‘Beyond Shocked’: Model in Photoshopped NY Health Department Ad Depicting Amputation Speaks Out
- Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:19pm by
Liz Klimas
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NEW YORK (The Blaze/AP) — An overweight man who unwittingly became an amputee in advertisements that New York City is posting to warn against diabetes says he’s worried the ads might hurt his acting career.
Earlier this month, we reported about the controversial New York Health and Mental Hygiene’s campaign raising awareness about increased portion sizes being associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Soon thereafter, it came to light that the image for one of the campaign ads depicting a man who had a leg amputation was photoshopped — the real man from the picture actually had both legs.
Cleo Berry, 27, of Los Angeles says he was “beyond shocked” upon discovering that a photograph he posed for several years ago in Manhattan had turned up on the Internet — but showing him without one leg. The photo was digitally altered to make it look like Berry’s right leg is missing.
Watch this local news report on the issue:
Berry tells The New York Times that while he supports the city’s efforts to educate people about the dangers of diabetes, he disagrees with the use of a manipulated image of an able-bodied person, instead of an image of a real victim:
“I was beyond shocked,” Mr. Berry said, recounting his reaction to seeing himself portrayed as ailing and crippled. “I cried at my computer screen for, like, a minute.”
Then, after studying the ad more closely, “I said: ‘Oh my gosh, they even gave me crutches. Come on, people.’ ”
The original photo of Cleo Berry used in the campaign. (Photo: Getty Images via the New York Times)
The Times reports that Berry, a struggling actor at the time, was paid $500 to pose for the shots a few years ago.
City officials have defended the practice as common in advertising.
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Comments (42)
vorpal
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:08pmthat weenie Bloomberg hard at work spending tax dollars
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:04amWhenever ANYONE signs a model release, ask questions, do not sign if your image is to be altered in any way that you don’t like, might cause you to be attacked (think OWS) or might embarrass you (like–me, pregnant for example–that would be hilarious actually)…the point is, it’s your image. And if this man isn’t diabetic, there should be a disclaimer as well. He needs an apology minimum.
Report Post »tricia
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:59amThey should pay for the photo again. Different photo, MORE MONEY. Plus, a bonus for emotional support, after seeing his body mutilated. Was that in the contract? Amputations are not only physically debilitating but emotional as well.
Report Post »The NYC health dept has been out of control since Bloomberg. Did you know doctors have to report a diabetics numbers to the health dept in NYC? How many NY’ers are aware of that data collecting.
rkoneil
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:22amThe guy was well paid to do a job. I’m sure he signed a model release form and therefore gave up his rights to his image. Advertisers are free to do with it what they want. He only made it an issue so he could get some attention.
Report Post »grannyrecipe
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:00amWhat I think is creepy is what the ad says at the bottom “call 311 for your Healthy Eating Packet” gee wiz, the insurance companies really own NYC, LOL. I’m assuming everyone eats Soylent Green now.
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:27amWay to go Blaze!!!
You fail to address the fact that this advertisement is true, that is, type 2 diabetes can lead to amputations, and instead just focus on an irrelevant part of the ad in order to discredit the campaign.
Hard hitting news at its best!!!
Report Post »KTsayz
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:53amYou‘re kiddin’ me, right?
Report Post »The operable word is ‘CAN’. It‘s like saying if you smoke you’ll get lung cancer when half of all lung cancer patients never smoked. What about them? Are they going to put out an ad that says if you don’t smoke you have a 50/50 chance of getting lung cancer so why bother living at all?
Life is a carde game. Sometimes you’re dealt a good hand, sometimes not. The point is to do the best with what you got while you have it and enjoy what little time you have here as long as you don’t intentionally hurt anyone in the process.
And NEVER believe a government advertisement.
1TrueOne55
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 4:23amThe ad would be more effective if it was more truthful and not “faked” with PhotoShop. If I were Adobe Software I would be outraged that my software is being used to manipulate the minds of people in such a deliberate falsehood.
I have no problem with a “REAL” person that actually lost a limb to Diabetes, they can be a spokesman then for the ad campaign but now the model can’t do that since he actually has both legs.
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:33am@KTsayz
If you’re going to use an analogy, at least get your numbers right. Only 10-15% of lung cancer patients were non-smokers. But, even assuming you are correct, if 50% of lung cancer patients were non-smokers, that does not mean you have a 50% chance of getting lung cancer if you don’t smoke.
There is no question that type 2 diabetes is a growing epidemic in this country and that it creates a private and public cost. Further, it is a PREVENTABLE disease which can lead to amputations. Yes, you may need an amputation because you get hit by a car or do heroin, but that doesn’t mean that type 2 diabetes does not increase the risk that will happen. There are a growing number of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and you honestly have a problem with this advertisement.
More likely, your reason for not liking this ad is because of who the President is, even though this has nothing to do with Obama.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:45amRemember when Rush Limbaugh wanted to buy into the Rams? The Liberals actually made up lies and quoted things he was supposed to have said showing he hated blacks. When they could never find anything to prove he even came close to saying those things, they said, “oh, he didn’t really say that, but we can say he did because that’s the way he feels.”
So you are saying it’s ok to lie about anything if you are trying to make a point????
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 12:45pmEveryone knows diabetes can lead to limbs being amputed, that’s not even what the ad is about. The ad is telling people that eating more puts you at higher risk for diabetes. Also something everyone already knows.
The only relevant part of the ad is what they didn’t tell you. Namely that the person depicted isn’t an amputee, and doesn’t even have diabetes for that matter. And additionally that diabetic amputations are usually preventable, and have been steadily on the decline for some time now.
Report Post »Katydidnt
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:18pmThey didn‘t put a real amputee from diaetes in because it usually doesn’t happen until you are old. Seeing someone in their 70s or 80s with one leg isn’t going to have the same impact on the young audience they are trying to reach. Hence they faked it.
Report Post »scion88
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:01amPerfect metaphor for socialism, then and now. Mind numbed, brainwashed Americans, super-sizing their love for the world and their lust for worldly things, all the while allowing their precious liberty to be amputated by politicians and the Global Elite.
Report Post »burnteye86
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:00amThey can photo shop my leg off for 500 buck a pic
Report Post »fshflthnkng
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:02pmParents need to teach their childern that the marketing /advertising indusrty is pretty much full of
Report Post »‘ Bovine Scatology ’ after dealing with ad agencies in my employment and seeing how pretensious 95+ % of them ALL were I just laugh these days at how stupid they treat people…
Remember patriots to BOYCOTT General Electeric and all their subsidaries…
NO TAXES PAID…NO SALES HERE…
spirited
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:27pmWasn‘t it Obama who siad somethings about greedy doctors removing children’s tonsils instead of giving them perscriptions for allergy medication?
>The photo shopped amputated leg is par
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:37pmlol… wow… the media today is just pure evil… they will stop at NOTHING.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:26pmUnder a Radical Socialist Government… what is Real, and what is Not Real…
Report Post »barber2
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:24pmThe Affordable Housing Act…the 99%…all smoke and mirrors …all Media Propaganda….all teleprompter reality…..
Report Post »BJC
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:23pmHe must have used one of those “Obama” doctors. Obama says they’ll cut em off just for the money!!!
ROTFLMAO
Report Post »Redistributor
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:18pm“Then” & “Now”!!! Yes, people are more thirsty and it‘s warmer don’t forget (global warming).
Report Post »Redistributor
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:16pmfood doesn’t make people fat…people make themselves fat.
Report Post »drobarts
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:18pmThank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »BigDadio
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:27pmAs a fat guy, I agree. I have eaten too much and have not been active enough. My bad. But it isn‘t anybody else’s fault or problem.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:39pmyeah… mostly people are victims of themselves, they just want to blame anyone else but…
Report Post »spirited
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:31pmWhy not just off the hands that feed?
$^> head shake, sigh
Report Post »destrecht
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:14pmI see lots of people pointing out that he signed the rights away- So? From what I can see, he’s not trying to sue, get the rights to the picture or anything else like that. He’s just calling them on something he disagrees with. Most contracts don’t cover being annoyed. He’s in the right.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:12pmthey are just preparing the masses for when they actually really come take your lags ( or other parts) for real, for the betterment of the collective
Report Post »NoNannyState4me
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:06pmThis story is a perfect metaphor of society as a whole. One big fat a$$ed lie.
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:45pmI’m sure when he posed for the picture as a professional model, If so he would have signed off on the usage of his Image. If he didn’t read the small print,well I think he’s screwed.The people in the industry crop pictures all the time. What’s next,a model can sue for a “bad” picture?It‘s unfortunate he was used but that’s part of the modeling industry.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:53pmIf he thinks he is upset now, just wait til the government comes for his leg, for real.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:39pmWhen someone takes your picture, and PAYS YOU FOR YOUR TIME POSING, the picture is no longer your property. It never was. Period.
If you are in a public place, and get your picture taken, the picture is not your property, AND NEVER WAS.
That’s the law.
This is just a ploy by the liberal media to try to pass laws curtailing our right to record what goes on around us. They are chipping away at our rights, on purpose. They need drama. They need gas chambers. They need people going to death row. They need husbands killing wives. They need sensational divorces. They need actors and actresses acting badly. They need something to report, and the best way to crate things to report is to squeeze an otherwise free people down into an itty bitty box and watch them eat each other alive.
My only question is why the blaze would be a willing participant in this fiasco, this horror foisted upon Americans. Why help chip away at the rock of freedom, blaze?
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:38pm…
They paid this actor five hundred dollars for the photos, and they probably had him sign a release form stating that they have the right to use the photos any way they choose.
Sadly, when people are hard up for money, they will sign anything for a few bucks. Legally, this guy probably doesn’t stand a chance.
I personally don’t see how this could have hurt his “acting” career. In all honesty, looking at this guy, did he really have a chance of a real acting career? His chances are probably better now than before, with all this free publicity.
Report Post »rotcarpenter
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:38pmThis is the dumbest news cycle I’ve ever seen. It’s an advertisement. Do you want the government to waste your money to set up a photo shoot with a real amputee? Do you understand that also every stock photography gets manipulated in some way?
Do I agree with their message? No. But to rail against them using Photoshop is one of the worst arguments I ever seen.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:37pmYour fat and the Government wants to take your picture.The Choices are“Anti Good Food” pic.“We Hate Fat People” Pic. Or “Home Security you are a Terrorist” pic.Or a “Keep Chris Christie From Crashing Our Party” pic. Fat is the New “Gay Pervert.” Smokers and Fat People are politically correct to hate.Unless you are a fat Communist such as Micheal Moore.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:50pm“Smokers and Fat People are politically correct to hate.”
LOL! Thanks for that one! Loved it!
I can hardly wait until perfume is regulated by the EPA, and then outlawed. All those whiney women who pretended to cough when they saw me smoking are not going to get my support, that’s for sure. In fact, I may throw a few rocks myself.
That’s how society eats itself. First the whiners bring down a few of the weaker, then they bring down the next group, then more and more become bitter and angry.
Report Post »DROPNWALLS79
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 11:30pmWOW, you just nailed it. Smokers, business owners, sucsessful people, christians, conservatives, are all acepted by the Main Stream of urine Media to be completely fair game for the most vicious, vile, personal and disgracefull atacks their pin headed skulls full of mush can conjer up. And the really sad part is thet have millions of people that actually think that PMSNBC is reporting facts, nothing more, nothing less. It’s really pretty dang scary.
Report Post »americansfightingforcommonsense
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:28pmGet out of my kitchen, my schools, my healthcare, and my life…. We need freedom and liberty to choose how we live and what we teach our children. Not these lies and distortions.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:22pmI think this actor is RIGHT to speak out. If they can get away with this———–who knows? Somebody could take anybody’s picture, whether it was from a class photo, or something in a Facebook posting, etc., and photo shop it to suit their advertising or OTHER purposes. I for one do not want anybody to see my senior picture from back in the day. Pretty noxious.
Report Post »orljustin
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:13amYou’re a moron. He’s a model. He signed the model release. A release allows the image to be used for various things, including manipulation to make an illustration such as this.
No one is going to use your yearbook photo for anything.
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