LOS ANGELES (January 2, 2013) – Today, the Parents Television Council denounced Kathy Griffin’s obscene behavior while cohosting CNN’s
New Year’s Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper. (Sign petition to ask CNN
to relieve Kathy Griffin from co-hosting future New Year's broadcasts)
“For the past few years, CNN has placed its New Year’s Eve broadcast in the hands of a narcissistic Kathy Griffin, who has shown increasing
contempt for the audience through her obscene and unhinged behavior. The onus is now on CNN. Either the network has a policy that allows its on-air talent
to fondle a co-anchor’s genitals, or it has a policy that forbids such conduct. We ask CNN’s new CEO Jeff Zucker which one it is.
The networks’ feeble ‘kids should be in bed’ argument doesn’t apply here because there are millions of families who let their kids
stay up late on New Year’s Eve. In fact, networks are more likely to be broadcasting to audiences of families who stayed home to celebrate together
than to singletons in their 20s and 30s who are more likely to be out at a bar, club or party.
In a free marketplace, angry cable consumers would be able to pick up their phones today and cancel CNN from their monthly subscriptions. But because the
cable industry operates like a cartel, consumers cannot do so. Hopefully Griffin’s behavior will help Cable Choice become a reality.”
The Parents Television Council® ( www.parentstv.org®) is a non-partisan education
organization advocating responsible entertainment. It was founded in 1995 to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence and
profanity on television and in other media. This national grassroots organization has more than 1.3 million members and 56 chapters across the United
States, and works with television producers, broadcasters, networks and sponsors in an effort to stem the flow of harmful and negative messages targeted to
children. The PTC™ also works with elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC
produces critical research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex, violence and profanity in entertainment. This information is provided
free of charge so parents can make informed viewing choices for their own families.