Maureen McCormick slams anti-vaxxers for misusing 'Brady Bunch' measles episode to boost their campaign
Maureen McCormick who plays the role of the eldest daughter Marcia on the show 'The Brady Bunch' was extremely miffed at anti-vaxxers who used a 'Brady Bunch' measles episode to their advantage.
McCormick found a Facebook anti-vaccination group using her image from the 1969 episode titled 'Is There a Doctor in the House?' where Brady's kids catch the measles illness. The Facebook group had been using the image and also referring to the episode where Marcia says, "If you have to get sick, sure can't beat the measles."
The episode has been used as "evidence" that measles is not really a big deal even though measles infection is now at the highest rate ever in the 21st Century. In the show, all six children contract measles and TV mom Carol Brady describes it as "a slight temperature, a lot of dots and a great big smile."
McCormick shared with NPR that she was absolutely furious when she learned she was a Facebook meme a couple of months ago and shared, "I was really concerned with that and wanted to get to the bottom of that because I was never contacted. I think it's really wrong when people use people's images today to promote whatever they want to promote and the person's image they're using they haven't asked or they have no idea where they stand on the issue."
She was very disapproving about being the poster child for the anti-vax movement because she believes in vaccinations and revealed, "As a mother, my daughter was vaccinated." She also recalled the time when she had measles and said, "Having the measles was not a fun thing. I remember it spread through my family." The 'Brady Bunch' episode is still being referenced to by many, including doctor Toni Bark, who testifies against vaccination in courts and public hearings.
According to Lloyd J. Schwartz, the son of 'The Brady Bunch' creator Sherwood Schwartz, his father would be very displeased about his show being used to promote anti-vaccinations. "Dad would be sorry because he believed in vaccination, had all of his kids vaccinated," Lloyd shared.