AFTER just one episode, controversial SBS series Struggle Street continues to divide Australian viewers.
Some were deeply offended by last week’s debut of the highly publicised documentary, accusing the network of peddling “poverty porn,” while others were left wondering what all the fuss was about.
But among those not backing down are the locals who feature in the program, which follows the lives of residents living in Mount Druitt in Sydney’s far west. Peta Kennedy, who appears in Struggle Street with her husband and their 10 children, says it has torn her already struggling family apart.
“We’re shocked, gutted and I feel very hurt. I did not agree to go on the show to be made a fool of. None of us did,” the 54-year-old tells New Idea.
“This has caused so much heartache and drama ... we had no idea we were going to be portrayed this way. I feel they have totally and cruelly humiliated my husband.”
Wednesday night’s hourlong premiere smashed it in the ratings for SBS. With 935,000 viewers tuning in, it delivered the broadcaster its best ratings of the year and was the most-watched program in the 8.30pm timeslot.
But before the show even aired, the scathing promo — which showed Peta’s husband Ashley arguing with his ice-addicted son Corey and casually farting on camera — was the focus of plenty of tabloid outrage. It also featured a woman calling her cat a “slut”, people walking through a trashed, graffiti-covered house, and a woman smoking what appears to be marijuana.
Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali staged a protest of 10 garbage trucks at SBS’ North Sydney headquarters on Wednesday, and SBS eventually agreed to modify the promo clip and cut certain scenes from the show.
Peta told the magazine her husband was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease during the course of filming and already suffers from “a raft of health issues”. She says her 19-year-old daughter Chloe, who suffers with Asperger’s, epilepsy, depression and intellectual disabilities, has now become the victim of cyberbullies. “They took her [Chloe’s] photo from the TV, put it on the internet and called her all these cruel and horrible names.
“This has set Chloe back a hell of a lot. It’s just so needless and cruel ... we’ve had very sleepless nights. I’ve tried to get the message out there, this is not what we’re like. It’s left me totally exhausted,” Peta tells the mag.
Despite initial public outcry, social media overall responded with praise and, after going to air, the show was the number one trending Twitter topic in Australia.
Social Services Minister Scott Morrison publicly defended the series. “I thought there were some very real issues that were canvassed in that programme,” he said.
The mother of 10 admits the Mt Druitt community has since rallied behind her also. “Now that they have seen I have spoken out against it, they are fully supportive. So many people have come forward to lend me and my family support.”
Yet, even with the public backing, Peta says she’s seen enough and won’t be tuning in for the two-hour spectacle this Wednesday night. “They say it’s reality — being portrayed as a bogan no-hoper is not my sense of reality. We were trusting people. That sense of trust has been betrayed.”
The final two episodes of Struggle Street are now being fast-tracked and will be shown back-to-back this Wednesday from 8.30pm.
What did you think of last week’s broadcast of Struggle Street? Share with us below.
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