LOUISIANA PAPARAZZI:October 12, 2009
Michael Vick has climbed out of the dog house, and back into the spotlight, following his dog fighting conviction. He's back in the NFL and trying to rebuild his image, and is launching a new reality show to help do just that.
Recently, Vick announced that he'll be starring in a new reality show on BET in January, where he'll show the general public how he's changed.
The upcoming show is called "The Michael Vick Project," and will focus on his re-entry into the NFL , while taking a look into his recent legal troubles and how he is trying to change the way he was living.
"I just want people to really get to know me as an individual," the NFL quarterback told the L.A. Times. "I am a human being. I've made some mistakes in the past, and I wish it had never happened. But it's not about how you fall, but about how you pick yourself up."
Despite changing his tune, some -- like PETA -- aren't buying it. They say that Vick isn't sincere about his apologies and his efforts are just attempted to rehabilitate his tarnished image with the public.
"People who abuse animals don't deserve to be rewarded," said PETA spokesman Dan Shannon. "They shouldn't be given multi-million dollar contracts ... or given the privilege of being a role model. We don't believe Michael Vick understands the seriousness of his crime. I think he's sorry he got caught, but only time will tell if he's truly remorseful."
Financial details regarding how much Vick is being paid for the show are currently unknown. He does, however, owe creditors around $20 million, which he is paying over a six-year span to emerge from bankruptcy.
The upcoming show is being labeled a "docu-series" style show, and not a typical reality show like other athletes such as Terrell Owens, its producers said.
It will focus on Vick's personal struggles since his release, including the strains on his relationships with his fiance, Kijafa Frink, and his children. He is also set to revisit the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., where Vick spent 1 1/2 years behind bars and the Virginia property where he ran and financed a dogfighting ring.
"This show can be a blueprint for so many kids," Vick told the paper. "I want to show them that things are going to happen, that they're not going to get through life without dealing with some kind of adversity. I want to show that if they have a fall from grace, this is how they can turn it around. We want this to be a story of hope."
Recently, Vick announced that he'll be starring in a new reality show on BET in January, where he'll show the general public how he's changed.
The upcoming show is called "The Michael Vick Project," and will focus on his re-entry into the NFL , while taking a look into his recent legal troubles and how he is trying to change the way he was living.
"I just want people to really get to know me as an individual," the NFL quarterback told the L.A. Times. "I am a human being. I've made some mistakes in the past, and I wish it had never happened. But it's not about how you fall, but about how you pick yourself up."
Despite changing his tune, some -- like PETA -- aren't buying it. They say that Vick isn't sincere about his apologies and his efforts are just attempted to rehabilitate his tarnished image with the public.
"People who abuse animals don't deserve to be rewarded," said PETA spokesman Dan Shannon. "They shouldn't be given multi-million dollar contracts ... or given the privilege of being a role model. We don't believe Michael Vick understands the seriousness of his crime. I think he's sorry he got caught, but only time will tell if he's truly remorseful."
Financial details regarding how much Vick is being paid for the show are currently unknown. He does, however, owe creditors around $20 million, which he is paying over a six-year span to emerge from bankruptcy.
The upcoming show is being labeled a "docu-series" style show, and not a typical reality show like other athletes such as Terrell Owens, its producers said.
It will focus on Vick's personal struggles since his release, including the strains on his relationships with his fiance, Kijafa Frink, and his children. He is also set to revisit the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., where Vick spent 1 1/2 years behind bars and the Virginia property where he ran and financed a dogfighting ring.
"This show can be a blueprint for so many kids," Vick told the paper. "I want to show them that things are going to happen, that they're not going to get through life without dealing with some kind of adversity. I want to show that if they have a fall from grace, this is how they can turn it around. We want this to be a story of hope."
