LOS ANGELES (April 16, 2014) – The Parents Television Council is calling on Fox Broadcasting to immediately
remove the explicit video, “Easter Bunny’s Coming,” from its YouTube Channel for its “Animation Domination High-Def” (ADHD)
programming block. The video short, which is produced and copyrighted by Fox Broadcasting Network, contains graphic cartoon images of fornicating rabbits,
multiple unbleeped “f-words,” harsh references to male sexual anatomy and vulgar slang for ejaculation.
“Nine months ago we issued an urgent warning to parents, as well as a harsh condemnation to Fox Broadcasting and potential sponsors, regarding the
network’s new ‘ADHD’ programming block. Fox has now validated our concerns by creating the most explicit material we’ve ever seen
produced by a broadcast television network. Though still being distributed by Fox only via the Internet, the network is using its weekly broadcast to
promote the website, and children are clearly in the cross hairs. And the recently tarnished retailer, Target, appears to be underwriting explicit material
on the ‘ADHD’ website,” said PTC President Tim Winter.
“We thought we had seen the worst of ‘ADHD’ when Fox aired a segment several months ago with high school characters gleefully taking cell
phone pictures of their genitals and texting the photos to other students. That content pales in comparison to the material in this new video.
“The animated Easter Bunny clip, which runs 2 minutes and 19 seconds in duration, features over a dozen unbleeped ‘f-words;’ depictions
of dozens of fornicating rabbits; more than a dozen instances of a vulgar slang term for ejaculation; a depiction of a male character eating rabbit feces;
and music lyrics that are grotesquely sexualizing and misogynistic. An overt reference to Christians and Jews only adds to the offensive nature of a video
being promoted during Holy Week and Passover.
“The ‘ADHD’ Easter Bunny segment isn’t some random Internet video, it’s easily X-rated material that directly targets, and
appeals to, children. The content is produced and copyrighted by one of the major commercial broadcast television networks and they’re using the
publicly-owned airwaves as a promotional vehicle to drive traffic to the ‘ADHD’ website. The suits at Fox will need to explain how such a use
of their broadcast licenses fulfills their statutory public interest obligation.”
The PTC is also calling on Target to cease sponsorship of explicit videos on the Fox “ADHD” website.
“While Target tries to dig out from the PR nightmare stemming from its calamitous security breach, Target must now publicly defend its media buying
standards. Target has chosen to associate its brand image with explicit content on the ‘ADHD’ website, such as anatomically correct ninja
turtles. A review of ‘ADHD’ web videos showed that dozens of streamed clips were preceded by Target advertisements. Is this how Target
demonstrates its corporate responsibility while trying to earn back the trust of its customers after the security breach?” Winter continued.
“Fox programming chief Kevin Reilly has stated publicly that he sees ‘ADHD,’ ‘as a seeding ground for prime time. I would like to
grow the next ‘Family Guy’ out of that period…I'm hoping a few rise to the surface that can graduate to Sundays.’
“We call on Fox to remove this video from its YouTube channel immediately, to cease any further distribution of it in any manner that can possibly be
consumed by children, and to not produce this kind of material ever again. Furthermore we will be communicating with each and every corporation that has
sponsored ‘ADHD’ and ask that they reconsider investing their media dollars on such explicit material,” concluded Winter.