Last Sunday's episode of Family Guy, Extra Large Medium, has caused controversy by insulting the Palin family. In the episode a mentally challenged character tells Chris her mother is the former governor of Alaska (Sarah Palin).
"Regardless of the obvious differences between the Family Guy character and Palin's son, this was clearly a jab at the Palin family, and they've struck back," reports BuddyTV. "Sarah's daughter Bristol took over her mother's Facebook page to respond, saying in part: '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.'"
However, the 39-year-old actor and public speaker Andrea Fay Friedman who played the controversial character has hit back in defense of the show. In an email to the New York Times she writes:-
I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line "I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska" was very funny. I think the word is "sarcasm."
In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life.
Andrea has Down syndrome herself.
Rob on Saturday February 20, 2010 at 04:43:06 PM said:
This is a difficult one. There is a very thin line being tread here by Family Guy. That said the show’s producers etc deserve to be applauded for including people on the cast who have some form of disability as in the case of Andrea Fay Friedman (or Marlee Matlin a few months back). This sort of commitment to equality is very commendable.
Jamie m on Sunday February 21, 2010 at 09:29:00 PM said:
This story made the news in the UK.Also i agree with Rob.
JimJim on Monday February 22, 2010 at 06:00:33 AM said:
Palin’s the real retard compared to her son. But she said herself that it’s okay if used satirically :)
ZeroCool on Friday February 26, 2010 at 12:04:24 PM said:
lol i didnt see this episode but still its just a cartoon made to make people laugh if u cant laugh at things as harmles ad this then u r the true retard lol MacFarlen rocks
K G on Sunday March 7, 2010 at 10:43:19 PM said:
EVERYBODY is open to mock. All that matters is that they at least do it in a clever way. They once made a joke about what the most annoying male name is, which was Heath (intended to shock and offend, obviously), while they have TWO people on staff with the name Seth.