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Despite much of the US entertainment industry shutting down weeks ago as a precaution amid the coronavirus pandemic, TLC’s “My 600-lb Life” continued filming until March 26 — even though its cast members are considered high-risk for the deadly COVID-19. The TLC medical drama about a year in the life of morbidly obese individuals undergoing …
Despite much of the US entertainment industry shutting down weeks ago as a precaution amid the coronavirus pandemic, TLC’s “My 600-lb Life” continued filming until March 26 — even though its cast members are considered high-risk for the deadly COVID-19.
The TLC medical drama about a year in the life of morbidly obese individuals undergoing gastric bypass surgery filmed in at least three states between March 20 and 26, the Hollywood Reporter writes. The show went on despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention including “people of any age with severe obesity” in its list of those who are at higher risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19.
The states the series was filmed in during this time — Texas, Florida and Mississippi — have a wide spectrum of shelter-in-place and social distancing recommendations in place, with Mississippi currently lacking any such orders, but sources tell the industry outlet that cast members still felt uncomfortable with shooting continuing.
“These cast members have a compromised immune system already. They’re not OK. They’re not feeling comfortable,” a source with firsthand knowledge of the show tells THR, “It’s super dangerous and none of us wants to be the person who gives it to a cast member.”
In this time period one subject’s hospital wouldn’t allow crew members in as it was on lockdown, and the same subject wouldn’t travel to Houston for the show, citing fear of the virus.
Crew members for the production are largely nonunion freelancers and were also worried about catching and spreading COVID-19 before production was finally halted. “Everyone’s scared to lose their jobs,” the source says.
On Friday, the series’ Austin-based producer Megalomedia told THR, “The health and safety of Megalomedia’s show participants and employees is always our top priority, now more than ever. We continue to comply with all local, state and federal guidelines that cover this unprecedented pandemic. ‘My 600-lb Life’ is not filming with a single participant at this time.”
TLC also released a statement: “The safety of our show talent, crews and employees is our top priority. Production on ‘My 600-lb Life’ has stopped and will not resume until the crisis is resolved. It is our sincere wish that our talent, crews and their families are being safe and staying healthy during this unprecedented time.”
