A recent article on Ballerina Farm has stirred significant controversy, drawing sharp criticism from various quarters. Many believe that the piece, ostensibly intended to provide an inside look at Hannah “Ballerina Farm” Neeleman’s life, is marred by clear biases and prejudices. The crux of the backlash can be encapsulated in the oft-repeated, “I’m not jealous, just concerned” trope, as pointed out by several commentators.
Alicia Bittle, under her Twitter handle Daughter of Wolves, summarized the sentiment, stating, “The entire article can be boiled down to the tired and transparent, ‘I’m not jealous, just concerned’ trope 🙄.” This remark points out that the Times writer, Megan Agnew’s purported concern may mask an envious undertone. Brittany Martinez echoed these sentiments, criticizing the journalist for betraying the trust placed in her by Hannah Neeleman and her family.
Martinez elaborated on her Twitter account, “Journalists are praising this article without realizing this is the reason they’re so disliked. Hannah ‘Ballerina Farm’ let this journalist into her home with her family. And the entire piece is clearly biased with an axe to grind that her husband is this abusive, controlling man. Despite him saying they’re ‘Co-CEOs’ even.” Martinez’s critique underscores a fundamental issue: the portrayal of Daniel Neeleman, Hannah’s husband, as an overbearing figure, despite the couple’s clear partnership in their endeavors.
The accusation of bias becomes more pronounced as Martinez recounts a personal anecdote about a similar experience. She mentioned a friend in the celebrity fitness world who faced a comparable situation, where a journalist, initially appearing supportive, ended up creating a dramatically negative portrayal. This personal insight adds weight to the argument that such biased journalism is not an isolated incident but rather a recurring issue.
Martinez further shared her own wary experiences with journalists, saying, “The last time I took a phone call from a journalist, the first thing she said was, ‘I heard you’re an anti-vaxxer!’ Like, nice to meet you too lady?” This experience has led her to insist on written communications only, ensuring a verifiable record of interactions to guard against potential misrepresentation.
In the Ballerina Farm article, the journalist’s complaints about not being able to get Hannah’s attention due to her familial responsibilities are seen as particularly unjust. Martinez pointed out, “Hannah has 8 kids total including a baby that ‘never left her side’ (I mean, yeah m’am the baby is like 6 months old?).” This criticism highlights the unrealistic expectations placed on Hannah and a lack of understanding of her life as a mother of eight.
The article also mentioned Hannah’s exhaustion, noting she couldn’t get out of bed for a week, but failed to provide context. Was this postpartum exhaustion? Martinez questions, “Surely if she married a good man, he would make sure she gets better soon, and I’m sure he likely did.” This omission of context contributes to the narrative of bias and a possible agenda to depict the Neeleman family negatively.
The cultural aspect also comes into play, with Martinez suggesting that the journalist might have experienced a culture shock. “Maybe it’s a culture shock to the ‘journalist’ that they’re Mormon but this is pretty typical from the Mormon families I know. They get married young and quickly, after their mission trips.”
Ultimately, the article attempts to paint Hannah Neeleman as a victim who yearns for her past as a ballerina, a portrayal that many find inaccurate and unfair. Hannah’s disciplined transition from a ballerina to a mother and pageant winner is seen by her supporters as a natural progression of life’s chapters, not a lamentable loss. As Martinez aptly concludes, “We have different chapters in our lives. I’m wishing Hannah and her family the best.”
Some TikTok Followers share the same sentiment. As negative comments centered on Hannah’s seemingly loaded statement, “I was a good ballerina” to symbolize that the former dancer is now trapped in a life she never dreamed of, some actually believe that it downplays Hannah’s other achievements which many believe she couldn’t have done without the support of her husband. This includes winning Miss Americana which eventually made her the US representative to the international Mrs. World.
Overall, the backlash against the Ballerina Farm article calls the need for fair and unbiased journalism. The narrative driven by the article has been widely perceived as skewed, leading to broader discussions about the ethical responsibilities of journalists when portraying individuals and their lives.
