Joe Breen on ATWT
Alice Carpenter
I would never justify a firing of Breen as Scott, but what I heard
happened is: some tabloid printed the news, which was the first ATWT
heard of it, and ATWT immediately offered total support to him; but
Breen chose to QUIT the show- because the tabloid made it public. I
believe and sincerely hope ATWT never wanted him to leave.
I thought the whole thing was tragic- and definately most tragic for
Breen.
(the Lisa actress' recent autobiog. says this is what happened)o
Wendy Wagner
> This is definitely NOT what happened. Joeseph Breen did not want to
> leave ATWT. His contract was not renewed only because he was HIV
> positive. Yes the tabloids did expose him, but Joe Breen was willing to
> do anything to stay on the show, including incorporating his HIV status
> into the show. But he was let go. He chose not to fight this unjust
> treatment because he didn't want to put his children through the
> publicity. All of this was relayed through his mother during this time
> on the ATWT Discussion group on Prodigy.
Please, let's not make this a big deal. I have heard stuff--stuff I can't
even repeat--that suggests that this situation was a bit more complicated
than it's being made out to be. Mrs. Breen did what she believed was
right, and I do not fault her for that. But things may have been a little
more complicated than she understood them to be.
I didn't want Joe Breen to leave ATWT, and I certainly can't stand this
new Scott. But I think this should be one case where we should just let
it go. It's in the past. Let's leave it there.
Wendy
zk...@erinet.com
>From: laca...@wheel.ucdavis.edu (Leslie Carroll)
>Subject: Re: Joe Breen on ATWT
>Date: 8 Oct 1995 04:49:40 GMT
.
But he was let go. He chose not to fight this unjust >treatment because he
didn't want to put his children through the >publicity. All of this was
relayed through his mother during this time >on the ATWT Discussion group on
Prodigy.
>Joe Breen left with dignity and grace unlike TPWB at ATWT who continued
>with their very hypocritical position on AIDS. disgusting...
>
>
Not to be picky, but knowing how much my own mother loves me, I couldn't say
she would be totally unbiased when talking about me. I'm sure Mr. Breen's
mother loves him very much also. I only know what I read on the news group
(gossip, rumors, facts, everything in between) and I have read other posts
that have said as much.
Mr. Breen may have wanted ATWT to make Scott hiv
positive, but Scott is their character, and they may have had plans for him
that didn't include AIDS. Given the fact that very few soaps want to even
touch the AIDS issue (AW's story years ago had the character getting it
through a blood transfusion; GH's Stone got it from unprotected sex), I can
see that ATWT would take the easiest way out. They have to please their
sponsors, the network, and the viewers.
If you have saved any posts from the first week or so of August, someone who
knows Mr. Breen said a lot about his situation with AIDS and ATWT. I won't
repeat what he/she said because I don't believe it any more or less than I
would believe someone's mother being totally unbiased when their son has a
fatal disease and is no longer employed.
I've tried to write this without taking sides, and if it sounds like I have,
then I apologise. I have sympathy for anyone with AIDS (one of my students
had it 2 years ago, and has since passed), but I also can see ATWT's position
and Mrs. Breen's loyality.
Cheryl
>Alice Carpenter (ez05...@peseta.ucdavis.edu) wrote:
>: to Michalle Gould & others:
>--
>========================================================================
>Leslie Carroll "Be openminded but not so
>laca...@dcn.davis.ca.us openminded that your brains
> brains fall out"
> Jacob Needleman
>========================================================================
Alice Carpenter
This really makes me ill- I had no idea, but I did think the story was
very under-explained at the time. I kept waiting for the story- i.e.
from the show or from a soap magazine or even the tabloids.
Am I the only one troubled by what goes on behind the scenes of my
favorite show? Including recent casting decisions- and I'm not just
whining here- I'm talking about this general trend of "sexing" up the
show by removing i.e. Pete because he wasn't hunky enough.
Forcing Joe Breen off is morally disgusting. (and stupid- he was a
great actor)
Did/does ATWT have an official explanation of this - of his leaving
the show?
Leslie Carroll
leave ATWT. His contract was not renewed only because he was HIV
positive. Yes the tabloids did expose him, but Joe Breen was willing to
do anything to stay on the show, including incorporating his HIV status
publicity. All of this was relayed through his mother during this time
on the ATWT Discussion group on Prodigy.
Joe Breen left with dignity and grace unlike TPWB at ATWT who continued
with their very hypocritical position on AIDS. disgusting...
Leslie Carroll
illegal, plain and simple. It really doesn't matter how loyal his mother is.
If he concealed his HIV status from his employers, doesn't their action
say it all?
I was offline during July/August so wouldn't know about previous postings
on this subject. I can't imagine what situation could justify firing
someone because of their HIV status. What made this situation all the
worse was ATWT's hypocritical stance towards AIDS.
: I can
: see that ATWT would take the easiest way out. They have to please their
: sponsors, the network, and the viewers.
: If you have saved any posts from the first week or so of August, someone who
: knows Mr. Breen said a lot about his situation with AIDS and ATWT. I won't
: repeat what he/she said because I don't believe it any more or less than I
: would believe someone's mother being totally unbiased when their son has a
: fatal disease and is no longer employed.
: I've tried to write this without taking sides, and if it sounds like I have,
: then I apologise. I have sympathy for anyone with AIDS (one of my students
: had it 2 years ago, and has since passed), but I also can see ATWT's position
: and Mrs. Breen's loyality.
: Cheryl
Michalle S Gould
>to Michalle Gould & others:
> I would never justify a firing of Breen as Scott, but what I heard
>happened is: some tabloid printed the news, which was the first ATWT
>heard of it, and ATWT immediately offered total support to him; but
>Breen chose to QUIT the show- because the tabloid made it public. I
>believe and sincerely hope ATWT never wanted him to leave.
> I thought the whole thing was tragic- and definately most tragic for
>Breen.
> (the Lisa actress' recent autobiog. says this is what happened)
That Eileen Fulton's autobiography says that is what happens only confirms
my contempt for her (I've always hated Lisa.) I was on Prodigy while Joe
breen's mother was posting to the group and according to her, he was being
fired because he was HIV+.
The hypocrisy of their racking up awards for their stupid Margo/Dawn HIV
awareness bulls*** at the same time as they were firing the most talented
actor ever to honor their stupid show with his presence still makes me foam
at the mouth! (Can you tell?)
That crappy scene where they had the incredible gumption, tastelessness, and
truly profound hypocrisy to have Kim to a show on 'Patterns' with Dawn making
people 'aware' of how employers discrimnated against people with HIV who
were looking for jobs.
ATWT's conduct in the entire thing was disgusting and unforgivable and the
only reason I still watch the show is because I'm not a Nielsen family. If
I was, I wouldn't. Don't buy Proctor & Gamble products either, but I never
did (my mother works for the competition.)
Michalle
Elizabeth R Cornwell
><re: Joe Breen's firing>
> That Eileen Fulton's autobiography says that is what happens only confirms
> my contempt for her (I've always hated Lisa.) I was on Prodigy while Joe
> breen's mother was posting to the group and according to her, he was being
> fired because he was HIV+.
> The hypocrisy of their racking up awards for their stupid Margo/Dawn HIV
> awareness bulls*** at the same time as they were firing the most talented
> actor ever to honor their stupid show with his presence still makes me foam
> at the mouth! (Can you tell?)
First off, let me say how much I agree with you: if ATWT/CBS/P&G fired
JB for the reasons his mother outlined, they are hypocrites and worse.
(*Far* worse.)
The problem here really is that *none* of us know the truth of the
matter. Breen's mother might not be an unbiased source - and she might
not have known the full story, herself. The story she told is *awful*,
but I don't see how we can call ourselves qualified to evaluate its
value as evidence.
We have also seen a poster show up here and tell a *completely* different
story - one that paints a very different picture of the situation. I
have no intention of repeating it, as, *again*, none of us can possibly
determine how credible the testimony is/was.
We have Fulton's story, again different from Breen's.
We have the fact that the soap has taken a public stance on AIDS issues
which is 100% at odds with the behavior Breen's mother alleges.
Is it not clear that there are several versions of this story floating
around - some in which TPTB deserve damnation to the seventh level of
hell, some in which their behavior can be explained? I really think we
should all refrain from casting judgement in this forum until and unless
more information is made public.
That said, my thoughts and prayers are certainly with Mr. Breen and his
family - let him be well and happy for *years* to come.
Elizabeth
Jill Sorenson
related to pianist Christopher Breen?
JILL
Leslie Carroll
think has a vested interest in promoting their story? Eileen Fulton or
Joe Breen? Has Joe Breen even said anything publically about his
situation?
If you had been on Prodigy, you could have seen with your own eyes the
sincerety of Breen's mother, her reticence to even discuss the matter,
the lack of bitterness on her part. Of course, she was biased towards her
own son..who wouldn't be? However, everything she told us, rang
completely true especially basee on how the ATWT episodes proceeded.
I don't know what the other version of the story is, but couldn't this
other poster have ulterior motives? Where does his/her credibility come from?
I'm sorry, I can't reserve judgement just because of some anonymous poster
with his/her own agenda.
: Is it not clear that there are several versions of this story floating
: around - some in which TPTB deserve damnation to the seventh level of
: hell, some in which their behavior can be explained? I really think we
: should all refrain from casting judgement in this forum until and unless
: more information is made public.
: That said, my thoughts and prayers are certainly with Mr. Breen and his
: family - let him be well and happy for *years* to come.
: Elizabeth
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