Peppa Pig and cuddly spiders controversy
STUNNED, frankly, that kids’ favourite TV show Peppa Pig has become mired in controversy – and even censored for “sending out the wrong signals” about spiders. I gleaned that from the web. I have not indulged in the Channel 5 series, so the unseemly spat has passed me by. Online encyclopedia Wikipedia’s brief description of the animated show raises uncomfortable questions and alludes to adult themes, however.
It states: “Peppa and her family snort.” They snort what, exactly?
It states: “In April 2010, during the UK General Election campaign, E1 Entertainment confirmed Peppa would not be attending the launch of the UK Labour Party’s families manifesto ‘in the interests of avoiding any controversy or misunderstanding’.” This baffles me. How do you misunderstand an “oink”?
It states: “Peppa and her family did not wear seat belts in the first two series.” The porker has points on her licence.
Now Aussie TV, which gave us Skippy the Kangaroo, has pulled the plug on an episode entitled Mister Skinny Legs for fear it may encourage children to cradle and cuddle spiders.
This is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. If you spot a spider the size of a dinner plate scuttling across the living room, you’ll scream – regardless of Peppa Pig’s gushing PR job.
The intentions were good, the Birmingham Mail reports. “The episode tried to dispel any fears small children might have about spiders in their own homes,” writes Nicola Oakley.
“Daddy Pig tells Peppa that spiders are ‘very, very small’ and ‘can’t hurt you’ after the creepy-crawly enters her room.”
Your father’s a liar, Peppa. The South American Goliath Birdeating Spider has a leg span of one foot and weighs 6.2 ounces. Don’t believe him about Father Christmas, either.
Nicola adds: “Peppa and George are then shown picking the spider up, tucking it into bed and offering it some tea.”
In Australia, home to such lethal arachnids as the funnel-web, which lurk under the rim of toilets and inject lethal venom into unspeakable parts of the anatomy, this was seen as a very dangerous message.
Our article revealed: “One outraged mum from Sydney, known only as Jess, said she had complained to the TV channel.”
One outraged mum known only as Jess hardly constitutes a flood of complaints. I would’ve given her short shrift until she came back with a surname. In my book, that’s not enough to give the pig the chop.
I take her point, but the alternatives are even more disturbing. “Daddy Pig rings for an ambulance after Peppa’s porky posterior is punctured by Mister Skinny Legs.”
The TV channel has defended the shocking footage, a spokesman insisting: “The episode is light-hearted, friendly and very mild in impact; the overarching message of the episode is about respecting all creatures.
“The spider does not look real, it has a smiley face and is shown in context of a show with other talking animals.”
The damage has been done, however. I fear it’s only a matter of time before children are treated to such installments as: “Peppa Pig’s picnic with Mr King Cobra ends badly” and “Mr Anaconda gives Peppa a big hug.”
It is not the first time the cult kids show’s content has been criticised.
Only two months ago, mothers complained to the Daily Mail that the Peppa Pig script was peppered with lewd innuendo.
Mumsnet user Wobblebeans reported: “Freddy Fox has just told his dad, ‘I’ve just had my dinner down a rabbit hole’.”
Actually, that’s gone over my head. Christinedaae17 posted: “The children are making a racket and Madame Gazelle tells them to stop because anyone can bang, bang bang.”
PurplePidjin remarked: “Those sausages on the barbecue sure don’t look like Quorn.”
The same accusations of sexual double entendres were flung at 1970s cartoon Captain Pugwash and proved groundless.
Pegga Pig is similarly innocent of such accusations. But if the public believes the show is adult in content, its makers should run with it.
How about the cartoon favourite as a police informant in a gritty crime drama: “Peppa Pig – The Squealer”?
Even better, give her the leading role in a remake of the Spielberg classic “Jurassic Pork”.