Forget boxes of chocolate and novelty handcuffs. On Valentine's Day, Family Guy sent fellow Fox employee Sarah Palin a heart-shaped episode entitled "Extra Large Medium." Only instead of a complimentary or sweet shout-out to the governor, the episode included a storyline in which Chris dates a girl with Down syndrome. And not just any girl with Down syndrome -- a girl who admits that "my mom's the former governor of Alaska." That particular line as well as Stewie's song "Down Syndrome Girl" ("And though her pretty face may seem a special person's wettest dream") stung Alaska's former first family enough to warrant two nasty Facebook tongue lashings at Seth MacFarlane & Co.
The episode, which was written by series showrunner Steve Callaghan, made a pointed reference to Palin's son Trig, who was born with the chromosomal disorder in 2008. Palin had been in the news lately for slamming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel for his use of the word "retard."
Early this morning, in a post titled "Fox Hollywood - What a Disappointment," Palin responded to the episode:
"People are asking me to comment on yesterday's Fox show that felt like another kick in the gut. Bristol was one who asked what I thought of the show that mocked her baby brother, Trig (and/or others with special needs), in an episode yesterday. Instead of answering, I asked her what she thought. Here is her conscientious reply, which is a much more restrained and gracious statement than I want to make about an issue that begs the question, "when is enough, enough?":
"When you're the son or daughter of a public figure, you have to develop thick skin. My siblings and I all have that, but insults directed at our youngest brother hurt too much for us to remain silent. People with special needs face challenges that many of us will never confront, and yet they are some of the kindest and most loving people you'll ever meet. Their lives are difficult enough as it is, so why would anyone want to make their lives more difficult by mocking them? As a culture, shouldn't we be more compassionate to innocent people - especially those who are less fortunate? Shouldn't we be willing to say that some things just are not funny? Are there any limits to what some people will do or say in regards to my little brother or others in the special needs community? If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family yesterday, they failed. All they proved is that they're heartless jerks. - Bristol Palin"
This morning, 8,175 liked the post on Facebook while over 3,000 Facebook users commented.
ยท Fox Hollywood - What a Disappointment[Facebook]