New York, NY - On the March 15, 2015, episode of the ABC series Secrets and Lies, in an ongoing storyline, the character of Fenton refers to hemophilia as “a nasty byproduct of incest.” The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) condemns this description as offensive and insulting to the tens of thousands of people who suffer from hemophilia in the US and hundreds of thousands globally.
“Ignorance is no excuse for disseminating inaccurate information in the name of entertainment. People and families living with bleeding disorders endure enough stigma and pain, and now ABC has only compounded these challenges by falsely linking hemophilia with incest,” said Val D. Bias, CEO of the National Hemophilia Foundation.
NHF is requesting the management of The Walt Disney Company, ABC and the producers of Secrets and Lies to publicly acknowledge this misrepresentation and apologize for promoting such an offensive concept.
For more information on bleeding disorders go to: www.hemophilia.org
About the National Hemophilia Foundation
The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) is dedicated to finding better treatments and cures for inheritable bleeding disorders and to preventing the complications of these disorders through education, advocacy and research. Established in 1948, the National Hemophilia Foundation has chapters throughout the country. Its programs and initiatives are made possible through the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations as well as through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Media Contact:
John Indence
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
National Hemophilia Foundation
212-328-3763
jindence@hemophilia.org
