree with everything she has done, I do think its wonderful that she has opened the parents eyes that not everything is set in stone. There are other options. And when you have a sick baby at home, having those options are sure a hell of a lot more comforting then feeling your at a dead end.
23. Marie
October 2, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
Oh, Jessica and Prescott are married eh? It all makes perfect sense. Two people with tunnel vision slamming their heads into a brick wall every chance they can get. Fun times!
Perhaps I should say I am a firm believer in science that is not manipulated. Scientists study nature and find cures all the time. Perhaps I should say that I believe in Scientists that don’t LIE. (Or maybe I could say keep there findings on the “hush-hush”? Ex. Lung cancer connection to smoking back in the day? Hello?)
Can you honestly tell me there aren’t a ridiculous amount of doctors out there that don’t lie in order to get paid? Get real! I guess you are going to tell me that you’re flawless as well? HAHA as flawless as the American medical system and as solid as the dollar and well… just about everything else eh?
You said – “There is absolutely no scientific basis that supports holistic remedies are curative for diseases like cancer or neurological disorders like autism etc.”
Oh yeah!? Go tell that to my grandfather who should have died 20 years ago! He is living proof!!
Yes you are entitled to say whatever you please, free speech -yadda yadda- but, in my oh-so-humble opinion, you are the one who is full of BS. I’m bored – and I’m out. Peace.
24. Prescott
October 2, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
Oh yeah!? Go tell that to my grandfather who should have died 20 years ago! He is living proof!!
Anecdotal evidence is not “proof” — would have thought you would know that being such a fan of “non-manipulated science”.
Can you honestly tell me there aren’t a ridiculous amount of doctors out there that don’t lie in order to get paid? Get real!
I would think the burden of proof would fall on you with that statement, no? You’re living in a world of conspiracy theories and I’m the one slamming my head against the wall?
That evil, evil medical establishment who without you would have the life expectancy of less than half what you do now. What awful people.
25. Marie
October 2, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
“That evil, evil medical establishment who without you would have the life expectancy of less than half what you do now. What awful people.”
HAHAHA
A quote from one of MANY websites, books, facts, etc:
“The most stunning statistic, however, is that the total number of deaths caused by conventional medicine is nearly 800,000 per year. It is now evident that the American medical system is the leading cause of death and injury in the US. By contrast, the number of deaths attributable to heart disease in 2001 was 699,697, while the number of deaths attributable to cancer was 553,251.5″
Link: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/aug2006_report_death_01.htm
Ex. I’ve learned in college through books, travel, and FACTS and so on… that for thousands of years the chinese lived long and healthy lives through HERBS and natural remedies while the rest of the world was lucky to reach 30-50 if that. Read up on it! Oh but they knew nothing!? Right. Is there an end to this tunnel?
26. Prescott
October 2, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
Are you implying that those deaths were on purpose? And that they would have been otherwise prevented if those people just took a bunch of herbs instead? (Nice unbiased source you linked to there)
Here’s my own link for your reading pleasure: http://www.ncahf.org/
for thousands of years the chinese lived long and healthy lives through HERBS and natural remedies while the rest of the world was lucky to reach 30-50 if that
Now you’re starting to sound like a Kevin Trudeau infomercial. I thought you were “out”?
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/life-expectancy/life-expectancy-over-human-history.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longevity_myths
27. Marie
October 2, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
Also it’s about prevention! If people were eating healthy and were well informed of a multitude of things, we wouldn’t need the doctor’s much at all…. Oh but how would they get paid????? Oh my! Oh and you’re bringing up the words “conspiracy theories”? You are a COMEDIC genius!!!!!
28. StaceyS_MOD
October 2, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
I personally loved this article!
Celebrities have got to know that people listen to what they say simply because they are celebrities! They don’t have to have any “facts” backing their story they just have to talk about it in a public forum & instantly there are a bunch of followers (er um people) who magically believe what they say because of who they are, not so much because of what they know. Because of this I think it should be their responsibility to think twice about what they say before they say it regardless if you’re trying to promote a book, movie, television show, clothing line, etc. or not.
This to me is not so much different that that whole episode with Tom Cruise belaboring his point about his opinions of psychiatrists & anti-depressants etc. Claiming his beliefs to be “fact” is irresponsible.
If Jenny had said this worked for my son, MAYBE it could help your child as well…. but I in no way shape or form encourage you to go out & try this without seeking the advise of a medical professional. That would have been a little more appropriate.
As far as the comments on her body….I think the point (the one I got anyway) was to try & make the reader see that this person has made a living & a name for herself off of her body, her slap stick comedy, & her dumb blonde routine. To turn around and all of a sudden come off like Jenny McCartney MD seems a bit preposterous.
I’m truly glad Ms. McCartney feels like she has found a “cure” for her child….but it would be negligent of anyone to go around publicly stating they should follow some holistic prescription rather then seeking the advice of a medical professional.
29. StaceyS_MOD
October 2, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
*Please note it should have been McCarthy NOT McCartney*
30. Jessica
October 2, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Well, Marie’s “evidence” is from a site that is selling some herbal voo-doo remedy that promises long life. LOL. It also says that their claims are not “FDA approved and that the product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease”, along with a bunch of other disclaimers.
Clearly, it’s futile to debate with Marie who appears to lack a basic understanding of the scientific method.