Quizzes & Puzzles3 mins ago
Family Guy and South Park libel
Does any one know how the writers of these two shows get away with their scandalous/libelous jokes and depictions of celebrities (michael jackson, christopher reeve, any US politician etc). Is it because the writers are somehow protected from illegality or is it simply the case that the celebrities decide not to take action??
Thanks
Answers
No best answer has yet been selected by oligopoly. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.OK...everyone chill...out of all the posts on this thread, no one has yet to answer poor oligopoly's question...
So, help has arrived...as some of you may already know (because it seems a lot of you spend your lives on this site), I am an American..so naturally I know these TV shows well...(Sidenote: chazza, Family Guy is definately not banned here, both shows are still shown on regular channels.)
Now for The Answer: The claims on these programs aren't purported to be fact, so they cannot be "false" - they are treated as satire only. Libel pertains to false claims of fact that are damaging. Because satire is not believable as fact, it cannot be damaging. Public figures, cannot sue for "intentional infliction of emotional distress." They pretty much have to put up with the stuff.
Source: I got my college degree in journalism and this answer came from an instructor of mine who taught Media Law and Ethics.
Hope this answers the question, and just a reminder...this is a Q and A website...
HAnn521, there are times when posts will cross in space so maybe that's what happened when you and Mattk eack posted your respective posts, it isn't that Mattk didn't read yours, maybe at the time it just wasn't there for him to read.
Don't forget this is a Q&A site (I believe you are aware of this) and at times people may require further information about the subject in order to understand properly what is being discussed.
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