Howie Mandel Makes Insensitive Bulimia Comment, Apologizes
On America’s Got Talent, contestant Stevie Starr, aka “The Regurgitator,” displayed his unique ability to swallow items and regurgitate them on demand. Judge Howie Mandel was extremely impressed, but expressed his excitement by saying, “You, sir, make bulimia entertaining!” Obviously, there’s nothing entertaining about bulimia. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and upward of 30 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from one.
Mandel clearly looked as though he was stewing about his words and took an opportunity before judging another contestant to apologize, stating, “I just want to take a second just to apologize. I made a comment earlier, it’s live television, and I wasn’t thinking. I made light of bulimia, which is a very serious eating disorder and mental health issue. I deal with mental health all the time, and I did something stupid, I should never make light of it, and I apologize to anybody who was offended. I’m not perfect; I make mistakes.”
If you or anyone you know suffers from issues related to eating disorders, please visit the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders website at www.anad.org for more information and resources.
