Freelance journalist Dominic Patten is a Deadline contributor
The West Hollywood City Council wants Bravo’s reality series Shahs Of Sunset to change its ways and stop “perpetuating negative stereotypes about Iranian-Americans.” The pols used their jurisdiction to slam the Ryan Seacrest-produced series about Iranian-Americans living in Beverly Hills (think a milder, West Coast version of MTV”s Jersey Shore, with more money). “The City of West Hollywood is located in close proximity to the area represented in Shahs Of Sunset and has many residents of Iranian descent,” a council resolution passed Thursday read. “Many of them and others have raised concerns about the show’s perpetuation of negative Iranian-American stereotypes.” Councilmember John Heilman said after it was adopted that “negative stereotypes disseminated about any group should raise concern as this can lead to discrimination and, in extreme cases, even violence.” The move is the latest attempt from a city government to weigh in on such matters, after LA City Council member Jan Perry’s measure this week intended to stop radio hosts from using “racist and sexist slurs” and for Clear Channel and others to have more diversity in their workforce. The West Hollywood council said its condemnation “is consistent with past actions of the City Council denouncing negative stereotypes of the LGBT community and other groups which have faced discrimination and marginalization.” More than 700,000 people of Persian descent live in Los Angeles County. Shahs Of Sunset premiered March 11.


I can’t believe people are being negative about this show. You are taking it way too seriously. The characters are just that and in my opinion, hilarious. I love them all.
Keep Shahs on the air.
Renewed! Haha, I thought I’d hate this show, but as a totally Americanized Persian living outside of a main Persian population center this show demonstrates all that’s good and bad. Sorry to the haters.
I guess you know you have made an impact in this country, whether good or bad when they make a TV show about you! As an Iranian-American, I must say the show is half true, half exaggerated drama which is typical of any reality show. Who wants to see ordinary hardworking people, that’s not entertainment but at least get a better looking cast, these are some of the ugliest Iranians I’ve seen! There are much better looking ones in OC!
send them all back to their beautiful culturealcountry and see how far they can go.
It’s so sickening to see how these people on these tv shows make money off there lives. Funny how in this country foreigners surpass american born citizens in wealth. Whats wrong with that picture? It makes me sick to see how spoiled and how self righteous they are. I live check to check trying to support my 3 kids, and pay a morgage on a small paycheck and people like this don’t even understand what life is all about with there money flowing like water from a waterfall. I pray for there souls but again they would still be making out even in the after life.
i agree wholeheartedly my anscestors came to this country and they now own 24hotels and 35 quickie marks thanks america…