family guy episode jokes about down syndrome and sarah palin

**UPDATE I - response from Sarah and Bristol Palin**
**UPDATE II - list of Family Guy Sponsors**
**UPDATE III - Contact FOX CEO, Rupert Murdoch!**

I’m typically not one to get in a snit about television show content that I may not agree with.  We live in a country where free speech and creative license are the law of the land, so if I can’t handle what’s happening on the tube, I turn the channel.

In light of this, I have been known to enjoy episodes of the Family Guy on quite a number of occasions.  The producers of the show seem to be equal-opportunity taunters who poke fun at Christianity, Islam, most minority groups, and just about everyone else with comparable aplomb.  Have they made me wince with some of their dialogue?  Yes.  Do I find the humor to be mean-spirited?  No, I usually don’t.

Tonight, though, I think the show crossed the line when they made a direct reference to Governor Sarah Palin.

If you are unfamiliar with Family Guy, the main characters are a married couple (Peter and Lois), their two high school-aged children (Chris and Meg), and baby (Stewie).  In the episode that aired this evening, Chris has a crush on a girl at school who happens to have Down Syndrome.  When he gains the courage to ask her out, Chris and his date (Ellen) end up at dinner, and during the conversation Chris asks Ellen about her family.  In her answer she says:

“My mother is the former governor of Alaska.”

Yes - really. When I heard that, I couldn’t believe my ears and was not the least bit amused!  My immediate thought was “not again…“  One more time, we see it demonstrated that the Palin family - specifically, Trig Palin and his mother - are fair game in the public arena when it comes to taking cheap shots for the sake of “comedy”.

Enough is ENOUGH already!  It’s not funny.  It’s not cool.  And, most of all, it’s utterly disrespectful!  Attention Hollywood:  It’s OK to have a conscious and keep some things on the edit room floor!

The Family Guy producers owe the Palins an apology.  What you did tonight crossed the line and you should have the courage to admit as much.  Free speech is all well and good.  But have enough decency to know that a toddler with Down Syndrome is really not the best choice to be fodder for the amusement of your audience.

- tdc


*UPDATE I - THE PALINS RESPOND (via Facebook):

People are asking me to comment on yesterday’s Fox show that felt like another kick in the gut. Bristol was one who asked what I thought of the show that mocked her baby brother, Trig (and/or others with special needs), in an episode yesterday. Instead of answering, I asked her what she thought. Here is her conscientious reply, which is a much more restrained and gracious statement than I want to make about an issue that begs the question, “when is enough, enough?”:

“When you’re the son or daughter of a public figure, you have to develop thick skin. My siblings and I all have that, but insults directed at our youngest brother hurt too much for us to remain silent. People with special needs face challenges that many of us will never confront, and yet they are some of the kindest and most loving people you’ll ever meet. Their lives are difficult enough as it is, so why would anyone want to make their lives more difficult by mocking them? As a culture, shouldn’t we be more compassionate to innocent people – especially those who are less fortunate? Shouldn’t we be willing to say that some things just are not funny? Are there any limits to what some people will do or say in regards to my little brother or others in the special needs community? If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family yesterday, they failed. All they proved is that they’re heartless jerks. - Bristol Palin”

- Sarah Palin


*UPDATE II - LIST OF SHOW SPONSORS for February 14, 2010 episode:

Contact the sponsors below to let them know how you feel about the decision of Family Guy producers to make light of the challenges facing Trig Palin and his loving family. Encourage these companies to stand up for the Palins and the thousands of families like them.  Tell them that enough is enough! - tdc

  • Fox News - Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO
    News Corporation - 212-852-7000
  • Fox Broadcasting Company - 310-369-1000
  • YUM! Brands (Pizza Hut) - 502-874-8300
  • Red Bull North America Inc. - 310-393-4647
  • Mars, Inc. - 703-821-4900
  • Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. - 800-331-4331
  • Bally Total Fitness Holdings Corp. - 773-399-1300
  • Pfizer, Inc. - 212-573-2323
  • Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company - 312-644-2121
  • Universal Pictures - 818-777-1000

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*Image credit - mediabistro.com
*Note: this post was bumped up from original publish date of February 14, 2010