Censorship In Hollywood: Do We Care If Sally Field, Kathy Griffin Are Censored?
Posted: Wednesday, September 19, 2007
by Stephany Springer
Fox Corp has come under fire by Hollywood and other media because of its censorship during the Emmy Awards Show. Both Sally Field’s acceptance speech and the entire speech of Kathy Griffin were just two examples of celebrities who felt the censorship of Fox tycoon Rupert Murdoch.
It is always been amazing to me to watch Hollywood portray themselves as experts on political issues, Christianity and religious issues as well as local issues in other states. How are they qualified again? Oh yeah, if they are good actors, then they know right from wrong concerning the direction of people’s personal lives or, better yet, the future of the country.
I remember being young and naïve and actually thinking, "How dare our country censor news?" Now I think, how dare they not. There is so much in our day and age that we honestly shouldn’t know, despite whatever free speech rights we think we have.
But let's get back on track. The Emmys censored Sally Field as she took the Lord’s name in vain as well as went on a political soapbox against the Iraq War. People are accusing conservative Murdoch as having a political motive for censoring her.
I think this was a live show. Murdoch had no clue what she was going to say before she began talking. I think in order to protect his network from FCC fines, etc., he made a gut decision to shut off her mic (or, more likely, the director of the show made the decision). Is that wrong? I think not. Really, Canadian television played her entire speech. Field's response to being censored was that she will just go say it somewhere else. Of course, she will.
Kathy Griffin, who has been a controversy since she released her reality show, was also not shown during her acceptance speech. She had some derogatory remarks about Jesus. She said that most people get up there and thank Jesus, but she could “honestly say" Jesus had the least amount to do with her winning the award.
I guess my concern for all this is why does Hollywood believe they can piss off half of their viewing audiences with their political and social views? They complain that no one is watching movies or TV anymore. Why would they?
I, for one, am so tired of hearing them lecture me about right and wrong. Then make movies on these same issues so that I can be lectured more. Again, I ask: How are they qualified to tell me what is right?
They complain because people don’t watch them. I think as viewers we can appreciate the talent of acting. What I don’t believe is that as they open their mouth more and more about what is right, that I can still look at a movie and just see their talent. I can’t separate the character from the person. Add to that, more and more political movies and what actor or movie is worth the high ticket price anymore?
I have a hard time watching Tom Cruise because I honestly see him as a Scientology nutcase. I can’t watch Russell Crowe let alone Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins for all their political viewpoints. Then there are some people who can’t watch Mel Gibson anymore after his remarks to the police officer.
My view is that Hollywood could use a little more censorship. Keep your mouth shut and do your job. If you want us to respect you, see your movies or support your endeavors-keep your mouth shut! No one has asked your opinion so don’t offend half the country speaking out of turn!
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Stephany, you have it exactly right. The mere fact that they enjoy lots of publicity makes them feel as if they should rule. The news media should not only censor their political and religious tirades, but even tone down their regular publicity. Plus everyone ought to boycott the smart mouths. What do they think made them famous and rich? It certainly wasn't their intellect. Good job on the article.Thanks so much for the comment and compliment! A boycott sounds like an excellent idea!
Hi Stephany! All I have to say is: Bravo and I absolutely agree with your views! I'm with you; I used to love Tom Cruise and now the sight of him makes me want to slap him... ahum... Very good article!
Stepany: You bring up a lot of good points. But I think that every one is allowed to have their own opinion and is allowed to express it. If that means that you decide you don't like the person; that is your right. Your decision to boycott their products is also your right. But don't you think it would be gracious of you to separate who they are from what they do to earn a living. I do not know what you do for a living, but let's say you make handmade cards and sell them at craft fairs. How would it be if someone said that no one should by your cards because you believe in censoring other people's beliefs? I just think that we should all be bigger than our pet peeves.Thanks for your comment! The point is I would not use my position to try and persuade others. They have no right or qualifications-most are not even educated in business or world affairs, that is the point. If I made cards promoting censorship, then yes people would have the right to boycott me, but making cards does not make me an expert in censorship. It may make me an expert in making cards, that is it. Acting does not make me an expert in politics. Does that make sense? I think you are missing the effect their crazy views are having on the American people-most people can not look at Tom Cruise now without thinking of Scientology. And when they add all these movies that they star in on these so called political views, I think Americans are sick of watching them. For me this isn't a pet peeve. I do not want my children, family to look up to these people because they are on tv and believe that they know what they are talking about. I don't want my kids to see me support someone like Tom Cruise because they may think that it is ok to make exceptions to our own principles-afterall he is just doing his job!?!
That Hollywood crowd makes me sick at my stomach too. I get so tired of all their idiotic editorializing on stuff they don't know jack poop about. One example no one talks about is Oprah. She's always pontificating about something, yet she's living is sin with a man she's not married to. I don't call that a very good role model. However, with that being said, censorship is always bad unless it's done to protect someone's life or safety. Even those Hollywood freaks don't deserve to be censored.
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