Posted on 09/18/2005 3:54:53 PM PDT by Hildy
LOS ANGELES - The producers of "Extreme Makeover" promised Deleese Williams "a Cinderella-like" fix for a deformed jaw, crooked teeth, droopy eyes and tiny boobs that would "transform her life and destiny." But when the ABC reality show dumped the Texas mom the night before the life-changing plastic surgeries, it shattered her family's dream and triggered her sister Kellie McGee's suicide, says a bombshell lawsuit filed in L.A. Superior Court.
As part of the premakeover hype, producers coaxed McGee and other family members to trash Williams' looks on videotape, the suit alleges. When they suddenly pulled the plug on the project, and the promised "Hollywood smile like Cindy Crawford," a guilt-ridden McGee fell apart.
"Kellie could not live with the fact that she had said horrible things that hurt her sister. She fell to pieces. Four months later, she ended her life with an overdose of pills, alcohol and cocaine," said Wesley Cordova, a lawyer for Williams.
"This family is shredded. There is a human cost to this," Cordova said.
Williams, 30, and her husband, Mike, are raising McGee's two children, along with two kids of their own. The suit seeks unspecified money damages for breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress and other offenses.
"Deleese is so hurt and humiliated, she won't leave the house now. She grocery shops at midnight," Cordova says.
ABC declined to comment on the allegations.
The show announcing Williams' selection for a mega makeover had already aired on Jan. 7, 2004, when the producers abruptly dropped her because the dental surgeon told them her recovery time would be longer than expected, Cordova said.
Williams was alone in a Los Angeles hotel room reading her pre-op instructions when a producer showed up and dashed her dream of a new life with a "pretty" face, the suit alleges.
"You will not be getting an extreme makeover after all. . . . Nothing. It doesn't fit in our time frame. You will have to go back to Texas tomorrow," the suit alleges she was coldly told.
Williams broke down sobbing: "How can I go back as ugly as I left? I was supposed to come home pretty," the suit says.
The 31-page complaint begins with the line "Deleese Williams is considered ugly."
It details a horrendous tale of pain and humiliation that began when she applied for the reality show in December 2003 and had to submit a "full body shot" video showing "all of the body parts that need help."
For years, Williams' friends and family "didn't notice or pretended not to notice" her homely looks, but once she got picked for the show, they were coached to focus on nothing but her physical flaws, the suit says.
In McGee's taped interview, she tried to play up her sister's good points. But the hard-nosed producers "peppered Kellie with questions about her childhood with the ugly Deleese . . . and repeatedly put words in her mouth," the suit says.
To please the producers, Williams' mother-in-law also laid it on thick. "She said things like 'I never believed my son would marry such an ugly woman.' " Cordova says.
The family's comments never aired on TV, but Williams, who was in an adjoining room, heard them all.
The experience ruined her family life.
"Now that she returned in the same condition in which she left, there were no secrets, no hidden feelings, no reward," the suit says.
McGee's "guilt was overwhelming." She OD'd on May 25, 2004, four months after the show's producers sent her sister packing.
"These programs are cheap to produce - there are no actors or screenwriters to pay. But there is a very high human cost," Cordova said.
That's what I thought, too. She's not pretty, but not incredibly hideous either.
Speaking of the topic of physical beauty ... I knew a man who was so attractive and charming that he could really get just about any girl he wanted at any time. You know what happened? His marriage fell apart. He stopped going to work because he was looking for women to spend the night with. He spent every night at the bars, spending way too much money. He started taking drugs to compensate for his lack of sleep. Now he is a drug-addicted, poverty-stricken, lonely, physically unattractive man. I'm not saying all very attractive people fall like this, but when our society puts such value on sex, sexual freedom, and beauty, even the pretty ones are harmed.
Just curious, how do you KNOW all reality shows are very tacky if you NEVER watch?
This settles it - there needs to be registration and waiting periods for reality shows. And they need to keep a close eye on those reality show loop holes.
TV companies have descended to an all-time low in their choice of programming. Even programs like "Survivor" and other so-called "reality" shows appeal only to individuals who have no sense of purpose and no worthwhile pursuits of their own. The networks rely on viewers, many of whom have gone through what Americans call their "public education system," even the colleges and universities, and yet they are so devoid of understanding and purpose for living that they must be entertained by the embarrassment and/or misery of others, instead of going out and living productive, helpful lives.
How sad that it is not the owners, writers, producers, actors and assorted other purveyors of such meaningless drivel that suffer the consequences. Instead, they celebrate their own ignorance and decadence with awards ceremonies, piling insult on injury.
You sound like a wonderful person. I'm a black sheep also. We can't let the turkeys get us down. The hotels idea is a good one!
Thanks.
BTW, I am person #23 to visit your about page.
We have viewed a few of them when there has been nothing else on, tacky is the only nice thing I can come up with to describe our reaction.
We actually watch very little TV because of such shows and now that I think of it, the money we pay for our satellite connection is a 90% waste of money. If it wasn't for the fact that we have our elderly parents living with us and they do watch TV we would cancel it.
Congrats on that!
Thank you very much. I keep trying. I used to say quitting is easy, I've done it a thousand times. This is 1001, I guess, but I plan to stick with it.
So did ABC defraud her, or did she fail to read the contract? Your above statements contradict each other.
And for the life of me, I cannot understand the nasty tone of FReepers on this thread.
Just because you do not understand others does not mean they cannot voice their opinions as you obviously voice yours. By the way, the "earth to" has been over done. Try to be original next time.
Well, LoudRepublicangirl, you're 'loud', that's for sure. I understand "others" just fine, and thanks to your smart aleck reply, I understand you 'loud' and clear.
Its obvious that you are attempting to change the subject since I noticed you didn't answer my question (first sentence, btw). I'm sure you'll dodge it again if you reply. Been there, done that.... Oh wait, that's another cliche' you'll respond to instead of the original point.
You certainly can.... Keep on flashing. Instead of continuing to embarrass yourself, you should give it up since you cannot even argue your own point. AGAIN, (and for the third time) I'll ask you, What in the world do disfigured war vets have to do with this story?
Easily. Your original comment indicated that you were not aware that there was a contract in the first place.
That is absolutely retarded. My comment did not indicate any such thing.
I said she was not entitled to anything just because they changed their minds. I should have put more words in there for you, I suppose.
Read post #157.
Give me a break. You said that she is not entitled to anything because ABC changed its mind, and then you start talking contract? LOL
They can change their minds because they are protected by a contract that was written for them, by their attorneys.
I guess I figured that was understood. Like I am so stupid as to think that big corporations just run around willy nilly, doing whatever they want, never signing anything. Sure.
Bite me.
Get this. Whatever contract was signed, ABC breached. Constructive breach, maybe, that is for a court to decide. Of course, if you were a lawyer, you'd understand that ABC will settle out of court in order to avoid the hassle, and the "advice" of people such as you.
Good catch. I would assume both have culpability. ABC may have presented " implied intent". It seems like it could be a very complicated case.
My uneducated guess is that even if the conract is rock solid, This lady will be out lawyered and out matched.
I do feel for the emotional distess this caused her, But if you can't play with the big dogs...Stay on the porch.
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