Richard Heene, Balloon Boy's Father, On The Defensive Over "Publicity Stunt" Accusations (VIDEO)

Since reuniting with his 6-year-old son Falcon, Richard Heene has been on the defensive over accusations that he staged his son's disappearance and tricked people into believing that Falcon was floating helplessly on a hot air balloon. Specifically, Heene has been asked to address reports that Falcon, who was actually hiding in an attic in the family's garage, at one point said that he did not come out when his parents called for him because it was "for the show."

In an interview with 9News, Heene became aggressive when asked about the possibility that the ordeal was an elaborate hoax:

"Today was grueling, OK? The media had asked the sheriff's department these questions about this publicity stunt crap. And everything that I went through, everything my wife has gone through, I just find that just disgusting. It's absolutely appalling to me after all the crap that we went through that they would say that,"

In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Heene attacked Blitzer for inquiring about Falcon's comment:

Watch:

Comments

[Cathazat]

When I heard they had been on WIFE SWAP I was suspicious but as the Blitzer interview was happening I grew more so. First of all, after that kind of trauma I wouldn't come out for days. I would hole up, release a press statement thanking everyone profusely, and breathe a sigh of relief and collapse in a corner somewhere with my family.I certainly wouldn't subject my kids to such an interview after all they had been through, either--maybe a few days later.

There were subtle and overt behavioral cues in the interview: the father (and "Balloon Boy") couldn't stop moving and the father couldn't seem to "contain" his son. OK, so maybe the child is hyperactive but notice how active he is and how the other two boys are not only quiet, but meek and always looking to the father as if to say, "is it ok? are we doing alright?" They also look scared, but of the father. Even the wife seems submissive. Meanwhile, the husband seems like a frenzied twitching mass of ticks.

What galls me most about this, apart from the huge expense and concern for this child is that these parents would coerce their children into lying. That destroys everything about the parent-child bond. The whole thing is wrong. I don't think prison time is necessary but a huge fine, yes, and maybe some social worker intervention and some needed counseling for an obviously narcissistic father with ego and issues.

[vsign]

The father is the scientist who can answer the most important questions the investigators and rescue people had about how to rescue his boy in this experimental craft. The Sheriff in his news conference today said the standard procedure is to make it known to the 911 caller or person calling in the request for a rescue is to STAY PUT. The Sheriff was clear about that point.

The Sheriff also put to rest the question about behavior of the family. He kept saying that his team of investigators found everything to be consistant with what was happening at the time - the family's body language, emotions etc.

He apologized that his team had not discovered the boy and explained why they had not looked in that particular spot. When the boy appeared, he was obviously a very active boy. The Sheriff made it clear that the boy would have had to be frightened to stay put in his hiding place for the five hours it took for the boy to come out - the boy was that hyper active.

Colorado is a special place to live. This is a creative and intelligent family.

Give them a break. They deserve it.

[Virlomi]

I hope in the course of the authority's investigation into whether or not this whole thing was a hoax, they strap Heene up to a polygraph. My guess is that his answers will all come back false and it will be proven, irrevocably, that he is a lunatic with no qualms about wasting thousands of tax payers' dollars on nonsense. At the very least, he'd be socially blacklisted.

[saintsubversive]

There is a very simple solution in getting Daddy to tell the truth: since this caused the closing of a major airport and the calling out of military personnel, that should qualify it as being under federal jurisdiction. So send two FBI agents to the home, and first have them explain to the man that lying to federal agents qualifies as perjury and is punishable by federal prison sentences (he can ask Martha Stewart if he doubts it). Then once he is clear on that point, have them ask him the hard questions and get his answers down officially. If it turns out he is lying, then he can be brought up on some truly serious charges. To avoid that, he might just fess up, because its obvious that he is lying through his teeth. Make an example of this wretch to keep anyone else from getting the stupid idea that they can use their children for whatever purposes they see fit. Oh, and while youre at it, get Child Welfare to do a thorough investigation of the household. After that, the media can do us all a big favor and MOVE ON ALREADY!

[Hans Meiser]

++ Excellent comment.

[Whycee54]

The father is a narcissistic con artist. He behaved horribly on Wife Swap. He feeds on attention. His wife is one of those June Cleaver types. I feel for the kids.
I knew it was fake when there was no evidence of the father chasing the balloon. Then when I realized it was that nutty man on Wife Swap... my mind was made up. This family has had MORE than their 15 minutes of fame. I am sure they will get more as time goes on. MEDIA let this be a lesson to you not to always run to the latest greatest story. It may be full of "Hot Air".

[dsgeorge]

In the words of Elaine Bennis: FAKE-FAKE-FAKE FAKE FAKE!

[Beegood]

You mean fake MSM hype? I agree with you there.

[AutumnWytch]

This whole thing is a scam! I feel sorry for those kids.

[tmo7734]

Based on some comments here, some folks need to limit the amount of time they spend watching reality shows. Although the Heeny family is rather odd, people who spend time around young children quickly learn that they are apt to say anything (and do) and are oftentimes confused.

[Jaskoen]

How dare you accuse me of staging a publicity stunt! The very nerve!

I'm going on Fox, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and every local news station RIGHT NOW to defend myself against these slanderous allegations!

Get the kids out of bed honey! I don't care how sick they are! We need to get everyone on camera ASAP!

The NERVE!

[mikedenney]

This kid has been raised in a modern 'global family' by his parents--he was looking directly at the camera when he made his statement...in other words, he was speaking to the media, not looking up at his dad or mom, or anyone else...right now he's learning his lesson, throwing up on camera...and his dad's finally stepping up under duress from Wolf Blitzer (BTW, I've always wondered if that's his birth name)...this is a lesson for TV viewers, look at how the stock market dropped after everyone got distracted on the floor yesterday...AND apparently, HLN is holding onto the actual original family home video of when the balloon got loose, but they played a brief preview to bait us for viewership, and what I saw of the dad, he didn't look like the plotter at that point---more like hopping mad, 'I'm gonna kill my own kids" mad...I thought it was a hoax from the first minute I tuned in--YESTERDAY---today, I think that family needs some relief, and maybe some future support from a 'global community' who unfortunately had immediate access to their fantastic dreams encountering a 'little hiccup'. Oh--I'm no sympathizer, just interested in clearing up their mess for the media with a little more sensitivity and perceptiveness than is being done by those interested in marketing the event without any thought for "The Heene Scene" (the Brady Bunch meets the Astronaut Farmer, huh)?

[vsign]

The media is getting back at this family. The media is getting alot of criticism for non-stop coverage of the balloon journey. Today the media has alot of questions to answer. But of course, the media is going to make this father the victim again.

Not only did the father think he needed help getting his son back and saving his son and thinking his son fell out and died - now because he called for help and the media covered it nationally, he is being victimized by something much greater.

Now, every viewer who watched the balloon ride wants an explanation. And he complies and sits in front of cameras all morning to answer questions. But that is not enough. The media wants a bigger story to justify the three hour balloon ride coverage. So they write their own story - the father created a hoax.

Who is really attention hungrey? I think it is the ratings driven media.

[weebils]

This does not explain the reaction of the parents. Yes, my parents would have been relieved I was alive but then they would have given me the works on national TV. I would have been crying and scared not looking like it was a big game.

[vsign]

My guess is that the parents wanted to repay for the help they received from the community by giving interviews. And then they are told they are attention seekers!!!

The parents were gracious enough to the media to answer questions and allow the press to ask even the children questions. When the question was asked why Falcon did not come when they were calling his name - Falcon answered repeatedly on Thursday that he was afraid cuz his dad yelled at him for playing in the balloon. Thursday night, Falcon answered that his dad had given him permission to let the cameras film him climb into the garage attic where he had been hiding.

People turning on this family makes me think it is best to never let cameras record. Someone in the crowd of viewers will turn it against you. Once something is on video or live, all the control is in the hands of the producers and editors who make it into their own story.

[4insure]

It seems implausible to believe the family actually say one of the children video taped the 6 year old child getting into that jiffy pop balloon contraption with a supposed cardboard bottom and he could somehow be able to secure himself inside of it?? If the boy's weight is between 40-45 lbs.and the speed of the balloon is traveling @ approximately 25 miles per hr in a 2 hour span at an elevation exceeding 500' in the air and it finally lands around 50 miles from the home the scientist father logically explain exactly how he woud believe his son could have been inside of it? It truly defys logic and sounds like a publicity stunt or hoax of some sort. It is most unfortunate for parents to involve small children in dangerous activities, such as storm chasing, mommie swapping and bogus balloon mischief.

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[JayMaeBee]

I agree that the contraption did not look like it could reach such speeds with 50 pound kid in it. Looked like an empty balloon. I am curious as to why law enforcement and the media did not venture to ponder aloud how this balloon would even become airborne with a kid in it. Oh well, all in all, I'm GLAD that no kid was aloft in a hot air balloon with no controls, like it was meant to sound.
As for the family interviews, the kid certainly looks like he's being coerced.

[dimplesmile7]

When the kid was talking I kinda got the impression that the father was trying to control what he was saying. Something is not right about this whole thing.

[DeviousSoybeans]

There also seemed to be someone off camera who was motioning to the kid, too. Either that or a monitor might have been set up and he was watching himself? It was odd.

[Amalek]

The father needs to be billed for the cost of the attempted rescue. He has already been publicly humiliated. That should be enough punishment.

What a pack of losers.

[tlgeiger62]

We all need to ignore this now. It's over.