COMEDIAN: Anne-Kat. Hærland, here during an interview with VG in 2020. Photo: Janne Møller-Hansen / VG
Anne-Kat. Hærland (51) believes that TV producers have taken advantage of her disability and that TV 2 is now trying to save her skin.
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NB: The article reveals the content of Wednesday’s episode
Anne-Kat. Hærland is distraught and believes that TV 2 and the producers of “Farmen kjendis” have failed regarding her arrangements for her eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa.
She claims she didn’t get help when she asked for it and that the production dramatically exploited her invisible illness.
TV 2’s press manager, Jan-Petter Dahl, says that the production company Strix tried to accommodate Hærland’s needs, but apologizes for feeling that the arrangements were not good enough.
TV 2 says it is sorry that Hærland chose to withdraw and criticizes itself by saying that “they obviously didn’t organize themselves well enough”.
Hærland believes the apology should have come much sooner.
Sea-view
– Their narrative is not true, no matter how they present it, Hærland tells VG.
Spoiler: The article reveals the contents of Wednesday.
The veteran comedian references her resignation in Wednesday’s episode.
– I have no choice. But the fact that I am gone should not be treated as dramaturgical reality. dramaturgical. Dramaturgical tools are moves and methods used to advance the narrative. It can be about how characters are portrayed, how conflicts are present in the narrative, and whether the story has one or more surprise elements. (ndla.no). TV 2 must not be allowed to edit away from this. I want people to know the real reason and that it’s all the production’s fault.
Härland suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes the cells of the retina to slowly die. You have restricted vision and can become completely blind.
A prerequisite for Hærland’s participation in “Farmen kjendis” was that he received the necessary help and facilitation. Here you believe the production has failed.
Frustration and desperation built up over the course of several days.
– I didn’t get help from production when I asked for it. And the little things I asked for help with aren’t showing up on the camera. That was okay, because they were insignificant. But for me it was tiring and undignified.
Among other things, Hærland broke a glass while he was washing the dishes.
– I thought about both people and animals walking there. When someone from the crew came by, and I asked for help to see if I had collected everything, I only got the answer that “we can’t intervene in the production”.
And when Hærland ran out of flashlight batteries, which he needed to go to the bathroom in the dark, it also took too long to get new ones.
– There were a series of events that were complicated to understand. But I have an invisible illness, and it shouldn’t be exploited as dramaturgy in a television episode.
TV2 apologizes
TV 2 press manager Jan-Petter Dahl tells VG that TV 2 and the production company Strix did their best to meet Hærland’s needs.
– Anne-Kat. however, he had several difficult experiences for her due to her visual impairment. We apologize for this, says Dahl.
– We set up a recording which was difficult for Anne-Kat. participate and obviously we couldn’t organize ourselves well enough. We regret that you have chosen to retire.
– This apology should have come much sooner, says Hærland.
Dahl denies that Hærland’s diagnosis was exploited as a television gimmick.
– We had no intention of using his visual impairment dramatically.
Dahl points out that in “The Farm” the participants must approach the situation as if it happened 100 years ago.
– Therefore, there are many things in which the production does not help the participants. Getting new batteries for a flashlight or asking for help looking for broken glass are not such situations, and obviously things he should have asked for help with.
IN SWING: Cato Zahl Pedersen and Anne-Kat. Hærland on the farm. Photo: ANTON SUGGIO
In Tuesday’s episode, Hærland gets fired up when someone removes a piece of meat he was working with. Desperate, she blames others.
– It’s serious to hide something from someone who can’t see. But the production didn’t really care, and that got me thinking.
Härland believes the crew hid the meat.
– I have no proof, but I think they put it on the participants to save themselves. The participants were always available and I don’t suspect any of them.
When asked directly by VG if it was the production that hid the meat, TV 2 responded:
– No it was not.
Hærland still believes he saw a pattern of events where production would only react with a shrug.
CRYING CHOKING: Anne-Kat. Hærland in Tuesday’s episode. Photo: TV2
On Wednesday everything ends, before an activity. In fact, this happened on the same day as the meat episode, so Hærland was already feeling under pressure.
– In the dark I see Nothing. Then it’s a complete crisis, and that’s what I said.
For three days he must have tried to find out what they would do.
– But I only heard that it meant fire. On the day in question I asked when we were supposed to start and was told they were still waiting for dark.
Then it overflowed. Hærland panicked and said she needed to get away for a couple of hours.
– I didn’t want to be filmed while I was helpless. Then I was told that if I left, I might forget to come back. I responded with a wording that involves using the middle finger, so to speak.
However, this outbreak is not in the episode.
LAST DAY: Anne-Kat. Härland decided to travel here. Photo: TV2
TV 2 and Strix admit that the dark session could have been handled differently.
– It could and should, and we make a self-criticism on this, says the press manager.
– The production didn’t fully understand how difficult it was for Anne-Kat to attend the recording after it got dark. We know that it was important for her to be part of the whole experience and to fully understand the fact that this situation was experienced as exclusionary. We are sorry and we are learning.
Hærland does not believe that anyone was mean or mean on purpose.
– They just weren’t informed. If you, as a producer, cannot distinguish between a need for functional assistance and a narcissistic need for attention, then you have worked in reality TV too long. I didn’t react the way I did to get attention.
FARM WIFE: Anne-Kat. Hærland with the dog “Farmen” Ivar. Photo: ANTON SUGGIO
TV 2 denies that they and Strix are trying to save their skins and disclaim any responsibility by cutting and editing.
– No, on the contrary, we want to paint as accurate a picture as possible and make viewers understand that Anne-Kat’s criticisms. it is aimed at production and TV 2, says Dahl.
He claims that the situation was shortened in Wednesday’s episode and that not everything was filmed.
– But we know well that Anne-Kat. she chose to withdraw because she felt the provisions were not good enough and it was always our intention that this should be made clear.
TV 2 says the races and duels were adapted so that Hærland could compete on equal terms with others.
– In retrospect, we were not able to foresee all the situations that could become difficult due to visual impairment.
SPECTATORS at the first duel: Behind the ex Anne-Kat. Hærland, Cato Zahl Pedersen, Sander Dale, Emilie Nereng and Bahare Viken. In front: Sondre Mulongo Nystrøm, Emma, Ellingsen, Unni Askeland, Bjørg Thorhallsdottir and Daniel Franck. Photo: TV2
Hærland sent information material about the diagnosis to the production before recording, but they never looked at it. He also asks for a scheduled meeting before the start.
However, TV 2 claims that the production reviewed everything Hærland sent in advance and that they had several meetings before kick-off.
Hærland maintains his position.
– The production saw it Not in advance, because I was admitted later.
TV VETERAN: Anne-Kat. Hærland, here with the honorary award during the 2022 Gullruten. Photo: Paul S. Amundsen / VG
Hærland has been waiting for an apology from TV 2 for seven months.
– They should have apologized in private.
– Both the production and TV 2 contacted Anne-Kat. after registration, but now we see that this was not enough. We apologize for this, says Dahl.
GOODBYE: Anne-Kat crying. Hærland greets the others. Photo: TV2
Hærland hopes that action will be taken to prevent future participants from experiencing the same thing.
– The worst thing that can happen is that they can’t bring people with disabilities because they think they are too demanding.
– We are learning from what has happened and will certainly continue to include a wide range of participants, assures Dahl.
EXTERIOR: Daniel Franck, here during his short stay on the farm. Photo: ANTON SUGGIO/TV 2
Shortly after Hærland Daniel Franck (49) also packed his bags.
– I heard it lasted. It was a bit too monotonous in there, says the snowboarder.
He describes it as a great loss that Hærland left behind.
– Personally, I thought it was a mega recession. This probably could have been avoided if everyone had mobilized in the given situation. Criticisms both of us participants and of the production.
Hærland was diagnosed with the disease in 1997, but has since appeared on TV. In 2015 he took part in an expedition with “Berserk”.
GENERAL SECRETARY: For Inge Bjerknes of the Norwegian Federation of the Blind. Photo: Morten Bendiksen
– Important voice
The general secretary of the Norwegian Federation of the Blind, Per Inge Bjerknes, believes that it is difficult for Hærland to participate.
– But Anne-Kat. he is known for being a tough guy. At the same time, she had the courage to talk about how tiring it is to gradually lose one’s sight, and with her clarity she promoted public awareness. She is an important voice.
According to Bjerknes, there are almost no limits to what visually impaired people can achieve when they encounter an inclusive environment.
He says that for most people, retinitis pigmentosa is a pretty unforgiving diagnosis.
– For others, it can be difficult to understand that you can be reading the newspaper one moment, but pass by famous people the next.
Around 1,500 people in Norway have RP. The disease is among the most frequent causes of severe vision impairment in children and young adults.
