The Long Family meets the Stephens-Fowler clan on Wife Swap
January 30, 2009 by Faith Whitfield
Filed under Reality TV, Wife Swap
“Long/Stephens-Fowler” A mid-western family whose lives revolve around the “American Way” of fast food, 4X4s and paintball, swaps lives with a big city family focused on education, the environment and keeping their bodies healthy and trim, on “Wife Swap,” TONIGHT (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on ABC .
The Longs from Missouri are a patriotic, all-American family who live for paint ball. Wife Gayla (37) is just one of the boys on the paint ball field, but at home she is happy to take care of all the household chores, which husband Alan has deemed “skirt work.” When Alan (38) is not wreaking havoc with his four wild and crazy boys — Cody (15), Coltan (10), Clayton (8) and Cameron (4) — he serves as the mayor of their 55-person town. The Longs are proud of their Midwestern roots and consider their lifestyle the “American way.” Corn dogs and fast food are staples in their home, and their exercise comes from riding ATVs. Alan and Gayla want their kids to have fun; education and the environment can take a backseat.
Meanwhile, the Stephens-Fowler family from Northern California consider themselves “citizens of the world.” They strive for excellence in both mind and body. Life coach and certified weight-loss hypnotherapist Rene (43) and British-born environmental entrepreneur Stephen (49) raise their children, Juliette (11) and James (8), to be both health and environmentally conscious. With a diet of strictly organic food and weekends spent doing “family fitness activities,” the kids admit they can’t remember the last time they had a French fry. Domestics are taken care of by a housekeeper, as that is regarded as a necessity in the Stephens-Fowler set. In order to ensure acceptance to an Ivy League school, they push their kids to excel in highbrow activities such as music, fencing and speaking foreign languages. Both children attend a bilingual school and have already visited over 12 countries.
In the first week, Gayla Long leaves the heartland behind for life in the city. As a mom who works nights to spend her days with her boys, she is surprised Rene would spend her time on the treadmill while Stephen gets the kids off to school. With so much focus on education and hours of homework every night, she questions whether Juliette and James have any time for fun. Meanwhile, in the Long home, Rene attempts to use the washing machine, but fails to live up to Alan’s expectations of “skirt work.” She grows worried that the family’s lack of exercise, combined with their “meat and potatoes” diet, are having a negative effect on the family’s health.
In the second week of the swap, when the wives change the rules and turn the tables, Gayla attempts to bring some family-friendly excitement into the Stephens-Fowler home by introducing them to paintball and go-karts. Gayla’s rule changes lead to a dramatic standoff between her and Stephen. In the meantime, Rene strives to teach the Longs about cutting down on fossil fuels and calories. She locks up the ATVs and exposes the family to hiking and healthier food options. After two weeks in another home, can Gayla Long convince the Stephens-Fowlers that there is more to life than school and work and help them bond as a family? And can Rene Stephens-Fowler show the Longs the importance of taking care of their bodies and expanding their horizons?
Since this was posted, Stephen Fowler has threatened to sue Reality Roll Call. Click here to read what he wrote:
Stephen Fowler Threatens to Sue
Do You Think Stephen Fowler deserves all the Criticism he's getting?
- Yes, its foolish to think otherwise. (96%, 2,400 Votes)
- I don't care either way...people need to relax. (3%, 73 Votes)
- No, people should be more understanding. (1%, 38 Votes)
Total Voters: 2,510
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wow!!!!!!!!! you are a really bad example on your children. i am a 14 year old and my parents dont set a bad example for me.i think in my opinion that this episode with you on it was horible. i think that stephen fowler should be deleted off of everything and not brought back up again. now yall may think diffrent but this is my opinion.
p.s. that was a good example that you decided to put on your children. just kidding it was a really bad example. i am glad that i finally turned off the t.v. when it got about half-way into the show cause what i did watch made me so disipointed.
reality roll call rocks for the message board ever!!
Re: Stephen Fowler
Having just become aware of all the furore over Mr Fowler’s recent appearance on “Wife Swap” and reading the comments on this site, I have come to the conclusion that there are some pretty stupid people about. First stupid person is Stephen Fowler; of course he appears arrogant and charmless and for someone who is supposed to be so clever the way he has acted here shows him to be stupid. The whole premise of this type of show (not quite “reality” but near enough) is for entertainment and conflict. After all, Wife Swap doesn’t want people to get on with each other; this would be too boring and not get the ratings! So Mr Fowler is stupid. However, lets not be fooled about the role of the show’s producers who edited the exchanges and set the tone for the show. They undoutedly got him to play a role – that of an arrogant foreigner. So they too should take some of the blame over this furore. Thirdly, all the people saying that Fowler is a “typical” Briton who should relocate back to the UK forthwith at the risk of being abused in the street etc. He’s not a typical Brit. I’m a Brit so I should know! I’ve never been to the mid west but I have spent many happy vacations in the US over the years. The people are friendly and the country is lovely (well the bits I’ve been to). But here are some facts: many Americans are obese; many Americans are patriotic bordering on the extreme. I don’t see that Fowler’s wife should be vilified for saying she’s not a proud American. Lets just chalk this whole episode up to zealous TV execs who want some controversy to get the viewing numbers up on third rate shows like Wife Swap. I don’t feel a lot of sympathy for Fowler but he’s rather been led astray and now has a major hassle on his hands. I hope that no gun toting Yank is going to blow him away. Or is that simply another anti American stereotype from an inferior non American ….
I can’t believe this is generating such a response. I don’t watch reality TV but this episode has made enough news that even I have heard about it. I agree that Fowler is certainly something of an elitist ass who should go back where he came from – we have enough pompous blowhards in this country already – but he was probably told to overplay his ugly tendencies to make good “reality” TV. Really, anyone who is idiotic enough to go on these reality TV shows in the first place pretty much deserves what they get-on both sides. No one ever comes off looking good on them – the point of all of them is to generate controversy. Someday someone is going to really go crazy and hurt someone. Shows like this should be taken off the air. It’s unfortunate that people continue to watch them enough that they are allowed to continue. I understand that it’s a bit like rubbernecking at a car accident – many people just can’t help themselves even if it slows down traffic – but it’s time to get a life and move on. Watch something worthwhile. Better yet, read a book. Even the phone book would have more value than any reality show on TV.
I LOVE the fact that this finally made it to a MAJOR news network when I listed the name of it on the ABC message board they pulled it… I seen this network listed on their site so not sure why they pulled it.. But it doesn’t matter all you have to do is do a google search and see it.. Shoot that is how I found this website…
I’m wondering if they will move back to his country I really think they both should…
I NEVER in my life posted about a wife swap and I have seen some goof balls and jerks on there.. Men and Women but never such a person like Fowler… He shocked me to my core…
I DONT agree with people threatening them to me that is going to far but America would be a better place if he went back to his country that he was born… It would be awesome to have one less Bully in this country he just needs to move back home…
I don’t believe his apology it seems very non-emotional but I do believe Renee’s 3rd. apology it was more real and seemed she let it all sink in after watching the show…
I don’t believe she should be on a high horse acting like she changed the world with the Long Family… The Long Family are just an awesome group I’m not saying they are perfect and Skirt work was not cool but I know that was an easy fix in their family…
Fowler will be the worst wife swap husband ever in W.S. History…
Stephen Fowler Rocks! When I was watching that episode of Wife Swap and saw Stephen Fowler tear into that woman I CHEERED! It was hilarious and a well overdue payback. I said to my wife, “I love how Europeans can unapologetically state their opinions with honesty without being afraid of the bedwetting sensibilities and politically correct right. Stephen Fowler didn’t mince any words.” These Fowler hating websites just goes to show how out of control the bleeding-hearted right has gotten in their efforts to make everyone fall lockstep to their beliefs. For the past two decades liberals have had to suffer under the b/millionaire right wing elitists calling us “bleedinghearts” simply because we believed it was wrong to waste billions of tax payer dollars murdering innocent children and families in order to steal the oil that lay under their land. We were called “anti-American” by a president who could barely speak the national language just because we believed spending taxpayers’ hard earned dollars at home instead of on outsourcing jobs and weapons corporations was the right thing to do. We have put up with years of rightist hypocritical media (like the hysterical drug addict on the radio) that censors everything the voting public needs to know and regurgitates 93% of the same useless nonsense all day long. Media journalism in America is a joke because of conservatives enforcing their political correct controls on America. 3 cheers for Stephen Fowler for saying what was on 80% of Americans’ minds. It’s about time these “we are more American than you” elitist hypocritical conservatives were put in their place. It’s about time someone offered up a balance to what Americans have been through for the past 8 years. Thank you Stephen Fowler.
I would never take the time to watch such a show like wife swap or comment on it, I now since believe that is was fate. On the heels of such a wonderful election and hope for change; I was flippin through the stations and ran across that British ass and low and behold he mangaged to shit on our American Dream by opening his mouth! I nearly threw up from the shame of this with only the solace that there is still time to ship this guy back to where he came; no wait! Ship him to Afganistan and give his a sling and a marble and some “filtered water” and some of those “crocks” for his little British feet. Maybe some dipers too because he will surely shit having to do any heavy “work” like hiking through the desert in search of Americans to help him. Asswhole!
Though I have and an advanced education (two degrees), I do not believe that you are devalued in any way because you do not. I go to the bay area quite often and I am usually a very calm and mature person. But if I happen to run into that British Asswhole or his condesending uptight skinny wife surely I will not withhold my tongue and perhaps slap each of them with the palm of my hand that would be a very light punishment butmake me feel better.
Their truest of Karma will be when their child grows up; realizes what a horrible pair of parents she got, marry someone from Missouri and cut them off completely. I will pray for it!
Veronica from Portland Oregon
Our local San Francisco paper wrote an article about Mr. Fowler. The comments are pretty entertaining. I think it’s fair to say than many of my fellow residents are as appalled his behavior as those from the rest of the country.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/17/DDTL15T2OH.DTL
Once again I apologize on behalf of my city for this jerk and want to emphasize that neither of these people are native to San Francisco. I wish people like this were not drawn to San Francisco. We don’t want them here.
When they were sitting at the table at the end of the show Gayla’s husband was just stting there like a lump. If it was my husband he would of had his fist so far down stephen’s throat it would have come out his a-hole. No one has the right to take the abuse that lady got. That man needs to be tied up by his little stones and sent back to England where he came from and his wife needs to go with him. The really sad part is there kids they have to have a father that is such a shallow peice of vile.
When they were sitting at the table at the end of the show Renee’s husband was just stting there like a lump. If it was my husband he would of had his fist so far down stephen’s throat it would have come out his a-hole. No one has the right to take the abuse that lady got. That man needs to be tied up by his little stones and sent back to England where he came from and his wife needs to go with him. The really sad part is there kids they have to have a father that is such a shallow peice of vile.
i think it’s funny that guy is living in SF and all, being the most repressed, closeted homosexual i’ve ever seen.
They are doing damage control. Clearly, they have been living like this for a long time. If they truly are such a tree hugging, international family, they wouldn’t be so judgmental — they would know what the world is all about. — Go do some REAL international work, shoot, go to New Orleans. Help families — really get back to what matters.
Of course I wouldn’t want this guy near anyone who needed help.
Their poor kids seemed miserable. Can you imagine when these kids grow up how they will have to, avoid these pressuring, judgmental, distant, parents.
For all of this backlash against them. Stephen needs to take full responsibility for himself and his immaturity. Instead of threatening lawsuits.
His wife Renee laughs with Stephen when he insults Gayla at the end of the show. Mind & Body healer???? Wow. Maybe Renee should do some more negative energy dances.
They are in this together. No “life coach” can live under a roof like this. At the end of the show they are both saying “we haven’t incorporated anything Gayla brought into our house.”
We have reached a new low in TV.
Gayla was fantastic throughout the process. She maintained her control and her sense of self. She was great with the kids you could feel her pain when the kids were ordered not to speak with her. I would take a million Gayla’s to none of the Fowlers.
I have never been involved with these blogs but this enraged me.
Today Yahoo features Stephens’s bad behavior and also a link to my T-shirts.
Mind you this T-shirt has been up since the day after show with no problems. Now today when Yahoo features it CafePress pulls my design. When I asked why this was their response:
Dear Jc,
Thank you for contacting CafePress.com!
Your use of Stephen Fowler likeness may violate his right of publicity. As outlined in our Intellectual Property Rights FAQ’s, the Right of Publicity clause makes it unlawful to use another’s identity for commercial advantage without permission. A person’s “identity” includes, for example, his look, voice, name, nickname, professional name, and other distinctive characteristics. For example, the Right of Publicity prohibits you using the picture of a celebrity without authorization on your merchandise.
Accordingly, we have set the images in question to “pending status” which disables said content from being displayed in your shop or purchased by the public. You may review the content set to pending status by logging into your CafePress.com account and clicking on the “Media Basket” link. The content set to pending status will be highlighted red.
For additional information on Right of Publicity and our Content Usage Policy, please visit our Help page. http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/help/law.aspx#3
We apologize for any inconvenience that our actions may cause you.
Your ticket code is LTK419045124806X. Please use this code in any further communication.
I promptly called there and asked how they can state this for the following reasons:
1. There are 244 Stephen Fowlers in the US
2. He put himself on TV so he has no right of Publicity.
The woman who answered said I was obviously referring to one in particular to which I argued how an you say that when my shirt made no reference to a middle initial or location or TV show and she stood by her answer that she would not allow it, but with no good reason. My gut feeling is Stephen called and threatened them too.
Can everyone help me out and contact CafePress much the same way you contacted the people Fowler sat on boards for? It seems to me this woman has a soft spot for Stephen.
he will go to hell soon enough
First this IDIOTS little Children SHOULD be REMOVED from that HOUSE it is certainly NOT a HOME!,WHAT is the difference in torturing a child by starving him from Love and affection and FORCING them to do HIS BIDDING than other neglected Children?, I bet if those Kids could RUN they WOULD,Did you see them Riding those Go Carts HAving a Blast then the ASSHOLE comes in, FUNS OVER KIDS back to the Fencing and 21/2 HOURS of Homework EVERY NIGHT!.This ASSHOLE would had his Face rearranged had I been Mr Long,He would NOT have INSULTED my Wife and walked away without stitches and bruises, I PROMISE!, WHAT AN ASSHOLE FIRST RATE WORSE I EVER SEEN PLEASE GO BACK TO ENGLAND WE DON;T WANT YOU ASSHOLE!
THIS DUDE IS AN IDIOT, HE JUST BETTER PRAY I DON’T FIND HIM IN THE STEET, HEY
DEUSCH GET A LIFE U JURK LOOSER.
I just want to say that I am so releived to read most these responses. Whether you are liberal or conservative; from the midwest or the coast (east or west); from north or south or even from another country; no matter what your race, creed or ethnic origin, this man’s behavior should have outraged us, and I am thankful that it did that for so many. The news is filled with negatives on a daily basis about humankind. It is a relief to know that most of us are still decent hard working people who care about each other. I also want to add that I commend Gayla for her perseverence throughout the process. She could have really retaliated, and stooped to his level and she did not. She kept trying, and didn’t engage in his banter. She should feel really good about that. As far as Mr. Fowler goes, well he is hopefully reeping what he has sown. Things have a way of coming back at you–you get what you give, and I hope is is receiving lots of that!!
Someday I’d love to have the privilage of running into Stephen Fowler. I drive a Ford pick-up truck!
I just read the yahoo headline and got interested reading online, youtube, and blogs. Really, i was shocked of the words spewed by Mr. Stephen to Ms. Gayla. I can’t stomach the kind of behaviour he displayed and he never even think twice the after-effect that will affect their lives and family knowing it is a national TV shows and millions of audience are watching. The statement of Ms. Renee also added a shocking glitters that she was borned by circumstance only. They must understand and be awaken from their long nigntmare that they are sleeping under the 51 stars (correct me if am wrong). Well, Stephen-Fowler life is so hard today especially we are facing global crisis I hope that this crisis you have faced will be a lesson and hoping to see you in the next chapter of your life with new character, new life, new attitude and new as brand new you!
I hope this dumbass’ intestines burns in hell as he lives out the rest of his life with the extreme excruciating pain from deep within his guts!!!
I have a double doctorate degree or otherwise two PhDs. Never in my life have I ever encountered an illiterate like Mr. Fowler. don’t be fooled guys he secretly wishes that he were (to use the subjunctive mood) educated. He is suffering from a disease called “cognitive incapacity”. If he were educated, we would have noticed from his actions. He is pushing his kids to become what he could not achieve, that is, be educated. Unfortunately, they will end up with a life of practiced deceit. Mr. Fowler is simply beyond our consideration, does not deserve our attention. The woman he tried to abuse should perhaps understand that she is more clever and absolutely more educated – in every sense – than Mr. Fowler. I think this man should be sent back to high school to take some lessons in Social Studies and grammar. I wish I could have a public debate with this man!
I really do believe that Stephen is sorry. Sorry that the comments he made on television probably ruined his wife’s business as well as his own ventures. People who say the things he said are never sorry. I’m sure he feels everything that he said was true. Like I said, he is just upset about the backlash and that is what all the sorries are for. You made your bed Buddy. Now wallow in it.
This guy’s last name fits him well–he is FOUL. I visited the Web site for his wife, Renee that someone here posted, and it is FULL of ironies. Here is an excerpt (she is a “certified” hypnotherapist and a “certified” life coach–ok, there is the first irony):
“…weight loss can be your door to a more joyous and fulfilling life. And Renee’s ready to show you the way to get there, today.
To Renée, weight loss is not about dropping a few pounds for swimsuit season, it’s about getting out of our own way, stopping the self criticism, and falling in love with our lives and our bodies. It’s not about self-control; it’s about self-expression…”
A more joyous, fulfilling life? I doubt that she has either, living with that horrid, horrid man. And “…stopping the self criticism…”? Can you believe that is actually on her Web site? If you saw this situation in a movie: Narcissistic pompous man who cruelly verbally abuses a woman because of her weight is married to someone whose central tenet to her personal fulfillment business is to stop the self criticism…you’d groan at the obviousness, the Hollywood-ness of it.
Looks to me like the reviews on Google maps for Mind For Body are still up. See
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=mindforbody+in+San+Francisco&jsv=143c&sll=29.521143,-81.627106&sspn=150.145183,204.257813&ie=UTF8&latlng=37749905,-122434516,8334769652797021313&ei=apeHSYPtNaTiiwPR-5HdBQ&cd=1&dtab=2&pcsi=8334769652797021313,1&oi=md_reviews&sa=X
I found this one very interesting:
“…she started mentioning in her blog and on her podcast how all the hubbub about the economy was BS and SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD MORE OPPORTUNITIES than ever, and were doing better than ever, and we should all ignore the news, because it wasn’t real.She was basically boasting. I made a comment to her on the blog and told her she was being ridiculous basically, and she promptly edited it, and deleted my negative comment. You can see what she edited it to here: http://renee.personallifemedia.com/2008/11/13/create-a-microcosim-of-abundance/ The comment she made about the other families’ neighborhood “this doesn’t look like its going to be a luxury experience” and “I can see there are no advanced degrees here” were totally elitist. I am definitley not going to be supporting her or listening to her show any longer. I really think there is a reason she puts up with him, I think she thinks they are superior in every way. She DOES reveal a lot on her podcasts about how her father was an alcoholic and yelled at her, and that she has been with abusive men before…”
So she has been with abusive men before and her father was abusive. That explains a lot.
I read Renee’s apology. When she said:
“I had not see the footage until Friday night, so didn’t fully know how incredibly badly he had behaved until I saw it on national TV.”
I’m guessing that she meant to use the word seen rather than see and perhaps put an I before the word didn’t. I checked with Stephen and according to him anyone who makes those kinds of grammatical errors are either using “Bad English” or “Red Neck English”. Either way, they are clearly stupid and uneducated and not fit to live in his house.
He is despicable. I am absolutely appalled whenever he opens his mouth or “puts pen to paper.” He, unfortunately, has a way to make me believe that people can be innately evil.
Jodi said: “True American’s didn’t haven’t had a voice since Clinton was in office, and FINALLY may have one again, but still… England is a free country… C-YA! C U N T”
First, nice language. And secondly, where during the Bush Administration did Americans not have a free voice? Was it when they were protesting the war outside Walter Reed Hospital with all the wounded soldiers coming and going on clutches and in wheel chairs and jeering at them? No, you mean people weren’t even once incarcerated during the last eight years for speaking their mind no matter how vile the content? You’re very humorous. Are you excited at the prospect of the “Fairness Doctrine” being reenacted by Nancy Pelosi?
You are not much less arrogant or clueless towards current events as Steven Fowler. You’re at least a rabidly patriotic liberal. I guess we should be happy that you people have a reason to salute your flag again rather than burn it.
It’s been my experience that all liberals are pretty much the same as Steven and his family. It sort of flies in the face of the media portrayal of rich, white Conservatives being so elite and out of touch with the common person, but it’s a simple truth. Liberals have always been the exact caricature of what they painted Conservatives to be. Recently, when that bigoted generalization didn’t work anymore, we become their next most convenient explanation and excuse for their boorish behavior; an under-society of unwashed masses who needed them to show us the enlightened path through life. To them, we are something to scrap off their shoes on the way to their local polling place.
So as green companies start to flourish under the liberal media pressure of proving to the world that the Global Warming hoax is mans most serious windmill to attack, they’ll get richer and more arrogant. And of course they’ll demand to Middle America that you need to spend twice as much money on a green car for a pittance of fuel economy. It might not make sense to you if you’re skeptical of the imminent environmental collapse to begin with. Just trust them though and open that wallet wide because you probably wouldn’t understand. They have an agenda and agenda is a pretty big word.
WOW, Stephan, you are a piece of work. I read the article, watched the video and read your apology. I am Embarrassed to live in SF as you represented what America already thinks about us. We have a bad enough reputation in the US, you just made it SOOOOOO much worse. I can’t believe you have the wife that you do. Oh and the fact that you brain washed your kids to ignore this nice lady that tried (with CLASS I might add) to open their minds to a different experience is CRAZY! Yes you may call yourself “worldly”…but wow you missed out on getting to know someone from the mid-west, a part of our country that still has amazing family values without the pretentiousness of what the bay area focuses on ($$$$$). I sincerely hope I never run into you.
Dear Anonouys,
You are absolutely right. I was lured into the same sterotypical thinking that he, “the worldly traveler” was applying to regions of the United States, that I had to wonder if he had ever been to. It’s a shame that such an obviously itelligent induvidal could be so narrow minded, that he would gennarlize the rest of our country. And I regret that I basically did the same thing for California that he did for Missouri. However, I found myself so enraged over his bad behavior, that my typing little fingers got away from me before I realized what had happened. I just didn’t appreciate his behavior or his comments. Sorry if I offended you or any other Californian.
Intelligent? Sophisticated? Cultured? Then why the f@ck do you appear on WIFE SWAP! Why even consider such a thing? If it’s to show the rest of us what an asshole you are, mission accomplished!
Marie from MISSOURI….Are you kidding? You can’t use him as an example of everyone in the entire state of California. If you want to criticize him go right ahead but I’m from California and I am nothing like her and I do not know anyone like him. By the way I’m republican and i have a flag in frint of my house.
Stephen from California is the most RUDE, ARROGANT, SNOTTY person I have ever seen in my life!! I am from MISSOURI, which quite honestly I feel is the heartland of AMERICA! And quite frankly, Rene’ can get out of if she is not PROUD to be here! Who do they think they are? I’ll tell you. Tree hugging freaks that think they are better than everyone else! Why? Personally (and not because there is anyting wrong with it) I don’t live in rural Missouri. “Us City Folk” are pretty up to date on things. I realize this is pretty “dumbed down” so maybe those California Liberal Freaks won’t get it. But as far as I’m concerned if you think there is so much wrong with this country and you feel you need to “fix” it so badly…GET OUT. Last time I checked, the “Smart State of California” was BROKE and looking for a HANDOUT from the Government. We don’t want or need your help! You should both be ashamed of yourselves for being so narrow minded and RUDE!!! Especially for people that consider themselves so “WORLDLY”. And P.S. we do have a passport.
What’s really sad is that an AI hopeful is also named Steve Fowler. I hope this doesn’t hurt his chances!
I am curious why there isn’t anything in the main-stream media about Fowler. I can’t find any news coverage anywhere newspapers or TV. I would like to know how the backlash has effected him. Watch out, some web sights on the subject are loaded with viruses, probably from Fowler.
Tbo et al,
I dunno…..you all may be right about S & R’s sincerity. On Renee’s Inside Out Yahoo group, she took down their apologies stating for reason’s she can’t disclose and before said the production company said to take it down.
I feel deflated. It took them days to feel “remorse” and now it’s like “okay, that’s all folks, see ya later.”
I’m through. I give up.
stephen claimed he didn’t learn anything from the experience, but he certainly did teach his children something. you see, children learn what they live, and what these children lived during those two weeks is that’s it’s ok to be disrespectful and rude to a guest if you think they are beneath you and unworthy in some way. they learned to judge someone based on their perceived level of education and intellect. they learned that one should divide ones associations based on ‘class’ or lack there of, and if you feel that someone around you doesn’t measure up they should be berated and then ignored. they learned to not look for the good in someone, and see what they have to offer, but to find every fault possible.
shame on you stephen, for teaching your children such lessons that will not serve them well in their future lives.
My husband is from Dublin, and when he says anit-American shit, I say go back to your wonderful country you came from. I’d like to tell that shite head the same thing from Wife Swap. My God, why do people come from other countries and then bitch about this country so much? Oh, I know, for the money. I’m so sick and tired of hearing about how wonderful their countries are, but yet they live here. Leave, please LEAVE! We have too many people here anyway. BYE-BYE! And, don’t let they boat hit you in the arse on the way out of OUR country!! Look, if I was living in another country other than which I was born, I would not bitch about the people like this twat. Why would you become a citzen as well? Oh what did he say? “To have a voice”. He became a citzen to have a voice? True American’s didn’t haven’t had a voice since Clinton was in office, and FINALLY may have one again, but still… England is a free country… C-YA! C U N T
Evenstar, how much are you getting paid to craft and routinely post your feelings and ideas about forgiving Stephen Fowler? Fowler, please take back your wolf in sheep camouflage.
If your not from Fowler Damage Control HQ, then TBO @19:34 hit the target. He’s being fake and typing the word sorry over-and-over because it looks good, and you’re all buying it. “Maybe he was right to call some Americans stupid.” Actions speak louder than words, and words speak a hell lot louder than internet postings.
When somebody attacks our country, our entire value system, and others for things they have no hope of changing—their appearance, place of birth, accent/speech, etc.—they don’t deserve forgiveness.
Mistakes and negligence are forgivable but a cruel person is in a different category.
It’s fine if you disagree with me—obviously I’m sure you agree he got what he deserved and was wrong in the first place. We just have different views about him going forward.
To TBO
Have you never needed forgiveness? Do your vicitims call you slime for the rest of your life and say you’ll never change?
We all need to change. Or maybe not you.
Come on–be nice! Really!
Anyone “forgiving” Fowler is an imbecile—enough with moral relativism.
If you behaved like a piece of slime before knowingly and joyfully, you are still slime today.
His innate nature won’t change—he is clearly just being fake, and you’re all buying it. Maybe he was right to call some Americans stupid.
To Dovepair,
I know the apologies aren’t perfect. (I guess Renee did resort to the “edit” again Re: the degree, etc.
But still, who cares what else they “must” learn or do to make it all well. That’s their journey now and if it hadn’t been such a blatant public assault, I would have said it not really my business.
Some of us needed to hear something “real” come from them both and I think their apologies are truly a good beginning.
We, the people, certainly made our points and swiftly at that. Too bad act more swiftly and in such great numbers for the many injustices all around us.
It was a good learning experience and I for, one, must have love and forgiveness in my heart asap and I’m glad this has occurred.
Love is for us all and who doesn’t need forgiveness?
Peace
I too read Steven’s apology. The letter was a good start, IMO, but it doesn’t quite get at everything that needs to be done. Steven Fowler was verbally and emotionally abusive to Gayla Long, and I suspect he’s abusive to his family as well. The fact that it took Renee several days to see just how bad his behavior was speaks volumes. That kind of behavior has become the norm to her. The Fowler family needs personal therapy and Steven needs to personally and publically apologize to Gayla and her family. There should be closure on this issue only when he begins to not only acknowledge but deal with his issues.
It’s the kids that everyone should be worried about. They’re being brainwashed to believe that this is ok. That bullying is ok if you’ve got a degree; that the way of life their parents lead is the only acceptable way to live. No where in any of the apologies are the children mentioned. And I think the Fowler kids are owed an apology, not just for the show, but for their entire lives of forced fencing and no real fun.
I just read the apologies (3rd from Renee, I think) from she and Stephen’s that was on the ABC message board.
Renee’s other two apologies were full of exuses as were her “defenders” Hollis Polk and Damo K. which only aggravated many of us further.
But, I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of either of the two above mentioned apologies. I think Stephen admitted to everything and sees what a catastrophy he created. And Renee, finally, got real and stopped blaming the “edit”. She seems to see just how ugly it was.
I’m surprised because the reaction to the above has given no relief. Come on people–do give them a break now. Everyone deserves as many chances as it takes and I for one believe them and my heart is open and willing to love.
Some of us just needed to hear they care–without the exuses.
Thank you Stephen and Renee for admitting it and showing us you have love in your hearts!
Evenstar
Even google maps has, just this evening, removed the ability to read any reviews of Renee’s business, Mind for Body. One can see her present (1 out of 5 stars) cumulative rating only.
In addition to her own three public letters in (mounting) abashment, whomever Renee has also hired, coerced into, and/or befriended to participate in damage control has certainly acted swiftly in this task.
It is a shame it has taken a personal and professional crisis of this magnitude to prompt the Fowler-Stephens duo to examine their words, their lives and their hearts more closely — and, perhaps now, more honestly.
It appears the Stephen Fowler apology was a FAKE… due to the fact it was deleted by abc.com wife swap board… it’s gone and i had a feeling he wouldn’t apologize like renee did… it sounded to robotic in the words with renee’s 3rd. apology it sounded sincere and it sounded real…
FYI about 90 % of those commenting believed he was just doing damage control rather than any serious remorse.