Supernanny episode leads to child abuse investigation of Deltona family

February 25, 8:04 PMOrlando Parenting ExaminerRobyn Kurth

Previous Next

3 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Orlando Parenting Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

A recent episode of Supernanny featuring a
Deltona family has prompted concern from some
viewers. (Photo: ABC TV.)

The News-Journal is reporting that a Deltona family featured on the February 13 episode of the ABC reality series Supernanny has become the subject of a child abuse investigation after viewers of the show called the Volusia County Sheriff's Department to complain about the methods that father Phil Davis employed to discipline his children.

A clip from Supernanny's "Davis Family" episode that shows Phil Davis slapping his young daughter in the face has been making the rounds on YouTube.com. The footage was shot in November 2008. A spokesman for the Volusia County Sheriff's office said that the father is currently receiving counseling, according to the Supernanny producers. No charges have been filed against the family, although the investigation remains open.

The YouTube clips are admittedly hard to watch, especially in the context of the entire first half of the episode. Granted, families applying to be on the show are already confessing that they are in a state of crisis (although not everyone voluntarily brings in a camera crew to document their familial discord). What Volusia County Sheriff's Department and DCF will need to do is determine if the YouTube clips are an example of recurring behaviors, or if a visit from the Supernanny really did prompt the family to get the extensive amount of counseling and parenting classes they really needed.