The sitcom Modern Family was a huge hit when it ran on ABC from 2009-2020. In addition to providing some wholesome family moments and racking up tons of accolades in the process, it helped normalize same-sex relationships and open people’s minds about what makes a family.
But according to recently obtained complaints from the Federal Communications Commission, it was also a disgusting X-rated all-nude gay sex fest not suitable for young eyes that never should’ve been allowed to air on primetime television.
Observer.com recently got its hands on ten pages of complaints filed against the show, which aired its final season last year, and they offer some interesting insight into the kind of homophobic bullsh*t ABC had to deal with when it produced the groundbreaking show.
“ABC TV show promos that constantly shows X-rated, R-rated, sexually explicit commercials during… prime time FAMILY PROGRAMMING,” one complaint from a viewer in Illinois reads. It goes on to accuse the network of airing “gay men kissing, gay women kissing, men & woman sex scenes.”
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Another complaint from a viewer in Chicago states, “I continually see a push for blatant homosexuality almost on every news show, showing gay people kissing… Just like they have warnings with violence and nudity, people have the right to know if a TV show has homosexual imagery in it.”
“I have a young Autistic child, 13 years old and he is confused as it is!” the person adds.
The show also received a number of complaints about male “nudity.” One viewer from Arizona wrote to the FCC to voice their disapproval of a scene in which a man “removes robe to show he was naked.”
“I was like like what the heck!” they wrote.
And another viewer from Oklahoma wrote to say they were absolutely appalled when a scene “showed a mother and father chest was nude and part of the legs.”
This isn’t the first time FCC complaints about Modern Family have been released. In 2015, Brian Sparks for MuckRock News obtained three pages of complaints through a FOIA request. Those complaints, too, showed viewers outraged over the sitcom’s alleged explicit gay content.
“Gay life-style depicted as normal behavior,” a person from Michigan wrote, adding that it was “[influencing] young children to think being with a same sex [sic] partner is okay and normal.”
OK, now we have a confession. We never actually watched Modern Family when it was on the air, but now that we know it was so kinky, we may need to go back and add it to our queue.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
greekboy
I really dislike Ed O’Neil, Ty Burrell, cow woman aka Sophia Vergera, so I could never bring myself to watch this show. I tried, but was repulsed by it
Hdtex
They all really dislike you too, and find you repulsive.
Mack
Hdtex, love the answer.
dinard38
Little boy, I will reach through and snatch your little tail through this phone and beat you down for talking about my dearest Ty Burrell.
Loved me some quirky Phil.
cuteguy
@geekboy
I’m sure Sofia is really upset over your opinion from her mansion while you’re living in your mom’s basement
Cam
You were already on another thread defending one of MissTerri’s other screenames, so it’s cute that you think we don’t know you’re just the same old right wing troll.
Also, interesting that you saved the biggest insult for the person who wasn’t white.
At least you’re consistent in your hate.
barryaksarben
WOW such STRONG feelings for actors you dont even know? You sound like you need a LIFE buddy.
cuteguy
They only want wholesome shows like Josh Duggar doing his minor sisters
BoomerMyles
That’s a bingo!
barryaksarben
Or Donald trump humping porn stars
Wayne_in_NYC
And the people said, “AMEN!”
NateOcean
Or Donald Trump wishing he could “date” his own daughter (Ivanka).
dinard38
These complaints are hilarious!! They sound like conservative quacks stuck in 1950s morality.
jcool
someone should tell them how a remote control works, and that they can change the channel
Wayne_in_NYC
You mean when Ricky and Lucy had to be in twin single beds and could only kiss on the cheek?
M K
Maybe they should have had an episode where the women were being grabbed by the pu**y, repeatedly cheating on their wives ending in multiple divorces and running their businesses into bankruptcy…. that would have been great examples of family values.
Matthewnow
Oh no you did int. Oh Mary!
Wayne_in_NYC
Exactly!!! Republican family values!
Chrisk
Oh my god. I saw a man’s naked chest. I got the vapers. Someone needs to pay for that!
Hank31
Reading the complaint above from the fellow who demanded a “gay warning” on the show is a reminder that, beginning in the 90s, right wing Christians would periodically demand that media outlets issue “homosexual content” warnings, along the same lines as warnings about violence or sex. Not a single TV network, cable channel or movie company even considered doing this.
With one exception. The very progressive, very “woke” podcast, This American Life, which began on public radio in Chicago and went national — would issue homosexual warnings for years, before it quietly stopped the practice without explanation or apology. Host Ira Glass would personally issue homosexual warnings even when the segment was not at all sexual, but merely included a gay person. To my knowledge, no one has ever sought to ‘”cancel” Ira Glass or “hold him accountable” for his homophobia.
barryaksarben
Oh please Im sure it wasnt Ira Glass’s decsion to have that on his show
Hank31
Ira Glass had creative control over his hit podcast. He has never claimed to have been forced to issue those warnings by American Public Radio or WBEZ, and no other APR or WBEZ program issued such warnings. So no, he wasn’t forced. He chose to do it. And here you are, defending him, which illustrates the point that “accountability” is very selective in cancel culture.
searchcz
“Gay life-style depicted as normal behavior [influencing] young children to think being with a same sex [sic] partner is okay and normal.” – I have Michigan cousins who say this kind of nonsense all the time !
Wayne_in_NYC
It would seem that they seemed to miss the point! IT IS NORMAL AND THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT!!
yoshimura8869
Narrow minded ignoramuses. And probably proud of it.
Heywood Jablowme
I remember there were complaints from OUR side that the gay couple wasn’t allowed to kiss or be too physical about their gayness.
Cam
And those were valid. The production company lied and said none of the other couples kissed either and then hundreds of pictures of multiple kisses showed up.
So then the studio lied and claimed that Mitchell had a fear of intimacy and that was why, and then FINALLLY they had them kiss in a future season and pretended it was always written in.
Cam
My main issue with Modern Family, was that the other couples were loving and liked each other, and Cam and Mitchell seemed to hate each other. Every single episode seemed to be “Cam gets angry about Mitchell getting attention for something and creates chaos”. They seemed to be competitors rather than a couple.
Glad that the backlash caused the writers to treat them more like an actual couple.
Inspector 57
Uh. Rewatch the series @ Cam.
Were the rest of the couples perfect and without disagreement? Get a clue.
Cam
@Inspector 57
Your comment does nothing to change mine. Interesting you’re trying. The other couples at least LIKED each other. Claire and her husband were affectionate, Gloria was constantly being affectionate to the Ed O’Neil Character. Mitch and Cam behaved like two enemies. It’s all about them doing anything they could to not show any affection from the gay couple.
Paul2
Why are you watching this program? If you don’t like what it stands for, don’t watch it!!
radiooutmike
I think a “Homosexual Content” advisory would actually engage kids and teens to watch that content.
Much like Tipper Gore and her record advisory label. Ooohh. There must some good stuff on that tape.
Man About Town
Love the assessment that a scene “showed a mother and father chest was nude and part of the legs.” I didn’t realize Bizarro Superman and Bizarro Lois were living in Oklahoma!
Mr. Stadnick
I’ve only seen one episode of the show because my partner has a small role in it. I thought the show was pretty much a regular sitcom and hardly alarming at all. So crazy that anyone would think it was even remotely racy.
humble charlie
I’m for blatant Homosexuality and blatant Heterosexuality etc etc. And even blatant Bizarrosexuality. Let it all hang out and let people reveal themselves.
CMarks
Kind of makes you wonder about the parenting skills of these morons. You’d think that “Modern Family” was mandatory viewing and not just another choice that any responsible parent would simply change the channel to avoid and prevent their child from watching.
Jessie Nice
“I have a young Autistic child, 13 years old and he is confused as it is!” the person adds
-?? mam, your child can’t even think straight let alone think gay. Does he knows his ABC’s and 123’s???
DawnTrans
What an appalling remark! Obviously you have little to no knowledge of those on the Autistic Spectrum. Educate yourself before posting.
DawnTrans
Funny thing reading the remarks here Ive noticed some of you men focused on the fact that Cam and Mitchell seem to be in some kind of tit for tat in most shows. But you missed out on your favorite target femmy males. I mean come on are those two examples of how a masculine gay male speaks and acts?
I am transgender and love masculine men but those two don’t strike me as masculine. I could be friends but as far as dating, nope.