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Octuplets get guardian as mother puts their lives on reality TV show
Terry Kirby28 Jul 2009
A court has appointed a legal guardian for the Californian octuplets to ensure they are not exploited by reality TV shows or other media deals.
The six boys and two girls of Nadya Suleman, 33, together with her other six children, stand collectively to earn $250,000 (£150,000) over three years after their mother signed a deal with a television company to document crucial moments in their lives.
This follows a series of deals with a website and US tabloids which featured videos and photos of her children.
The legal action was brought by Paul Peterson, a former Disney Mouseketeer who lobbies for fair treatment of children in entertainment.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Gerald Johnston dismissed arguments for family privacy and ruled that an independent person should be appointed to scrutinise the finances of the octuplets. The judge said it was the "least intrusive" type of oversight possible. A lawyer, Norbert Bunt, was appointed guardian and will report back at the court's next hearing at the end of August. Fifteen per cent of the income will be placed in a trust for the children for when they are 18.
Lawyers for Ms Suleman called for the petition to be dismissed because it interfered with the family's need for privacy and accused lawyers who brought the case of being "nosy".
After Ms Suleman gave birth in January to what are now the world's longest surviving octuplets, it emerged that the single and job-less mother - who had received IVF - had been caring for her six other children with the help of student loans and social security disability payments. In March, she moved into a new home worth $500,000.
California media regulators have already censured a website, RadarOnline for failing to get permission to film the first babies to arrive home and for filming them too late at night and for too long.
The reality show, by production company Eyeworks, is due to start filming Suleman and her 14 children, all under the age of eight, in September. They will not be followed 24 hours a day, but the cameras will document certain milestones, such as birthdays, over three years.
Eyeworks is based in the Netherlands. Its British arm, which makes several reality-style programmes, is headed by Paul Jackson, the former head of ITV entertainment.
Reader views (3)
people should refuse to watch this trash on TV - that would protect these poor, innocent children, brought into this world for entirely selfish reasons.
- Melanie, milton keynes, bucks, 28/07/2009 14:24
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this is outragous and i will boycotte any commercial organisation that gets involved with this reckless and irresponsible woman
- Barry, woking, GB, 28/07/2009 11:46
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How can appointing a guardian be any more an invasion of their privacy than putting them on reality tv?
- Kitty, London, 28/07/2009 10:16
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