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Christians strongly criticized a recent skit that aired on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" featuring a character titled “the homophobic country western singer.”
The clip, which was taped on Jan. 10 and aired Thursday morning, has sparked the latest wave of Christian protest against the media and its ''blatant'' mockery of Christianity.
“The NBC and CBS television networks may be rival corporations, but they have one thing in common. Both networks have allowed programming that blatantly mocks Christianity,” commented Douglas R. Scott, Jr., president of Life Decisions International (LDI), in statement about the event.
The latest controversy comes from an introduction made by Conan O’Brien and the lyrics of a created homophobic character.
"Our last new character's heart is in the right place, even if he's a complete idiot," said show host O'Brien in his introduction. "Please welcome…the homophobic country western singer."
The character then went on to sing: “Oh I love you Jesus, but only as a friend. You touched my heart but I hope that's where the touchin' ends. You're always lookin' over me when I need a higher power. But you better look at somethin' else when I'm in the shower.”
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In response, Scott said, “The inferences that permeate the song are utterly disgusting.
“We wonder if O'Brien's description of the character as a 'complete idiot' is based on the man's 'homophobic' beliefs or if it is because of the inference that Jesus could be sexually interested in seeing the man naked," Scott added. "I don't know if the man is a complete idiot, but I do suspect that the writer of the segment is a complete bigot.”
The latest O’Brien show comes after similar episodes from CBS and ABC, which prompted Christian protest.
On Dec. 11, 2006, the CBS program “Two and a Half Men” adapted a favorite Christian Christmas carol into a vulgar sex song in which the lead character, played by Charlie Sheen, sings about his intention of “getting laid.”
A few month’s earlier, Rosie O’Donnell, co-host of ABC’s The View, had made remarks comparing “radical Christianity” to radical Islam.
Such incidences have led some Christians to believe that the media industry is beginning to purposefully degrade Christianity. They also feel similar mockeries would not be made of other religious groups.
In a letter written to NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly, Scott argued, “I notice the song was not about a Rabbi. I notice the song was not about Buddha. I notice the song was not about Muhammad. If it had been about any of these, the network would surely have disallowed the airing of such garbage. But since the song was about Jesus Christ, nothing was done.”
To eliminate these kinds of occurrences, Scott has urged Christians to speak out. He said part of the problem is that Christians are too timid in these matters.
“It is time for this kind of behavior to come to a halt. Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and other groups do not tolerate such prejudice. Christians should not have to do so, either.”
