Peppa Pig "Mister Skinnylegs" Episode Is Causing A Lot of Controversy Overseas
Peppa Pig has made an international name for herself, but one episode has the popular television character in hot water.
The episode "Mister Skinnylegs" features Peppa and George playing with a spider, as well as Daddy Pig telling them that spiders "can't hurt you." While it seems innocent enough, the episode has been banned for a second time in Australia.
The problem is that Down Under (and in America, too!), some spiders can actually be quite harmful and some breeds that make their way indoors can even be lethal.
The episode originally aired in the country in 2015, when broadcaster ABC says it was "accidentally published online due to a technical problem." At the time, they banned it from future broadcast due to it's dangerous message for Australian children. It wasn't until August 25, 2017, that the episode aired again on the country's Nick Jr. channel.
After recognizing the episode as one that had be banned, one mom Jess (who asked for her last name to be kept confidential) told Australian site Essential Baby that she immediately turned it off and made a complaint to her television company, Foxtel, who passed it on to Nicklelodeon. However, Nickelodeon's Australia Management maintained that the episode was harmless, refusing to take it off the air.
"Nickelodeon has sent me an email that they're going to still play the episode because apparently the spider looks friendly and it's in a friendly environment," Jess claims. "And the safety of children comes on the parents and it's not their responsibility."
After being contacted by members of the media, Essex Live News reports that Nickelodeon has agreed to pulled the episode, but still claims it meets their criteria of appropriateness.
While some think the reasoning behind pulling the episode is something to joke about, native Australians are saying that the dangers behind spiders are no laughing matter.
Telling Australian kids that spiders aren't dangerous is moronic. https://t.co/n7F3VNeoWG
- Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) September 6, 2017
No our spiders are deadly, a quick google search would clarify why the position was rightfully taken. We like our children alive. #peppapig pic.twitter.com/pNYsYDAVkX
- LadyBatGirlKimberley (@earthma23) September 6, 2017
After reading this list our most deadly spiders you'll agree that it was wise to can that Peppa Pig episode: https://t.co/Ygla0o8ChD pic.twitter.com/OJcwKOMbTs
- AustralianGeographic (@ausgeo) September 7, 2017
Regardless of whether or not you think the episode should be pulled, it's always important to monitor what your child is watching on TV.
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