Advertisers backing away from ‘Family Guy’ raunch

By Bob Unruh

Editor’s Note: The following contains descriptions of a graphic television program some readers will find offensive:

A campaign by pro-family groups over offensive and obscene content in the “Family Guy” cartoon program on the Fox television network has reached its target: the advertisers.

According to the Florida Family Association, officials with General Mills have confirmed the program “violates our programming standards” and also “is not the proper environment for General Mills products.”

The campaign provided a link for consumers to contact the program’s advertisers directly with their concerns over the nature of the cartoon.

The organization cited the sexually charged content of a March 8 program but also noted the cartoon’s attack on Christianity in the March 29 episode.


Screen shot from “Family Guy” video online

As WND reported, the American Family Association set up a campaign for viewers to contact the FCC in protest of the program’s sexually explicit theme. Tens of thousands of complaints were submitted in just the first day over the March 8 episode, which was rated by the network as appropriate for 14-year-olds, featuring multiple references to homosexual sex and discussion of an “11-way gay orgy.”

The Florida organization then launched its campaign to link consumers with advertisers in response to the March 29 program that featured the family dog denouncing God and saying He does not exist, and then mocking the character Meg’s born-again Christian experience.

Finally, the dog convinces Meg that God does not exist, and she gives up her faith.

The Florida group now has confirmed it has seen the results of its work.

“General Mills informed Florida Family Association yesterday that the Godless, Christian bashing and depraved content of Fox’s Family Guy is an unacceptable forum in which to promote their products,” the organization said.

Jeff Hagen, the director of consumer services for General Mills, told the Florida Family Association in an e-mail, “This program has not and will not be purchased intentionally in future rotations within our national or local television schedules.”

He said the television station on which Florida Family Association monitored his company’s ad during “Family Guy” acknowledged an error was made during “a rescheduling of programs and our Chex Mix advertising was not moved to a more family-friendly spot, as is our requirement.”

The e-mail campaign also directed consumer comments to officials for
Sprint-Nextel (Boost Mobile), Unilever (Axe), Brinker International (Chili’s Grill), KIA (Spectra), Yum Brands (Taco Bell), Volkswagen, Ford (Southern Ford Dealers), Amscot and Pepsi (Mountain Dew), which also advertised on the program.

“Oddly, Fox aired repeat episodes on April 5th instead of new episodes the week after their advertisers received e-mails from thousands of concerned citizens,” FFA said in a statement released by Executive Director David Caton. “Another ‘repeat’ episode is scheduled for April 12th.”

The American Family Association effort earlier was to direct consumer comments to the Federal Communications Commission.

“This should be disturbing to a lot of American families,” said AFA spokesman Randy Sharp.

“It’s beyond me how a network finds humor in the deviancy of human nature,” he continued. “The writers of this program, you really have to question who are these people who come up with this and call it entertainment.”

He said the organization has set up an online feature in which viewers can submit complaints to the FCC.

A video of a brief excerpt has been posted here (Warning: Content sexually suggestive):

Officials with New Media Alliance Television, which provided the video hosting for the excerpt, told WND that Fox officials had attempted to have the video removed, citing copyright law.

However, the video was kept available because of the provision in the 1976 Copyright Act allowing for fair use of an excerpt for “criticism, comment, news reporting” and other uses.

“[Fox] has threatened (via e-mail) NMATV for copyright infringement,” the company said, “while failing to acknowledge the video’s legal use being covered by The Copyright Act of 1976.”

A spokesman for NMATV also told WND the company was “the subject of an online attack during the afternoon … after Bob Parks, MNATV executive director, refused an e-mail demand … to immediately remove the video.”

According to the AFA report, the offensive March 8 episode featured:

  • Peter, the husband/father figure, turns “gay” after taking an experimental shot of the “gay” gene. He is paid $125 to take part in the experiment to prove that being “gay” is not a choice.
  • Peter and his new lover make out in a restaurant.
  • There’s discussion of the “11-way gay orgy.”
  • Peter helps his son with his math homework and turns the problem into an explicit conversation about “glory holes” and “circuit parties,” which are references to “gay” sex.
  • Peter leaves his son Chris in charge of the family while he spends time with his “gay” partner. Upon his new role, Chris immediately passes gas in his sister’s face and knocks out his mother, Lois.
  • Peter lies in bed with his rear exposed and moans in pleasure when a horse, which he assumes is his wife, licks his rear.
  • Lois, wearing skimpy lingerie, is turned down by her now “gay” husband.

A WND request to Fox for comment did not generate a response.

 

Bob Unruh

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.


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