How ‘Sesame Road’ CEO Sherrie Westin saved lives throughout Afghanistan withdrawl
You’ll be able to depend on her.
Web page Six has discovered {that a} media CEO labored 48 hours straight to rescue a busful of “Sesame Road” solid and crew who have been stranded in Kabul when the US pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021.
Exec Sherrie Westin was credited with singlehandedly saving her crew’s lives within the feat, later dubbed “Operation Huge Fowl,” it has been revealed.
An Afghan model of the present, “Baghch-e-Simsim,” had been airing within the nation since 2011, and had change into a large hit with the Afghan folks — a lot in order that it’s stated that the manufacturing had change into a goal for the Taliban, which despised it as a result of it was educating younger ladies to learn.
Considered one of its editors was killed in a suicide bombing concentrating on media in 2016.
We’re informed that by 2017, over 80% of youngsters with entry to TV have been watching this system, about 3 million youngsters. At the moment, 60% of youngesters within the nation – two-thirds of them ladies – have been unable to finish college, so the present was a essential instrument in filling that void.
In addition to most of the characters beloved by American youngsters, the present adopted Zari, a 6-year-old lady Muppet, and her 4-year-old brother Zeerak.
Amid the memorable scenes of People and Afghans alike desperately attempting to flee the nation throughout President Joe Biden’s chaotic withdrawal, the “Sesame Road” crew — together with the nine-months-pregnant puppeteer behind Zari — boarded a bus and headed to Kabul airport.
However they have been denied entry to the airport to get onto one of many final flights in a foreign country.
We’re informed “Sesame Workshop” CEO Westin, based mostly within the US, spent 48 hours straight liaising with the very best ranges of the US navy to avoid wasting their lives. (She has considerably in depth authorities connections, having served as Assistant to the President of the White Home Workplace of Intergovernmental Affairs below George H.W. Bush, and as a present member of the suppose tank Council on Overseas Relations).
Whereas we’re informed that Westin refuses to just accept credit score for the mission, navy figures have claimed she’s answerable for the crew being alive at the moment.
The saga was revealed this week by filmmaker Perri Peltz whereas she was presenting the Champions of Literacy award to Westin on the Literacy Companions gala at Pier 60. Peltz says she’s within the course of of constructing a documentary in regards to the episode.
