This undated image released by National Geographic Channels shows Hutterite Judy Hofer picking carrots from the garden in King Colony, Mont. "Meet the Hutterites," a National Geographic documentary series about a small religious colony in rural Montana. Leaders of a Hutterite colony are demanding to meet with the head of the National Geographic Society after they say a reality show on the National Geographic Channel misrepresented life on the Montana colony and harmed their members. The King Ranch Colony says residents were pressured and coerced to fabricate scenes to boost ratings, and they are want a public apology and a pledge that the 10 episodes never air again. (AP Photo/National Georgraphic, Ben Shank)
August 08, 2012 - 4:29 PM
HELENA, Mont. - Leaders of a Hutterite colony in Montana are demanding an apology from the National Geographic Society for a television show they say misrepresented their way of life and poisoned public opinion of them.
King Ranch Colony minister John Hofer says "American Colony: Meet The Hutterites" was supposed to be a documentary about life within the German-speaking agricultural community of Protestants. Instead, he says, the producers turned it into a reality TV show that encouraged discord within the community.
National Geographic Channel CEO David Lyle says he is happy to meet with the Hutterite elders, but the show was an accurate and fair portrait of their life and an apology is unwarranted.
Hutterites have been compared to the Amish and Mennonites, but they live in commune-like colonies in the U.S. and Canada.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012