Lisa Dunning, Marriage & Family Therapist
Parent / Child Relationship Specialist

What Duane Dog Chapman aka "Dog The Bounty Hunter", Don Imus, Michael Richards, Ty Pennington and Matt Roloff Do Not Have In Common

Duane Dog Chapman, aka "Dog The Bounty Hunter" has lost his show due to the use of a racial slur on a taped conversation between Duane Chapman and his son. Duane Chapman has since made numerous public apologies. I am not condoning the use of the racial slur by Duane Dog Chapman and I understand why A&E ceased airing "Dog The Bounty Hunter" immediately after the release of the tape. The A&E network has to guard against potential backlash from viewers and prominent African American leaders. But the A&E network, the media and the public are making a mistake when they place Duane Dog Chapman in the same category as Michael Richards and Don Imus. And the networks, the media and the public are also making an even bigger mistake when they do not place Ty Pennington and Matt Roloff in the same category as Duane Dog Chapman.

What Duane Dog Chapman aka "Dog The Bounty Hunter", Don Imus And Michael Richards Do Not Have In Common

Don Imus and Michael Richards made their inappropriate and hurtful slurs in the public domain and therefore suffered the consequences of their poor judgment. Duane Dog Chapman said inappropriate and hurtful slurs during what he thought was a private conversation. How many of us have said something in a private conversation that if others knew we said could jeopardize our reputation or career? Thank God most of us are not taped and exploited like Duane Dog Chapman. To add insult to injury, the person Duane Chapman trusted and loved, his own son, exploited him for monetary gain.

We Cannot Just Ignore What Duane Dog Chapman Said

What the media, the public and A&E need to understand is that Duane Chapman grew up on the streets and in prison. To survive he needed to use a vocabulary that would be inappropriate and offensive in a civilized world. But even with an understanding of his history and the knowledge that Duane Chapman was unknowingly taped, we cannot just ignore what Duane Dog Chapman said in a private conversation made public. His use of a racial slur requires an explanation and an apology. And after hearing his explanation and apology for the use of the racial slur, I believe Duane Chapman's apology is genuine and I do not believe he used the slur out of hate or prejudice.

What Duane Dog Chapman aka "Dog The Bounty Hunter, Ty Pennington and Matt Roloff Do Not Have In Common

But during this unfortunate situation with Duane Dog Chapman I wish someone would explain to me how Duane Chapman loses his show "Dog The Bounty Hunter", when he is unknowingly taped using a racial slur, a word that is extremely offensive but is not illegal and does not kill. But when Ty Pennington from ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and Matt Roloff from TLC's "Little People Big World" are arrested for driving under the influence, an illegal act with the potential to kill innocent people, their respective shows continue to run on schedule. Why does Ty Pennington and Matt Roloff get a free pass from their respective networks, the media and the public for their illegal and potentially life threatening behavior. It appears that a celebrity will only lose a show if they offend enough people with their inappropriate words. But the show will continue uninterrupted when a celebrity who chooses to drive drunk puts innocent people in jeopardy. If a network can take away a show due to a racial slur, they should hold an entertainer arrested for DUI to at least the same standard of acceptable behavior.

Duane Dog Chapman Should Get His Show "Dog The Bounty Hunter" Back

Duane Dog Chapman serves as a role model to anyone who has made mistakes in life and is trying to be a better person. I hope most of America will see the difference between Duane Dog Chapman's private mistake made public and Don Imus and Michael Richards very public mistakes. I also hope networks will hold celebrities who choose to drive drunk to a higher standard of acceptable behavior. But judging by the lack of response from TLC and ABC when Ty Pennington and Matt Roloff were arrested for DUI, the only solution appears to be for the public and the media to shine a brighter light on the problem. If networks, the media and the public held celebrities charged with DUIs to at least the same standard as celebrities who use racial slurs perhaps we would see a decrease in celebrities driving under the influence.

Any of these articles by Lisa Dunning, Family Therapist may be re-published in hardcopy (magazines, newsletters or newspapers) or electronic format in websites, ezines or electronic newsletters provided the following resource box is included at the end of the article with a link to the URL