'Little People, Big World' star Jacob Roloff claims he was molested by show producer in 'long grooming process'
TLC show 'Little People, Big World' audiences might know that Jacob Roloff has stopped appearing on the show for quite some time now. However, he enjoys a decent social media following, and on Tuesday, December 15, he shocked everyone as he went ahead to make a startling revelation about what he had to endure while appearing on the show.
In a lengthy note that he shared on his Instagram page, Jacob wrote, "As a child, after what I realize now was a long grooming process, I was molested by an executive field producer for 'Little People, Big World,' Chris Cardamone.
The IMDb page of the 44-year-old producer from East Los Angeles doesn't reveal much but has the shows 'Parking Wars', 'Fast N Loud' and 'Tanked' listed under his work along with 'LPBW'. Jacob named him but also added in his note that he, in no capacity, will share any more details about his experience. "I do not expect to provide details of this encounter at any point publicly. I do hope he is never allowed around children again," Jacob added.
Jacob added that this statement was due for years. "I first began contemplating this statement when he texted me years later in November 2015. I choose to disclose now as it remains a traumatic memory that needs to be exorcised of any further power over my development."
He continued, "By revealing this, I may be more fully understood and my perspective on issues such as child sexual abuse, child exploitation, and the collateral costs of reality television may be received more clearly. Although, I would have to add that this experience has not solely defined my point of view on any of these issues, nor has it defined my worldview in general."
His note also carried an explanation about what stopped him from speaking out about this incident all of these years and about why he was opening about it now. "A child must process, and I needed silence and time," he said. "I continue my own contemplation on the voyeurism involved in the entire enterprise of reality television — a massive spectacle of drama and pain and argument and invasion, with a little joy sprinkled over, that viewers watch completely disassociated from the complex humans inside the simplistic 'characters' they see on TV."
"Yet, there is no inherent causal connection between reality television production and childhood trauma. We are still sprinting ahead with the enterprise deaf, dumb, and blind, asking for forgiveness later, instead of asking harder preliminary questions of ourselves. The profits were indeed sweet. The actual experience was more complicated," he continued.
Speaking on his thoughts about reality TV, he said it's simply, "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Jacob also said that he carries no shame and in no way blames his family for what happened to him.
"It must finally be emphasized that all fault lies with the predator, and no fault lies with any of my family. I am certain that this is a positive moment for me, and another step toward a brighter future," he signed off adding that he stands in solidarity with silent survivors.