'Bumfight' Videos Inspired Joy-Killing

Florida Teen Tells Ed Bradley He Killed Homeless Man 'For Fun'

(CBS) 
Bumfights is a series of popular DVDs in which homeless people perform degrading stunts for which they are paid a few dollars and a lot of alcohol. They also include clips of teenagers fighting. The DVDs cost about $20 and have sold 300,000 copies over the last five years.

The videos star Rufus Hannah, a homeless man dubbed "Rufus the stunt bum,” drinking to excess, falling down, performing dangerous stunts and fighting his best friend Donnie Brennan who is also homeless.

Brennan was even branded for the video.

These days, Hannah is sober, working full-time, and involved in a civil lawsuit to recover some of the money from Bumfights. Brennan, who’s still on the streets, is also suing. Both men claim they were taken advantage of by the film-makers because they were homeless.

Brennan says he got hurt in the making of the videos. "I broke my ankle in half. I broke my leg in two places," he says.

He says the scenes were not acting but were "down to earth real."

Asked if they made money from the site, Hannah says, "We didn't make a damn thing."

"Five bucks for beer every once in a while," Brennan adds.

"Sometimes it was only two or three dollars. See, Ryan knew that when we got drunk, he could get us to do anything," Hannah explains.

“Ryan” is Ryan McPherson, the 23-year-old creator of Bumfights. He sold the rights to the series for $1.5 million shortly after it came out, splitting the money with three partners. But he’s still defending Bumfights in court, and in the media.

"We’re merely exposing something that I don’t think a lot of people know exists. I think it's interesting. I can't imagine what would make somebody do the things that Rufus was doing to himself," McPherson says.

"Because he's an alcoholic and somebody gave him money. You gave him money, which he used to buy alcohol. Got drunk and he did it," Bradley remarks.

"It's not as simple as that," McPherson replies.

McPherson points out that felony charges for his role in Bumfights were dropped. But he did plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of staging an illegal fight. But Bumfights is worse than you think.

[rowekishi_35]

You can blame the parents, you can blame the teachers, you can blame society, but really you should only blame yourselves. (Don't call me a hypocrite as I was blaming the video "bumfights" ealier. I honestly believe that people influenced by these videos are weak-minded, so we have to protect them from themselves by pulling these videos off shelves.) People have to take some responsibility for their actions. They should be made to pay for them. Those kids who beat two bums in one night, killing one got off with just a year. Correct? Ridiculous! People should pay for their mistakes and not be allowed such easy punishments, minor or not!

[rowekishi_35]

I'm much in agreement with politikz. I watched this news report and had to change the channel because it made me sick to my stomach. I cannot believe how cruel some humans can be to others. Laughing at the misfortunes of somebody so desperate or addicted that they would do anything for money or alcohol is quite despicable, Desmond_G. As for you babycakes, what are YOU doing to help the homeless? I believe just taking those videos off of the market would do them some justice considering the videos seem to be influencing weak-minded kids to do such horrible things. Didn't you just read the article where the kids were chanting, "bumfights! bumfights!" while beating a man? If you want my opinion on what is a "shame, shame, shame" it's that your parents never taught you how to spell. (believe, gosh, might, either, etc.) Honestly though, I am simply saddened that our society has fallen so low that we always prey on the innocents, the children, the homeless, animals. Why is that? Why are we so obsessed with domination, with not being the "weakest link?" Why do we bully and hurt others to make ourselves feel better?

[politikz]

Desmond_G, how can you compare America's Funniest Home Videos to Bumfights and Crackheads gone wild? You are comparing a show where people send in videos of themselves and laugh along with other people to videos where people like you are laughing at other people in a miserable state! You are correct about the parenting, but, sometimes teenagers march to a different beat, and for those who lack strong parenting, this is dangerous. As for baby_cakes, there is more than one way to skin a cat. Just because someone is not out on the streets helping the homeless does not mean there not helping. How about teachers in schools trying to get teenagers to realize the value of a good education, policemen and social workers trying to steer kids down the straight and narrow path, parents being goods parents, and retailers taking responsibility and using alittle moral judgement when it comes to selling garbage that pollute young minds. I'm not writing to pointing, but, sometimes people fall down in life. It is our duty as the greatest nation not to get cheap laughs off of someone else's misery!!

[vicci2]

I had never heard of this before I just read it here online. Whenever I hear about things this insane I always have to ask myself "Who raised these people?" What kind of a mind would reason that this type of an act would be acceptable? Do they not think about how these acts affect other? Have they no empathy at all? I can't even imagine what goes through a persons mind when they are committing such evil acts. It is totally beyond my comprehension. It is a scary world we live in. Vb

[sweetstudent]

well i think event tho iam only a teen myslef, that was cruel from those boys to do such thing like that to poor poeple, and more to homeless poeple, and what they get its what they deserve and iam glad they got caught, and hopefully they will be something done about homeless being hit by teenagers.

[enragedmom]

It's called a Boycott. We can all stop supporting stores that sell this garbage and any advertisers that promote such horrible acts (whether real or acted) -- the boycott has been and effective (and non-violent) means of protest for a long time.

[f272931]

I too am outraged to learn of Bum Fights after watching 60 minutes. I will check with my local K-Mart & Circuit City to make sure they pull those off the shelf. It is despicable that someone would create such a thing & to make money from it as well.

[baby_cakes__]

What Ever Happend to Being Responsible For Your Own Actions...?Is That Gone...?If So Than Problem Solved People...! YAY,NOBODY IS AT FALT FOR ANYTHING..!Think People Think...!

[baby_cakes__]

You Know Just About All The Comments Iv Seen ...There Are Quite A Few That Want To Fight And Hurt The Video tape Maker Of "Bum Fights"....
Isn't That The Pot Calling The Kettel black...?
Shame On You All.
And I Can't Belive There Are People Going Threw The NET.Trying To See Who's Selling This Video..!
Stop Trying To Point Fingers At Others..!
And If You Care So Much Do Something For The Homeless People That Are Out There Right Now...Really Belive Me!!There Out There Right NOW.!It Wouldn't Be A Waste Of Your Time! Like Pointing Fingers And Checking Out Wal-mart And K-Mart To See Who's Selling It ! OH MY GHOSH DON'T LET ME SAY "E-BAY"...You Mite Get People Not To Shop Online There Eather,,EEE-YIKES..! Lord Have Mercy Bless All Your Hearts..It's A Shame Shame Shame!

[k19781]

Who are these horrible young monsters who target the homeless? Where are their parents? Who are the horrible people who buy such DVD's as Bumfights? Why are these DVD's even LEGAL?? People like McPherson and all who buy these DVD's reflect the horrible, self-righteous part of our culture that exists. Kids who target the homeless and find any entertainment value whatsoever in these DVD's should be put on a list and watched very closely. They are certainly potentially some of the very worst of our society. I can't wait for the day when Spurgeon and Scamahorn get out of prison, in their late fourties and fifties, and unable to find any jobs to support themselves, and find themselves on the streets. Maybe someone will come along and "beat" some sense into them!

[cloudwatch1]

To see these homeless people manipulated in this most cruel and inhumane way for profit and "entertainment" is heartbreaking. As powerful as America's Religious Right Wing is, why haven't these videos been boycotted by them? I checked the web sites of %u2018Focus on the Family' and the ultraconservative Family Research Council', and found nothing posted. With their ability to whip up their followers into a frenzy to boycott any business that believes *** people even have the right to even exist, I for one would like to know where their outrage is. Why have they been silent on this? How can anyone who considers themselves a decent human being, not be outraged by this tragic exploitation of the least among us?

[desmond_g]

If you want to be real about the homeless issue in America, then let's call it by its real name: The Ronald Reagan Legacy. Prior to his term as president, homelessness was not even a big problem in this country. As far as the Bumfights DVDs go, I own the first three and will buy them as Christmas gifts for my friends. I also recommend Crackheads Gone Wild too for a good laugh. I feel our society is hipocritcal when we can laugh at America's Funniest Home Videos, but frown upon Bumfights. If parents raised their children right, none of these senseless crimes would've taken place. God bless America.

[rigel651]

Video is a very powerful medium that must be used with a great responsibility because we have all seen the brutal effects it can cause, especially when it is one-sided or there are half truths or omissions.
There was a man in the 1940%u2019s who persuaded some of his countrymen that certain groups of people were %u201Csub-human%u201D and less worthy of society spending precious time and resources on. The scary part was that he didn%u2019t have to look too hard for people to carry out his plans because his propaganda already showed those looking for a scapegoat who was the cause for society%u2019s problems.
My biggest fear is that when we de-sensitize our children by letting someone point out how much fun it is to pick on some of the weakest and most vulnerable people in our neighborhoods, that they will grow up with the same mentality as those people our parents and grandparents fought to the death against not-so-long-ago.
Just to show how easily our perception can be altered, doesn%u2019t it even sound better to have %u201CBumfights%u201D, which sounds like a sporting event, as opposed to %u201CHomeless people fighting%u201D? Is this how the Roman Coliseum came about, so that people could watch the bums, prisoners, and other unwanted people of their time be disposed of? It all starts somewhere, not all at once, but it starts to become a part of normal behavior somehow.
Please remember, that when we run out of %u201Chomeless people%u201D, who will be the next fun target?

[enragedmom]

KMART still has it available on their web site.

I hope enough angry calls and e-mails to KMART and CIRCUIT CITY will force them to pull it from the shelves!

[kirby105]

I have become an instant advocate for the homeless people, after the story of bum fights on sunday. This truly was shocking to see the burtality performed on human beings.

I am letting all know that Circuit City has the nerve to offer all volumes availble for the purchase of bum fights if you inquire by the 800#. (not all are avail online, only volume 3.)

All other major retailors have taken this off the shelves, please help by letting Circuit City know that this is an exploitation of the homeless people, and violent behavior that will not be tolerated.

[enragedmom]

I urge everyone that wants a stop to the sale of these Bumfight videos to write or e-mail the businesses selling them and demand they be pulled from the shelves (it would be ideal if they would also donate the profits from them to a homeless Organization):

KMART (part of Sears Holding)
Circuit City

If I've missed any others, please let the rest of us know!

[politikz]

Thankyou Mr.Bradley for shedding light on this violent trend and these rotten individuals who peddle and profit off of Bumfights. Being that I work with teenagers in public education, I know how powerful images on television and the internet are. Some teenagers have no concept of what is real and what is not. You cannot bash someone's head in and not expect to suffer consequences. Shame on Mr. McPherson and his partners for stooping so low to make a buck. Blame must also be placed on retailers and parents for being so unaware.

[mconcerned]

Thank you nbphilly,

olypart, see my posted addresses below (they are now on a different page, just click "more comments" until you see it. I looked at a few more stores...

Borders...I need to look into further...
Barnes & Nobles appears NOT to sell this series

Thanks again!

[whimzkin]

In the 50's, as children in our family, we learned the Ten Commandments in school and church. We were taught what was 'right' and those things that were 'wrong.' We learned that disobeying the Ten Commandments was, more than any earthly law, a offense against God. And, killing someone, was the most grave. Those teachings were instilled in us and became our beliefs and way of live, and thank God they were. While we may have become angered and wanted to 'kill' someone at one time or another...for whatever reason, we would never, ever carry it out. Why? Because it is wrong and an offense against God. And those teachings prevent us from acting out. In Bill Bradley's interview with the teenage boy who killed the homeless man (bum), he could not explain why he did what he did or why others would think his actions were wrong. He did not have that base of morality.

[farswept]

The main point of the story was not to make a direct correlation between bumfights the video and the featured murder (or the one murder per month), but to show the general dehumanization in our society of its most vulnerable class.
I'm jaded to reports of random violence. So what was most shocking for me was the societal acceptance of McPherson's product, displayed so prominently in the store. A product which so obviously takes advantage of the weakest-willed for personal gain. It's most obvious when you see the bumfights logo tattooed on the poor man's forehead. That is the one thing that creeped me out most in this story. To permanently brand someone as if you owned him, to have your mark as his constant reminder of humiliation, a humiliation which cannot be blotted out, which is litertally and indelibly made a part of the man's face - is insidiously evil.
And it doesn't matter if "technically" they agreed because the signed a waiver. It's obvious McPherson's victims were not in their right minds. A contract is not legal if the signer is drunk at the time of signing. And of course, alcoholism is just a symptom of these poor souls' greater problems. McPherson seems to be trying to give the impression that it's all a social experiment (in his horrible inarticulate manner). Yeah, like a Mengele experiment. By branding that man it's obvious to me McPherson has labeled him as SUBHUMAN. But it is those with this Nazi mentality who are lacking in humanity, Ryan.