Nobel Peace Prize Winners Protest New Reality Show: ‘Stars Earn Stripes’ Claiming It Glorifies War
The Stars Earn Stripes NBC reality shows irked Nobel Peace Prize Laureates even before the premiere episode aired Monday evening. Mark Burnett’s reality show has come under fire by Nobel Peace Prize winners for allegedly glorifying war and “armed violence,” the Wall Street Journal notes. Stars Earns Stripes features notable athletes and celebrities going through military style training.
Stars Earns Stripes is an eight-week reality show depicting celebrities jumping out of helicopters and learning how to fire weapons. The new NBC show boasts a competitive component with a cash prize donated to the winning star’s favorite charity.
The open letter from Nobel Peace Prize winners to NBC Entertainment Chair Bob Greenblatt states:
“It is our belief that this program pays homage to no one anywhere and continues and expands on an inglorious tradition of glorifying war and armed violence. Preparing for war is neither amusing nor entertaining.”
NBC’s Stars Earn Stripes cast includes Olympic athlete Picabo Street, Terry Crews, Laila Ali, General Wesley Clark, Samantha Harris, Terry Crews, Nick Lachey, Dan Cain, Todd Palin, and Dolvitt Quince. The celebrities are paired with former Green Berets, Marines, and other armed forces members as they maneuver through training and simulation scenarios.
Executive Producer Burnett stated on Sunday evening that Stars Earn Stripes promotes and honors the military in a fun and interesting way, according to the Los Angeles Times. Burnett also noted the NBC reality show “introduces” the incredible people who fought for America in foreign countries.
Nobel Peace Prize winners who signed the letter in opposition to Stars Earn Stripes include South Africa Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Oscar Aria Sanchez, Betty Williams, Jose Ramos-Horta, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Shirin Edadi, and Mairead Maguire. Perhaps the most notable Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, President Barack Obama, was not a part of the Stars Earn Stripes protest letter. It is not known if President Obama was asked to sign the open letter to NBC in opposition to the new reality show.
