Just call it Stewie’s revenge: producers of the animated sitcom Family Guy have announced they will phase out all gay jokes from their series.
The Fox show debuted back in 1999 to mixed reviews and ran for three seasons before meeting with cancellation. Not long after, Cartoon Network began running the series where it developed a large cult following…so massive, in fact, that Fox revived the show. It’s since become a staple of the network’s Sunday lineup.
Throughout its run, however, Family Guy has met with wide criticism for the crudeness of some of its humor, including jokes branded homophobic or transaphobic by watchdog groups like GLAAD. Now, the show’s producers have said they intend to phase out gay jokes.
Related: Was Family Guy‘s Trans Episode Horrifically Offensive?
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“If you look at a show from 2005 or 2006 and put it side by side with a show from 2018 or 2019, they’re going to have a few differences,” producer Alec Sulkin said in an interview. “Some of the things we felt comfortable saying and joking about back then, we now understand is not acceptable.”
“If a show has literally been on the air for 20 years, the culture changes,” adds producer Rich Appel. “And it’s not us reacting and thinking, ‘They won’t let us [say those things].’ No, we’ve changed too. The climate is different, the culture is different and our views are different. They’ve been shaped by the reality around us, so I think the show has to shift and evolve in a lot of different ways.”
The move comes after the character Stewie, the nefarious baby of the family, came out as gay in 2018 after years of hints.
Rock-N-RollHS
Awe, too bad. Love the gay jokes.
greg
Political correctness wins again and we all suffer for it. I am gayer than gay and have NEVER felt insulted or marginalized by anything I saw on FAMILY GUY……..not even the barber shop quartet song they did about AIDS……and that was some scary shit that could have gone either way but it was funny and appropriate in the context of the cartoon. Can we please put on our collective big boy pants and find something else to be insulted about?
Brian
No, it’s the bitter people with strawmen who win again. No one ever demanded that they get rid of “all” gay-related jokes. A clever, well-written joke about gay people is fine from time to time. No one said otherwise. This is a protest of a non-existent protest. It’s a stupid strawman. But now they’re going to blame “culture” when they say that they can’t joke about it at all. Now ignorant bullies can call themselves victims.
Catholicslutbox
This show is garbage….just like the overrated GoT and WD.
MISTERJETT
some of them are very funny and not in bad taste.
Kieran
There are more than enough gay jokes in grammar school. Kids don’t need them on TV and the movies too.
Greg
The gay jokes aren’t for kids.
Kangol
Are you calling for politically correct censorship, Kieran? I thought you believed in free speech?
ShowMeGuy
FAMILY GUY is not a children’s cartoon.
radiooutmike
What episode did Stewie come out in?
ShowMeGuy
Bullshit. I’m calling for a boycott.
djmcgamester
I love this show. Time for people to stop being offended by EVERYTHING. They equally make fun of everyone.
Vince
It’s about time. I was just about to boycott them. Ha. Kidding.
I loved the one where the dad gets hit on the head and goes gay. It was a series of them. Funny as hell.
gymmuscleboy
Great. We’re so oversensitive we have put the world on notice that nobody is allowed to joke with us. We are so awesome! Everyone is going to love us!
Bob LaBlah
I think youtube has banned the Family Guy skit about the FCC but that song was a riot. I can find the song but not the clip where they (Peter, Brian and Stewie) are in drag, fishnet stockings and all. lol If you didnt see it you missed a good one.
QueerTruth
Way too late now. I mean… 20 years. Now no gay jokes. Oh please. So does this mean we won’t hear sexist jokes, ageist jokes, racial jokes, AIDS jokes, disability jokes, trans jokes etc?