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In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, "Balloon Boy" Falcon Heene was asked why he didn't come out from the garage attic when his parents called for him. In response, the 6-year-old said, "Um. You guys said that, hrm, we did this for a show."
Blitzer didn't follow up immediately, but later asked about accusations that all this was a publicity stunt. The parents said it definitely was not. Emergency officials on scene while the incident was in progress reportedly agree.
At this point, who knows what the truth is, but damn, that was one uncomfortable moment.
Meanwhile, bailed-out banks are making huge profits.
Update: Wolf later asked what Falcon meant when he said "we did this for the show." The father interjected and defensively said he was appalled at Wolf's follow-up question. Wolf pushes but the question is never answered and the show ends.
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oh. my gosh. it SO was a publicity stunt. Totally called this hours ago. I mean, a boy floating off in a balloon, the same year Up was released, is too good to be true. Either Disney pulled a big one on us, or this crazy family needed another few minutes in the spotlight. Have you seen their episode of Wife Swap? Yikes.
I bet they trained the kid for like thirty hours to stick to the story, telling him again and again NOT to mention that they were doing this "for a show." And then one question from Wolf and he's like "I'll tell you everything!"
I heart you, Falcon.
Ditto. I knew it, too, the second I saw the press interview with the father: "It's a low altitude vehicle!"
Everyone said I'm just a big cynic, which is true, but evidently it's not without reason.
These parents should pay for every penny spent on that kid's rescue.
DUDER, Zach-a-ma-Behrens-ATTACK, homeboy friendo-for-life editor-love-o-my-life:
The Tumblrs were up on this story (and lots of other current affair LA factoids) like fifteen minutes before you guys were. Can we talk about an LAist Tumblr thingamabob that I can run and be all "ownership" about and then I can no longer feel bad about being an absentee editor??
:D
Uggh! That family needs to repay every dime that was spent trying to rescue that kid. I hate reality tv! The world doesn't revolve around those idiots.
These parents have all the makings of Roald Dahl parents. Despicable.
The dad wants to be on TV?
Put him in the balloon, release over the border into North Korea.
Enjoy the show.
Ah, quite the society we've turned into over the last decade.
damn... if he was in the balloon, he will get the Guinness World Records for the youngest balloonist. gosh darnit.
He's still eligible for youngest con artist, right?