TV channel cuts word ’gay’ from episode of The Simpsons | Gay Star News
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TV channel cuts word ’gay’ from episode of The Simpsons
Britain’s Channel 4 apologizes for censoring a Sunday lunchtime repeat of the popular US cartoon
07 November 2012 | By Matthew Jenkin
TV channel cuts word ’gay’ from episode of The Simpsons
Photo by Fox
A British TV channel has apologized after cutting the word ’gay’ out of an episode of The Simpsons.
Channel 4 censored the word from a repeat of the US show on Sunday (4 November) at 12.55pm because it was deemed unsuitable for viewers at that time of the day, despite it being used in its proper context.
The 1994 episode features Homer and Ned Flanders at an American football match.
Although the donut-loving patriarch usually hates his God-fearing neighbor, the pair bond after Flanders buys him food and introduces him to a star player.
As they are leaving the game, Homer declares: ’I want everyone to know that this is Ned Flanders...my friend.’
But his passing workmates Lenny and Carl, whose relationship is a long-running joke in the show, hear differently.
’What’d he say?’ Lenny asks. Carl replies: ’I dunno. Somethin’ about being gay.’
During the edited episode, Carl’s line is cut out.
According to Channel 4, all episodes shown before 6pm are checked for offensive content, but the TV station admits it was wrong to make the change this time.
’We always carefully consider the context in which language is used in our programming,’ said a Channel 4 spokesman, reported The Independent.
’However, in this instance the episode was edited in error as neither the word nor the context was unsuitable.’
The derogatory use of the word ’gay’ as an insult or to imply something is uncool has in the past landed networks and celebrities including former Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles in hot water.
Its use during times when children are watching has, therefore, been restricted under recommendations by UK media watchdog Ofcom.
New Zealand’s prime minister, John Key, was forced to apologize this week after joking a radio host was wearing a ’gay’ red jumper.
Key made the offensive gaffe during an interview with RadioSport’s Farming Show on Friday (2 November).
’You’re going to be nervous when you’re lining up on those par threes aren’t you,’ he teased DJ Jamie Mackay.
’You’re munted mate, you’re never gonna make it, you’ve got that gay red top on there.’
