A man in the US town of Vermont, Wisconsin, shot his TV set after Bristol Plain, daughter of US politician Sarah Palin, reached the finals in the programme Dancing With the Stars.
A debated ensued over Palin’s survival in the dance competition – similar to the programme ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ – despite weeks of achieving low scores. Each week, a panel of experts judge the dancers who are then voted upon by viewers, and based on a combination of scores and ballots, one contestant is voted off the show.
According to a criminal complaint, Steven Cowan’s wife Janice told police officers he was watching the programme Monday night when he “jumped up and swore … Steven was upset that a political figure’s daughter was on this show when Steven did not think that she was a good dancer.”
Cowan (67) then took his shotgun and blasted a round into the TV screen. This led to a 15-hour standoff with police which ended with Cowan’s surrender. Police then charged him with reckless endangerment and use of a dangerous weapon, according to the complaint.
As for Bristol Palin (20), critics say she is benefitting from the popularity of her mother.
Tina Costanza
