‘Media Whoredom Has Hit the Church’: What Has Some So Angry Over TLC’s Reality Show About Pastors’ Wives?
The cast of TLC’s “The Sisterhood” (Photo Credit: TLC)
TLC’s “The Sisterhood” premiered on New Year’s Day, providing viewers with a lens into the lives of five Christian pastor’s wives. Last January, TheBlaze covered the network’s plans to create a show surrounding these religious women. Now, 12 months later, the program, which is centered upon Atlanta-based faith leaders, has finally come to fruition — but not without some intense controversy.
According to TLC, “The Sisterhood” is a candid exploration into the lives of “devout yet fierce preachers’ wives.” As their husbands seek to run faith communities (or simply live faithful lives, as not all of the men run churches), these strong women tend to their families and come alongside their spouses to help meet the needs of congregants.
The program will purportedly show the women’s struggles as they, too, face life’s many ups and downs. From financial issues to marital struggles, some viewers may find the women’s problems highly-relatable, however many Christians are already lamenting the show for its negativity and alleged poor portrayal of religious women.
Rather than serving as a calm and collected look at the subjects’ lives, a Huffington Post description of the show seems to indicate that drama plays a prominent role:
If you’ve thought “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” could use with a little bit of scripture, then maybe “The Sisterhood” is for you. The new TLC reality series follows several pastors’ wives, but their proximity to their churches does very little to curb their outrageous behavior. It just means God is a big part of it.
In a review for the New York Post, an equally lackluster review was published by Linda Stasi. She summarized the show as follows: “Unfortunately, the first preacher-wife show, “The Sister hood,” premiering on TLC tonight, is nothing more — or less — than “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” but co-starring God.” Her overview continues:
On this show we have four African-American preacher’s wives, but like those “Real Housewives” who don’t even have husbands, here two of the four preacher wives are married to pastors who don’t have churches.
And like every tired “Wives” show that came before them, they follow the tried-and-true formula.
First, they all meet and then have a party to welcome the new woman to town so they can then fight and get catty and jealous.
And the negative sentiments don’t end there. Access Atlanta covers Tuesday night’s premiere, noting that drama has immediately become a staple of the show (be sure to also read the cast members’ bios):
In the first episode, we meet four of the five women. Three ladies clash almost immediately. Domonique Scott, whose husband lost his church after they hit financial straits, and Ivy Couch, a newlywed who was briefly in the group Xscape, go at it with Tara Y. Lewis. Tara is part of an interracial couple that came to Atlanta from Los Angeles but lost their jobs at a Dunwoody church after just six weeks.
Here’s a first-look at the show, in case you missed it:
Some of the reactions were somewhat harsh following the first episode last night. There’s already a petition circulating to have the show ended — and Twitter reaction was fierce. “How is anyone gonna follow a first lady after watching #Sisterhood?,” Danita Ogandaga, founder of Orphan No More, tweeted. She added, “Media Whoredom has hit the church #Sisterhood makes me shake my head.”
Another user, Heather Lindsey, wrote, “Sisterhood is a fail for me TLC. Gossiping.. Envy. Discontentment [and] so worldy all while using scriptures.”
And Chris Hines, a pastor in Norfolk, Va., said, “I was offended for every real 1st Lady who carries the call with Grace & Discretion.” Here are some of his tweets about the show:
You can learn more about the show on TLC’s web site.
Did you watch “The Sisterhood?” If so, what were your thoughts?
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Comments (160)
truthnstuff
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:29pmThe country is becoming a Reality/TV show. As long as unthinking wanabes continue to support these shows we will continue to descend into the gutter. People are starting to use these as models for behavior.
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gonnaneedabiggerboat
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:21pmI’ve met and known many of these urban Christian Pastors (not the ones on this show, but of the same ilk) and in many cases they are complete frauds and charlatans…as ‘reverend’ as Al and Jesse. It is a sham, and one of the benefits is the tax-free donations/tithes they bilk out of their gullable parishes and the other is the so-called status they enjoy, as a “man of God.” This show just demonstrates how these hypocrites are at least as bad, if not worse, than the rest of us ‘sinners.’
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HellboundandDown
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 2:40pmby Urban do you mean Black Folks? If so, you either forgot to add #notracist or #sorrynotsorry or both.
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catty
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:29pmJim and Tammy Faye ring a bell to you?
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P8riot
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:59pmI haven’t seen the show, but maybe this will be a wake-up call to all those preaching that the way people live their lives has nothing to do with their salvation. Faith without works is dead, people like this are a perfect example of why.
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hochnessmonster
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:56pmThese aren’t real Pastor’s wives. These are people who like money and recognition. Real Pastor’s wives are like my Pastor’s wife. She cleans the toilets at our church and hands out food to the needy. She serves the congregation and asks for nothing in return. She drove around in a Honda CRV with over 300,000 miles on it until it was lost in an accident. She cleans houses for extra income. She cries with people when they hurt. This show is sick and I’m glad that I dumped my cable a long time ago. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is the norm for Christians. Christians shouldn’t be going after the almighty dollar. Christians should be going after the lost. Francis Chan had the greatest illustration one time…think of your existence (here on earth and after) as a rope that is miles and miles and miles long. This time on earth is only about 1 inch of that rope. After you die you will be spending eternity (millions and billions and trillions of years) in either Heaven or Hell. Don’t be so fixated on how to have the best time during this one inch…worry about what happens after that little section. James 4:14 says it best, “…for you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes”.
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The_Jerk
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:01pmIt’s the media that keeps pumping out this trash.
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girlnurse
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 2:22pmI LOVE Francis Chan! Good example..
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Mudd
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 2:36pmTHE_JERK The media pumps out the trash because the people buy it. If you found people who would buy your garbage wouldn’t you sell it to them?
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by faith
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 3:47pmnot trying to be mean, but this made me laugh
“She cleans the toilets at our church and hands out food to the needy.”
I hope not at the same time
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okaaay
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 4:54pmThe average church is 75 people and under. 75 people do not support a pastor financially. Ministers are not making big bucks and their wives are not dressing like these fakes.
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hochnessmonster
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:31pm@Byfaith…..That’s funny! I reread what I posted and it does sound pretty like that! Thanks for the laugh. :)
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DougHuffman
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:41pmI notice the absence of the REPORT THIS POST option. What gives?
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HellboundandDown
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 3:18pmreading is fundamental. like your posts, except that you are less fun and more mental….
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LatvianinUS
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:40pmJust some money and fame hungry people.
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COFemale
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:39pmConsidering the majority of these women never grew up in the church, their portrayal of a minister’s wife is going to be lacking. Now I applaud their turn to Christ after the hardships they endured, but they do not represent the typical preacher’s wife. Sure they have financial and marital problems like any other couple, but please I don’t care about your sex or no sex life. I will stay out of your bedroom, so don’t come into my house with that crap.
I will not be watching this show. This is just another attempt at another TV show to portray those who supposedly live by the gospel in a negative light. They broad stroke these few as the masses.
This show will be short lived.
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Female
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:00pmUnfortnately, with society’s tremendous appetite to mock and scorn anything about GOD. The show will succeed amongst many. As I see the choice of wives, I would also tend to accuse te producers of segregation and racism to purposely demean and demoralize godly black families.
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truthnstuff
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:32pmNew flash! Reality/TV is not real. This is like professional wrestling. The appetite for this new genre is killing decency.
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pacard33
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:38pmIt’s not so hard to be a 1st Lady: I know one that just flew to Hawaii with her hubris-tic almost angelic POTUS husband– it cost $7,000,000.00 — doesn’t sound that hard to me.
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FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:26pmI was watching Finding Bigfoot last night with my young son when a commercial came on to advertise this crap.
Some woman claiming to be a pastor’s wife starts talking about her sex life in the commercial.
There is no decency in America anymore. Movies, magazines, TV, newspapers…just full of vulgar garbage.
Just like all these Viagra commercials. Why the heck can’t you discretely advertise it without talking about 4-hour erections? Because there’s an agenda behind it, not just a product.
I’m tired of filth. This isn’t the great country I grew up in.
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naughtycal
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:16pmThe bible talks of these days when vulgarity and indescency are the norm. When the people turn away from God and children turn away from their parents. Welcome to Sodum 2013………
I have little room to talk as I lived a large portion of my life on the wrong side of the track I’ve since seen the error of wreckless abandonment of the basic Christian principles and strive to grow into a better person. That is what being Christian represent…These ladies(and I use the term as gender reference only) seem to relish in their immorality rather than striving to defeat them aren’t Christian in any form. A who&e that stops her prositution after no matter how long and attempts to break her immoarl ways is but these woman are provocating their immorallity as a normalcy representation of what being Christian is about. They’re who$ing out God’s word for fifteen minutes and a couple grand in the bank. What sad sad sight to be so close to the word and never hearing it. Kind of like not seeing the forest for the trees
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Racemosa7
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:23pmVery well said. Good for you. Some preachers should read what you posted.
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klg1956
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:29pmWe have no dignity and we deserve everything we get.
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SovereignSoul
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:44pmLeave the filth behind. Let’s all go ‘squatchin’
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Mudd
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 2:39pmFLAGWAVINGPATRIOT. You really don’t think they’re going to find Big Foot, do you?
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Grizzlyof5
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:25pmI have no intention on ever watching this show but just wanted to voice my opinion on the matter. I have never met a pastor’s wife that would ever refer to herself as a First Lady. The majority I’ve met prefer the shadows of their husband who heard the call and gave up everything to follow. They are held to a high standard and their children are typically raised under glass cases. When I think of preacher’s wives I see people like Ruth Graham. Modest, wholesome, caring, God-fearing women who would never appear or act out on a show such as this because it defeats the purpose of their husband’s calling. These women are what I would consider the rotten apples in the bunch. I’m sure Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson aren’t what you picture when you think of a Rev. and so it will be with these so called First Ladies as well. Disgraceful!
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Zeus is THE Lord
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:23pmWith “media whoredom” in the headline, I naturally assumed the piece was about The Quitter from Wasilla, the biggest media whore out there…
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john koenig
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:12pmEncicom, no matter how much you cry, Sarah isn’t going to sleep with you. Get over it.
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HellboundandDown
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 2:44pmthe Blaze (which is Blazingly h*m*-er*tic for a title) using the term makes me think the joke is on the liebertarians and Teabugged.
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65Mustang
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:20pmTLC must have a talent for demoralizing any and every segment of society. Sisterhood is to most God-fearing, moral Christians that the pompous, no-talent Honey Boo Boo family is to decent, educated families everywhere…both shows are shams.
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THERAPTURCOMES
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:18pmThis has nothing to do with the church and at the resurrection/rapture http://youtu.be/ahEVxIzlxwo there are going to be some very surprised and shocked WANNABE christians left behind.
1st lady, is one of the most stupidest terms I have ever heard. Gods wrath comes
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lorial
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:17pmWould it be asking too much for some “good”entertainment on television these days? Good grief, we pay for this crap! Have they just ran out of ideas for anything decent. Why bother buying these nice big screen tv’s, only to watch trash on them? It’s just wrong!
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DougHuffman
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:16pmLike scientist, the self-assigned epithet christian is quite meaningless without knowledge of what is and what is not christian. Were it to serve their purposes, Emperors Caligula and Obama would not hesitate to announce themselves christian. Oh, wait ….
μολων λαβέ molṑn labé ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE “From my cold, dead hands” works for me.
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DougHuffman
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:24pmThanks Billy. Da-Munk touch my reply or my account again and I will raise a stink.
μολων λαβέ molṑn labé ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE “From my cold, dead hands” works for me.
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Glennda
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:49pmDUH-MONK . . . See? Your slip – and your shenanigans – are not so invisible as you may think. What kind of behavior is that for an adult? May I suggest counseling?
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DougHuffman
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:17pm@Glenn, DA
While I have no real good reason to associate the skullduggery with DUH, I have again been banned and maybe restored reportedly for my signature line. But there does seem to be a thumb in the eye of Blind Justice.
This is a test.
μολων λαβέ molṑn labé ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE “From my cold, dead hands” works for me.
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Wheelerdude
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:14pmMakes me glad that I dropped my cable. I was tired of supporting garbage like this.
America is becoming the “Land of Oz” – mindless people being lead by a false prophet – Emperor Obama…and don’t forget the Congress is complicit too!!
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naughtycal
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:23pmActually this is just another attack on religion by showing the worst example of orginized religious people. And these women that do this show are just shedding their thin vailed lie and showing how fake they really are……I’m about ready to ditch tv all together. It seems like nothing more than a tool of propaganda
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Free_Thought
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:37pmActually people on this site a lot of the time represent what is the bad side of religion. Kickagrandma comes to mind with great quotes tellin us how she is a christian but refuses to pray for hilary clintons recovery. I dont wish harm on anyone. I cannot stand the likes of akin, mourdock, scott, brown, weat or bachmann but if they were to befallen by bloodclots, cancer etc. i would wish them well which is actually more christian than refusing to pray for their recovery. I guess that makes me (atheist) a better christian than old grandma. She may be able to quote te bible but so did david koresh and he was hardly christian. CINO seems to be fitting on this site.
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The_Jerk
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:38pmIt’s the media that plays a great role in setting cultural standards. The media is a generic term. People are responsible. Who are they?
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/19/opinion/oe-stein19
And, I don’t like the messenger, but here are some facts.
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/19/opinion/oe-stein19
Until you diagnose the etiology of a disease, you can not treat that disease.
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SquidVetOhio
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:14pm@FREE_THOUGHT
Well, that was about the most self-righteous rant I’ve ever heard. Looks like your so flipping righteous that God will just let you into heaven even if you don’t believe in Him. You might even try to take His job.
Good grief…
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gragums
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:18pm@freethought
AAh, I just love the smell of moral superiority in the morning!
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Free_Thought
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:43pmI dont live my life in a state of fear from the devil and gods wrath. I live each day knowing that everyday may be my last and there is no heaven or hell waiting for me. Not living in fear of god and the devil actually allows me to be the person i need to be. I live life to the fullest knowing that i may die today. I have no regrets. I help at a soup kitchen every saturday afternoon, i give to 4 charities a year, i have taught my children to help people in need and to treat everyone equally. Gay, straight, black, brown, old and young. i even taught them religious people need to be treated well also. but when you call yourself a christian and spew hate and anger i will also call you out on it.
I wont lead my children to believe in a dude on a cloud watching their every move and judging them. My children are my biggest challenge in life to make me the best person i can be and to lead by example.
CINO seems to be the majority of “christians” on this site. But by all means keep it up.
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DougHuffman
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 3:28pm@Thoughtless, you missed the part about Moslem Islamo-maniacs.
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spirited
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:11pmHopefully there will be a slot for Jesse Jackson’s wife (s) –ahem, to speak about the reverend and his ministry.
;^>How the 21st Century plantation works …and pays.
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Al J Zira
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:11pmThe people that do watch this crap are the same people that are into the X-Factor, Jersey Shore and Idol. Idiots that are led to believe the things they’re seeing are real.
Sometimes I think you could put up a picture of a test pattern and people would stare at it for an hour if it was hyped enough.
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HowardBeale1
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:10pmRATCHET TV! But there are IDIOTS who will watch this BS. Nuff said.
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Exidor
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:03pmI couldn’t even make through the trailer.
Looks stupid. Perfect for the average sheeple.
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Karama
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:03pmIt looks like they went out of their way to pick the worst representatives of what pastors wives should be. Sickening. They would never talk to the preacher’s wife at our church she is nothing like these tramps. She is kind gentle and dresses in a modest plain fashion.
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THERAPTURCOMES
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:20pmThis has nothing to do with the church. This garbage is pure satanic of the world
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Call2Action
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:02pmHow would a crude, crappy preview like this one get me to watch this show? I didn’t even watch the whole 2 min preview. Where did they find these substandard people?
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Free_Thought
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:42pmThe south.
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truthnstuff
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:43pmNO, not the South…..probably all from your ghetto, you parasite.
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SovereignSoul
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 2:19pmThe article states, “Atlanta”
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Free_Thought
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 3:36pmI live in rhode island. Nice try though. Hurts to see that these wives live in the southern bible belt doesnt it. Alabama. The place that that never evolved.
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kaydeebeau
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:01pmMy Mother is a Preacher’s wife and she is a humble, servant of God She is nothing like these woman. Having grown up as a TO (theological offspring) I can tell you I never encountered such wordly preachers or preachers wives (or children)
Just another prejudiced, biased, fake represenation of God’s servants – aimed at discrediting us
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kaydeebeau
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:12pmmeant worldly…as in of the world
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CatB
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:14pmWhile I was not a P.K. (preachers kid) I was friends with quite a few and know exactly what you are saying. These “things” are not what I have ever known.
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Kupo
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:00pmI sure do miss the times when The Learning Channel had quality educational programming instead of all of this Reality TV bullcrap.
CatB
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 11:57amI saw one preview — no I did not will not watch … yes they looked and acted like wh *res…. like the supposed first “lady” (NOT!) currently squatting in the W.H.
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