While the return of "Amish Mafia" for its fourth season remains unclear following a disagreement between the show's cast and crew, another problem surfaced that further troubles the comeback of the series.
Venture Capital Post reported that The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau urged their local members to avoid offering help to "Amish Mafia's" production crew who aim to film scenes for the show.
Last June, local filmmaker Mary Haverstick initiated a movement that aims to fight what she called "Amish-spoilation." By means of the movement, Haverstick wants TV shows like "Amish Mafia" to be cancelled on air. The filmmaker deems that these programs are slanted, creating false perception of the religious people.
According to Lancaster Online, both organizations issued a joint statement last July 23, which requested their over 3000 enlisted members to deny any kind support to the production crew whom they claim to "exploit the Amish lifestyle."
"Over the last few years, a growing number of TV-based attempts have been made to exploit this lifestyle," the joint statement read. "These attempts, often under the guise of 'reality television,' raise serious questions of religious and cultural bias."
Creating the website RespectAmish.org as well as a Facebook page, Haverstick intends to make a global call for the online public to support her cause.
She wrote an introduction to the website saying, "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."
Haverstick also appeared in a local news program last June 13 saying that shows like "Amish Mafia," "Amish Haunting," and "Breaking Amish" are "bigoted and prejudice," as they tarnish the reputation of the Amish way of life.
With the two huge organizations uniting to stop the show's airing, "Amish Mafia" will definitely find it even more difficult to make its comeback for season 4.
As of press time, there are no announcement made about the premiere of "Amish Mafia" Season 4.
