South Park Tries and Fails to Redefine “The F-Word”
November 5, 2009
Last night’s episode of Comedy Central’s long-running animated comedy South Park featured rampant use of the anti-gay slurs “f*g” and “f****t” as Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny attempted to drive a local biker gang out of town.
In “The F-Word,” life in South Park has been disrupted by a loud and disruptive biker gang. Cartman ultimately takes it upon himself to inform the gang that “everyone thinks you’re total f*gs.” When the South Park kids then tag “F*GS GET OUT” all over town, first the gay residents and ultimately the entire town take offense at the anti-gay rhetoric. When the mayor gathers all of the kids together to ask why anyone would spray paint such hateful anti-gay messages, the kids are taken aback, not realizing that the F-word was hurtful to the LGBT community.
Stan: “Why would we want gay people to get out of town?”
Cartman: “Oh, they think we meant gay f*gs.”
Kyle: “Oh, hey that’s not very nice mayor. Just because a person is gay doesn’t mean he’s a f*g.”
It is then revealed that, to the children of South Park, “f*g” does not refer to gay people at all but rather to people who “ride a loud Harley up and down the streets ruining everyone’s nice time.” Thus, a “gay f*g” is only a “f*g” if he is an obnoxious biker and a straight person who is considering buying a motorcycle is “bike-curious.” Eventually, the boys convince the head dictionary editor to change the definition of the F-word to read:
“Fag n. 1. An extremely annoying, inconsiderate person most commonly associated with Harley riders.
2. A person who owns or frequently rides a Harley.”
GLAAD disagrees. Though the writers of South Park attempted to craft a commentary on the shifting meaning of words, the fact of the matter is that the F-word is and remains a hateful slur that is often the last word heard by LGBT people as they fall victim to hate crimes. Just this year, 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover of Massachusetts hung himself, unable to endure further anti-gay bullying at school which included constant use of the F-Word.
South Park was right on one point: all too commonly, more and more people are using the F-word as a seemingly benign insult, unaware or unconcerned about the word’s anti-gay meaning. However, the spread of the word in this manner does not make it okay to use. Mickey Rourke and Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson recently learned this lesson as GLAAD reiterated the need for all uses of this slur to end.
GLAAD encourages you to contact Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, as well as Comedy Central, to share your personal stories of the negative impact the F-word and other anti-gay slurs have had on your life. It is important that the people behind South Park realize that the F-word is not just a harmless insult; it is a hateful word with often violent consequences.
South Park Studios Official Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/southpark. (You will have to become a “fan” in order to leave a message.)
Steve Albani
Comedy Central SVP, Corporate Communications
(212) 767-8695
steve.albani@comedycentral.com
Lisa Leingang
Comedy Central SVP, Programming
212-654-5866
lisa.leingang@comedycentral.com
Comedy Central Comment Line:
(212) 767-8600
**UPDATE: CALL TO ACTION: Tell South Park’s Creators About the Harms Caused By Slur-Filled “The F-Word”
Related Posts:GLAAD Issues Statement to TMZ Regarding Mickey Rourke’s Tirade
October 9, 2009
Earlier today, TMZ alerted GLAAD to a video on their site of Academy Award nominated actor Mickey Rourke lamenting being unable to use the F-word freely. He proceeds to use the offensive anti-gay slur numerous times.
GLAAD issued a statement to TMZ today in response to their post showing Rourke repeatedly using and defending the F-word. Rourke is a part of a small list of celebrities who see the word as harmless. GLAAD does not agree. President Jarrett Barrios said:
“This is a slur that, regardless of what Mickey Rourke has convinced himself that it means, is often the last word that gay people, and gay youth in particular, hear before they’re bullied, harassed or assaulted.
Rourke is showing himself to be painfully ignorant of how this vulgar, abusive slur feeds a climate of anti-gay hatred, intolerance and violence.
Related Posts:Rourke either needs to figure this out, or media needs to stop giving him a platform for promoting these kinds of slurs.”
What to Watch: This Weekend
January 9, 2009
Lots of fun TV this weekend, including Neil Patrick Harris hosting Saturday Night Live, and the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards airing on Sunday. So stay in and enjoy some great television in the new year!
Friday, January 9
10:00 pm Friends with Money, Sundance Channel (2 hrs) REPEAT
As part of its “31 Days of Sundance” program, the network will be airing a new indie film every night. Tonight it’s a dramedy from 2007, involving four close friends who have lived on the Westside of Los Angeles for years. One of them (Frances McDormand) starts questioning her marriage, and ultimately, her husband’s sexuality.
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Saturday, January 10
9:00 pm Color Splash, HGTV (30 min) NEW
Gay interior designer David Bromstad reworks living spaces. Tonight he redesigns a dining room.
10:00 pm The Graham Norton Show, BBC America (1 hr) NEW
Out Irish comedian Graham Norton hosts Jessica Biel and Mickey Rourke in his weekly chatfest.
11:30 pm Saturday Night Live, NBC (1 hr, 30 min) NEW
Dr. Horrible himself, Neil Patrick Harris, hosts tonight.
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Sunday, January 11
8:00 pm Golden Globe Awards, NBC (3 hrs) NEW
Though it’s not a particularly gay year for the Globes, Sean Penn seems a shoo-in for Best Actor for his work in Milk. Tune in to find out! Red carpet coverage begins at 7:00 pm.
8:00 pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC (1 hr) NEW
The team builds a home for a family whose son has Brittle Bone Disease. Gay designer Michael Moloney appears in this very special episode.
9:00 pm Desperate Housewives, ABC (1 hr, 1 min) NEW
Bree continues to deviously plot against Andrew’s future mother-in-law in an attempt to keep her gay son close.
10:00 pm Art School Confidential, Sundance Channel (2 hrs) REPEAT
In this 2006 comedy, a talentless art student (Max Minghella) will do everything he can to become the world’s greatest artist. The movie features tongue-in-cheek representations of gay characters. Airing as part of Sundance Channel’s “31 Days of Sundance” program.
10:01 pm Brothers & Sisters, ABC (1 hr) NEW
Tensions mount as Tommy allies with Saul to push Holly out of the family business.
The Informers
December 22, 2008
Bret Easton Ellis
LGBT Content: Gay
Genre: Drama
Rating: NR
Director: Gregor Jordan
Writer: Bret Easton Ellis, Nicholas Jarecki
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke, Winona Ryder, Jon Foster, Amber Heard
Distributor: TBA
Release Date: TBA
Synopsis: Bret Easton Ellis’ tale of debauchery, drugs, and depravity in 1980s Los Angeles is adapted for the screen. As is often Ellis’ style, the stories of a several different characters – not all of who are completely straight – and their indulgent exploits are interwoven to illustrate the excess of the times.
Premiering at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival
Screening Times
Thursday, January 22, 9:30 pm Eccles Theatre, Park City
Friday, January 23, 8:30 am Library Center Theatre, Park City
Saturday, January 24, midnight Tower Theatre, SLC
