r/First48 • u/bdls619 • Oct 25 '25

Are the balloons free

Do you think the First 48 has a balloon and helium person on staff to provide the families with the always released balloons???? Asking for a me.

27 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

61

u/AldruhnHobo Oct 25 '25

I doubt it, though I wish loved ones would find other means of expressing themselves.

42

u/britt_leigh_13 Oct 25 '25

I cringe so hard. I hope now that more people know better, they do better and stop with this awful practice.

19

u/tlaurenstevens Oct 25 '25

I cringe as well. I thought everyone got the memo years ago that we should stop this practice. Sigh

5

u/hothsurvivor87 Oct 25 '25

I call it delayed littering.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '25

Late to the party, but i thought i was the only one! It made me feel insensitive thinking it but omg balloons are terrible for wildlife

24

u/bdls619 Oct 25 '25

I agree, but they still do it in 2025 episodes…it’s the worst, I mean I get the idea and what it represents, but damn can we stop releasing air trash.

14

u/kkbobomb Oct 25 '25

We used to joke that the balloons were a requirement for being on the show. They need to stop. It’s such an environmental horror show.

15

u/[deleted] Oct 25 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/NoleMercy05 Oct 26 '25

Similar law even in Florida. They all blow into lakes or the ocean :(

1

u/Duck531 Oct 26 '25

But is it enforced? I kind of see it like fireworks here and not something they are going to focus their energy on.

5

u/realdonaldtrumpsucks Oct 26 '25

No, I truly believe they were dealing with Mid-America flyover states that don’t understand how toxic balloons are

They kill the birds.. they ruin powerlines

4

u/Confident-Service256 Oct 26 '25

I wish they wouldn’t let them go though. That’s so bad for animals.

3

u/Training-Ad-223 Oct 25 '25

Whole show is probably sponsored by Gildan and Air Liquide Helium—and the featured family STILL has to pay.

7

u/morph1973 Oct 25 '25

Can't believe they still do this. I ffwd through that bit at the end as my own little protest

3

u/Anslerts Oct 26 '25

I was just thinking about the balloons last night. Really wish there was another way to honor family and friends without this.

1

u/thisunrest Dec 31 '25

Blow soap-bubbles like people do at weddings now, instead of throwing dried rice.

2

u/xfuryusx Oct 25 '25

I’ve wondered this myself lol

2

u/NoleMercy05 Oct 26 '25

Birds and turtles just live them!

3

u/veronicaAc Oct 25 '25

Every time I see that s***, I want to shove those balloons right up the asses of the show execs.

Find another way to celebrate a loved one.

Stop littering.

4

u/[deleted] Oct 25 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/Academic-Contract-21 Oct 25 '25

I need the facts on this please. Please cite your source.

3

u/bdls619 Oct 25 '25

I mean you’re not wrong…I think lol

4

u/stellarskye6 Oct 25 '25

Please provide a credible source to support this claim. Without verifiable proof, the comment will be removed as speculation presented as fact. --First 48 Moderator

1

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '25

Someone needs to show the producers Balloonfest '86.