It's still unclear whether Discovery Channel's Amish Mafia will be returning to TV screens for a fourth season due to a falling out between cast members and crew of the show. The show's official Facebook page also posted a cover photo saying that production has been halted as of February 26, 2014. Despite this, it was also announced on April 3rd that the show was renewed for a fourth season.
According to Enstarz, Alan Beiler, one of the show's cast members, who was largely absent from Season 3 due to a stint in jail, posted on his Facebook page of what seems to be a hint for Season 4.
The photo, which was posted on July 22, had a caption that read, "Who's ready for more Amish Mafia!!!"
Adding to the uncertainty of whether or not Amish Mafia is coming back on air, a local movement in Lancaster has aimed at the show and others like it, including Breaking Amish and Amish Haunting for blasting airwaves with negative and inaccurate portrayals of Amish culture.
The movement which was launched last month by Lancaster filmmaker, Mary Haverstick, calls the group Respect Amish and has taken to a website and through Facebook to get these shows off the air because it is what they believe is a form of "Amish-sploitation." Their campaign deems the shows as exploitative of the peaceful Amish community, as they tarnish the image of a peaceful and religious people.
The website says, "No religious group in America should have to endure a barrage of "reality" television filled with criminal acts and non-stop images of their youth in violation of their beliefs. Neighbors are now speaking out and saying this is not the Amish community we know and bears little resemblance to reality."
Meanwhile, The Lancaster Online also reported that two major players in the local business and tourism world are backing up the Respect Amish movement. The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau (which represents more than 3,000 local businesses) issued a joint statement supporting the tenets of Haverstick's group.
Lancaster Online also said that the joint statement by the two groups is asking its members to "refrain from providing any assistance to these destructive attempts to exploit the Amish lifestyle."
