The Curious George cartoon character is getting dragged into the presidential race again in an ugly way - and Boston’s WGBH-TV isn’t happy.
A Georgia tavern owner has been selling T-shirts showing the cartoon monkey happily eating a banana with the words “Obama in ’08” written underneath.
The tavern owner, described as an “ultra-conservative,” has since seen his Marietta, Ga., establishment picketed by outraged critics who say the characterization of presidental candidate Barack Obama as a monkey is racist.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution jumped on the story yesterday, while the popular online Drudge Report featured the controversy on its heavily trafficked Web site.
Curious George, created by the late longtime Cambridge residents H.A. and Margaret Rey, is a beloved figure among kids and adults alike across the country - and especially in Boston.
WGBH, which co-produces a “Curious George” children’s television show, isn’t happy with George’s use against Obama, an African-American.
“It’s offensive,” said Jennifer Welsh, a spokeswoman for the PBS-affiliated station. “We would never grant permission for this.”
But it wasn’t clear yesterday what could be legally done about the T-shirt being peddled by the Mulligan Food & Spirits owner, Mike Norman, who has called his product “cute.”
A spokesman for Boston’s Houghton-Mifflin, which owns the book rights to Curious George, couldn’t be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for NBC Universal, which owns the film rights to Curious George, also couldn’t be reached for comment.
NBC Universal and WGBH co-produce the “Curious George” TV show.
This isn’t the first time Curious George has been dragged into the current presidential race.
Earlier this year, loudmouth radio jock Rush Limbaugh apologized on air for laughing at a caller’s comment that her daughter thought Obama looked like Curious George.
2 comments:
I saw that in a national news publican yesterday. Isn't that great publicity for Marietta?
At least we know that "good old boys" aren't asleep.
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