By now the noise over South Park's infamous "Bloody
Mary" episode featuring an excessively menstrual
statue of the Virgin Mary has died down, but folks in New Zealand hadn't seen it until recently. Needless to say,
many of them weren't happy. As the cartoon was being broadcast, hundreds of protesters gathered around a statue of the
Virgin Mary to pray. In addition, 350 people protested outside the TV station that broadcast the cartoon. Despite
the protests, or possibly because of them, the episode garnered more than six times the usual audience. If nothing
else, South Park has proved not only can it raise the ire of American audiences, it also knows how to offend
on a global scale.Protests over South Park episode in New Zealand
By now the noise over South Park's infamous "Bloody
Mary" episode featuring an excessively menstrual
statue of the Virgin Mary has died down, but folks in New Zealand hadn't seen it until recently. Needless to say,
many of them weren't happy. As the cartoon was being broadcast, hundreds of protesters gathered around a statue of the
Virgin Mary to pray. In addition, 350 people protested outside the TV station that broadcast the cartoon. Despite
the protests, or possibly because of them, the episode garnered more than six times the usual audience. If nothing
else, South Park has proved not only can it raise the ire of American audiences, it also knows how to offend
on a global scale.
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-23-2006 @ 3:39PM
Dave said...
Notice that Christians can be offended like any other religion but it's funny, I haven't noticed any riots, or burning buildings or murders over it. If you are Christian, this episode is probably pretty offensive as say, a danish cartoon.
Just a thought.
Reply
2-23-2006 @ 4:09PM
Glenn said...
The christians use lobby groups instead to kill freedom of speech. Much more dangerous.
Reply
2-23-2006 @ 4:20PM
Carissa said...
In this country, every religion uses lobby groups, and are therefore equally dangerous. They teach about Islam in elementary schools, but cannot mention Christ. Lobby groups manage to kill freedom from every direction. Riots, on the other hand, kill people. No riots from South Park, and the flack died down very quickly. I'll choose right-wing Christians over gun-toting "extremists" any day.
Reply
2-23-2006 @ 4:22PM
dpb said...
oh yeah, lobbyist are way more dangerous than people rioting in the streets, setting cars on fire, and killing people ;-)
Reply
2-23-2006 @ 10:50PM
Emily said...
No one's free speech rights were violated. One set of individuals broadcasted something that offended another set of individuals. The second set told the first set to shut their collective pie hole because they didn't like it. The first set was not convinced by their protestations and continued. The event ended.
A free speech violation requires the government to come in and tell you to shut your pie hole and/or punish you for what you said. The Kiwi government was not involved in this situation, therefore no free speech issue.
Sure, you have the freedom of speech to say any offensive thing you want and I reserve my freedom of speech to tell you that you are full of crap.
Reply
2-24-2006 @ 6:31AM
Box Party said...
I also think that every religion uses lobby groups, and are therefore equally dangerous. They teach about Islam in elementary schools, but cannot mention Christ. Lobby groups manage to kill freedom from every direction...
Reply
2-24-2006 @ 11:29AM
telerama said...
Sout park is too cowardly to do something like this to Muslums.
Reply