Bugs Bunny 'slaughter' lands Global TV in hot water

An episode of the controversial cartoon sitcom Family Guy that depicted the graphic death of Bugs Bunny has landed Global Television in some hot water over a lack of advance warning for its viewers.

An episode of a controversial cartoon sitcom that depicted the graphic death of Bugs Bunny has landed Global Television in some hot water over a lack of advance warning for its viewers.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) announced Thursday that Global Television had been found in breach of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters violence code after an episode of Family Guy was aired without a warning of violent images that could offend some viewers. The show itself, however, did not violate any codes.

According to the ruling, the episode, which aired at 5 p.m. on July 23, 2011, included "a spoof of a Bugs Bunny cartoon in which Elmer Fudd shot Bugs at close range with a rifle. Bugs screamed and gripped his chest as blood poured out of him. He died in a prolonged and dramatic manner, after which Fudd twisted Bugs' neck and dragged Bugs' lifeless body by the ears through a pool of blood."

That same evening, a male complainant took issue with the "extremely adult language" in the episode, saying much of the content was not suitable for children and should be restricted to airing after 9 p.m. A "late viewing period" is in place for offensive material that restricts such shows to airtimes between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In response, Global admitted the show "tends to push the envelope at times in an attempt at humour," but stood by its decision to show an age 14+ advisory, as well as viewer advisories aired after commercial breaks.

The complainant, however, sent additional letters of complaint on three separate occasions between August and November.

The CBSC said that while the advisories from Global were frequent, they failed to cover all the content that could disturb viewers.

"The wording of the advisories . . . referred only to 'language and content some viewers may find offensive," the ruling reads.

"The Panel does conclude . . . that the violent scenes (particularly the Bugs Bunny scene) were unsuitable for children. Global should have, therefore, mentioned violence in its advisories and the failure to do so constitutes a breach of Article 5 of the CAB Violence Code."

The CBSC ruled that Global must announce the decision in prime time within three days of its release. The same announcement must be broadcast again within seven days in the time slot that Family Guy was aired.

The announcement must read: "The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has found that Global violated the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Violence Code in its broadcast of Family Guy on July 23, 2011. The episode contained scenes of violence and Global failed to mention violence in its viewer advisories. Global violated Article 5 of the Violence Code."