Fatty's Down Syndrome brother Geoffrey Vautin dies

The Daily Telegraph (Aus) - 17 June 2008

[quote]THE brother of Footy Show host Paul Vautin has died overnight.

Geoffrey Vautin was recently in the news after criticism rained down on Vautin following last week’s controversial Footy Show segment, when Vautin accused a hotel bouncer suffering benign epilepsy of being “blind” drunk...{/quote]

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Very sad, but I think it's great for the general population to see that celebrities have siblings/kids with special needs (since a lot of the population seem so obsessed with them).

I don't know of many with DS, but ofcourse there is Craig Wing, and I know Richard Wilkins oldest son has DS. Does anyone know of anyone else. I know there is a famous racing car driver and famous daytime telly actor in the US but I can't remember their names - although I know the actors sons name is Max (coz I love that name).

So sad this story. I dint even know he had a brother with Ds.
The actor from the US is the one that plays the doc in Scrubs, i dont know his name either.

There's an actor - Ruth Cromer who was a regular on A Country Practice years go (she has DS and we have a thread about her - Inspiring stories)

There's a QLD? Senator who's daughter? has DS (see the thread in News Watch).

There's more than most people realise. There's a governor or something overseas who's just had her 5th child with DS and she knew when she was pregnant. I'll have to find the story about her.

Cas

Richards Wilkens son? Really, I did not know that.

Didn't know about Fatty's brother either, but we Mexicans are more into AFL, so don't know much about Fatty.

There should be more publicity about these well known people having children / relatives with DS. Then it might become more "acceptable" to people, and they might realise that it can happen to anyone.

I watch the Footy show (yes I know I'm a footy freak ) and I saw the one with the comment he made about the Bouncer- I thought he was drunk too and I felt guilty when I found out that he had a disability- although the first thought that goes through your mind isn't "I wonder if that person is talking like that because they have a disability?" esp when they are standing outside a pub. I am positive Fatty didn't intend to have a go at someone with a disability.

I think the media has blown it all out of proportion (as they always do) and I find it sad that his brother passed away within a few days of the "scandal" as now they have linked it together to sensationalise it more. I wonder if it would have made the headlines if the "scandalous remark" hadn't been made?

That is so sad. I don't watch footy - and I have always assumed the footy show was full of juvenile 'boy' humour that doesn't interst me - but I felt for 'Fatty' when I read about the 'drunk' comment in the Sunday tele - as soon as he said he had a brother Geoffrey with DS - I knew he must have been mortified. Then to read that his brother died... that is very sad indeed.

Wow, I didn't know that Fatty had a bro with DS, and Richard Wilkins eldest child, its amazing. I did know about the US actor on Scrubs, he seems to do alot for DS in USA too.

Re: Celebrities- the only one I ever knew of was Craig Wing.

My hubby told me about Fatty's borther having DS, I don't stay up late enough to watch the Footy Show! I always thought it was Richard Wilkins daughter? And apparently he has had very little to do with her throughout her life.

I agree, very sad the media has taken the opportunity to sensationalise it all with Fatty's footy show comments. He just doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would ever say anything like that in a disrespectful way.

I also agree, that I wish more celeb's who have siblings or children with DS should get it more out there! I think it could do great things for the level of acceptance in society.

Definately Richard Wilkons son. He gave a positive interview about him once - he was very young when he had him though (his first born) and I know he lives in NZ. I do think he goes to see him though.

Although I could be completely wrong.

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I also agree, that I wish more celeb's who have siblings or children with DS should get it more out there! I think it could do great things for the level of acceptance in society.

oh me too!

You know I wonder how many celebrities have amnios/cvs and if they were carrying a baby with DS, would they terminate? sadly, I think they would

I think if Celebs were 'out there' about their kids/siblings, then it may make a bit of a spectacle? Instead, they're just treating them as 'normal' and probably a bit more protective of their private life given what media does to celebs....

Yeah I heard Richard Wilkins has had children by 3 or 4 women and if his son is in NZ then he wouldn't have much to do with him.

Here's one of the stories about Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin:

State of Alaska - Press Archive 18 April 2008

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We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives...

So, some celebs do keep their babies after testing!!

Cas

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You know I wonder how many celebrities have amnios/cvs and if they were carrying a baby with DS, would they terminate? sadly, I think they would

I think so too but what about the ones with the dx later on..........Colin Farrell's son has Angelmans syndrome, John Travolta's son is Autistic and so is Jenny Mcarthy's son (Jim Carey's girlfriend)and Sylvestor Stalone's son.Prince's daughter was born with Trisomy 18 and died a couple of days after being born.

As you know I don't watch this show as a general rule but i did watch for Fatty's apology tonight. It made me cry . I guess there is something about the vulnerability of our kids - that unique tug on the heart strings - is just as evident when we lose them - that is why I cried - I can't imagine the grief in his family tonight but I know that they must feel devastated. I don't think I've ever seen a more genuine apology in those sort of circumstances before.

I really feel for Fatty, so sad about his brother then this whole episode with the bouncer guy.

We don't get the Rugby Footy show here...just the AFL one, so I didn't see his apology.

My heart goes out to him though, he seems like a genuinely nice guy to me.

Fatty's apology

Cas

Poor Fatty I don't get why the family are so distraught. As his apology said "to all intents and purposes, he appeared to have had a couple" Yes, it is very sad that this mans disability gives people such an impression, but it is hardly Fatty having a dig at people with disabilities! Why not use the media attention for some good and get out there and educate people (like we try to do with DS) that this is sometimes how people who have epilepsy can be afffected.

What is persuing legal action going to achieve?

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What is persuing legal action going to achieve?

We are becoming just like the US, sueing everyone
I dont think he ment anything against people with disabilities either
maybe all the drunks should get together and complain cause they are the ones he was really bagging

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Mr Stacey said the apology excused neither Vautin nor the producers. He said they should have checked before going to air, and the family was now considering legal action.

What should they have checked? As far as i could tell their son gave permission to be interviewed. He isnt intellectually disabled so he knew what he was doing.

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"They embarrassed Greg, shoved a microphone in his face and the bright lights made his eyes roll to the back of his head,

For god's sake, he works as security at a night club, how much more bright lights than that can you get?
And how much more in the publics eye can he be. If Fatty thought he was drunk then what do the other patrons think?

Now is the shoe on the other foot? I'm sure there were a few ppl a couple of weeks ago thinking that Seven's apology regarding All Saints gaff was acceptable..

Cas

I didnt mean to come off so hard on the guy that has the Autism, but i find it so frustrating.
This guy and his family obviously want him to live a "normal" life, have a normal job, and other than his autism see him as normal, but when he is placed in a so called normal situation(though not everday does the footy show come to your work) they then want him to be treated for his special needs. If he is effected so badly by his autism then how the hell did he get a job in security???????????

Amarlismum wrote:

If he is effected so badly by his autism then how the hell did he get a job in security???????????

This is the question I find very intriguing. If he sounds as though he's drunk all the time, surely that's not going to look good for a 'bouncer'. Maybe that's what the issue is all about. Maybe in the context of the Footy Show and what they were talking about, it could've been passed for that. But maybe if you just met the guy you wouldn't think that. Maybe that's what the family are trying to remedy. Who knows? We never get all the ins and outs...

Cas