Last year, the trailer for The Dilemma — which bizarrely opened with Vince Vaughn describing electric cars as "gay" — created one of the biggest movie-related controversies of recent memory. Amid a string of teen suicides that were widely believed to be the result of anti-gay bullying, the joke was singled out by GLAAD and Anderson Cooper as particularly insensitive and cruel. Despite the harsh criticism, director Ron Howard resolved to keep the joke in the finished film — although Universal issued a new trailer that opened in a more conventional way.
This year, the trailer for Aardman studios' Pirates! Band of Misfits has provoked a similar controversy. This time, it's the more obscure but equally powerful leprosy lobby that's complaining. According to Lepra Health in Action and the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations, a scene in the Pirates! trailer in which a leper's arm falls off for comedic effect is insensitive to victims of leprosy. "Leprosy is not an easy disease to catch, it is curable, those affected should live within mainstream society and no – limbs don’t just fall off. Not even for comic effect."
Unlike Ron Howard, the makers of Pirates! have budged on the issue. "After reviewing the matter, we decided to change the scene out of respect and sensitivity for those who suffer from leprosy. The last thing anyone intended was to offend anyone," an Aaardman spokesperson told Deadline. The offending scene has been removed from the finished film.
The leprosy joke occurs at the 0:26 in the video below.
Pirates! Band of Misfits hits theatres March 30.
: 4:53 PM
22 Comments
What about the scene with the eye popping out of it's socket. Maybe the institute for the blind should be protesting that?? And there are scene's of violence. There has got to be some anti-violence group that could protest that. Hell, pretty much every part of every movie could be linked to an advocacy group. Let's just stop making movies.
I'm not really sure where to begin... I am in true shock that anybody would complain about anything in this movie. Have we really sunk to this level in society? That we are outraged by something as benign as this? Really people? I think the people who take the time to complain about something like this should stand back, and re-evaluate their true values. I hate to see what all the "No jokes about anything!" people will do to the future society of my children...
OH grow up & lighten up! Leprosy may not be funny, but in real life PIRATES are not funny, either! Sheesh, it's humour. Farts aren't funny either, but we still laugh at that, too.
Posted by: cynic
"Hansens disease, or leprosy is not curable..."
Yes it is.
World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs101/en/
Excerpt:
"Leprosy is curable and treatment provided in the early stages averts disability. Multidrug therapy treatment has been made available by WHO free of charge to all patients worldwide since 1995, and provides a simple yet highly effective cure for all types of leprosy. Over the past 20 years, more than 14 million leprosy patients have been cured, about 4 million since 2000"
What a waste of time, Leprosy lobby group????? Garabage.
So seeing how in probably every country this movie will be played there is medical help to cure leprosy how would this offend anyone??? Not that many movie theatres in 3rd world countries where people die from leprosy.
Really???? Wow, people really need to get a life. It's a cartoon for goodness sake....and to the Mom that posted she won't take her kids to watch this movie...at some point you will need to cut the cord.
To all those advocates of those suffering from Leprosy, you have my condolences now pick yourselves up and relax - it's just a movie. (Where's William Shatner when we need him?)
I don't want to sound like an insensitive prick here, but everyone needs to relax, and take it for what it is...an attempt at humour. Pretty soon, we won't be able to watch comedy movies anymore, because we won't be able to make jokes about anything, because someone somewhere who will be offended.
If people dont stop nit picking about everything that offends them they are going to have a heart attack.
By the time they realize it they have taken up more then half their lives looking for everything that offends them.
Do you think people with diseases sit there and wallow in pity or do they try to get on with their lives, you see them cry, laugh, sad, happy, smile, mad.
Lighten up, if this scene wasnt singled out , you would have watched the movie and laughed at the joke(s) and not thought anything of it.
Actually I find the comment about the pirate who is more chair than person to be extremely offensive. These film producers are idiots. I wont let my kids see that movie.
Leprosy is not funny to those that live with it. That being said, this is a cartoon about Pirates; the kind that we read about in history of 200 years ago. Would it not be a better stand for these advocacy groups to recognize that but use this opportunity to bring their cause to light in the 21st century...
People have to grow up and quit being so sensitive! Quit whinning because someone made fun of a disease! Grow a backbone, and don't be posting " what if you had leprosy how would you feel" crap! Society is getting to be to whiny over the stupidest things, so what if someone said something that offended someone else, get over it and quit your bitchin'!
I am a pirate and I am offended by all the jokes and the way pirates are portrayed in this film. Screw the lepers, there is only one joke directed at them. There are far more pirate offenses.
Please everyone, do not laugh when you see this movie! Think of the poor pirates!
What about the poor Pirate with a wooden led and arm? Are groups not complaining about that!!!??? What about the dentally challenged guy who spits out his dentures?
I also saw cruelty to a fish in the trailer. PETA! Where are you?
Its a joke folks, get over it. Hell, even Jeff Foxworthy made a leprosy joke a few years back. It was even funny...
I'm going to be a dick here - most of the people who suffer from leprosy, don't see movies. I'm sure they have other things to worry about than a short joke making light of them. They would be much better served by these leprosy advocacy groups sending them the medicine to treat thier affliction, as well as a complimentary fly swatter to keep the flys off thier faces. Some pants, t-shirts, and three square meals a day wouldn't hurt either...
Hansens disease, or leprosy is not curable. It's treatable. Sure, limbs don;t fall off - they just fester with gangrene until they have to be amputated before the infection spreads.
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What about the scene with the eye popping out of it's socket. Maybe the institute for the blind should be protesting that?? And there are scene's of violence. There has got to be some anti-violence group that could protest that. Hell, pretty much every part of every movie could be linked to an advocacy group. Let's just stop making movies.
Lousy lepers!
Posted by: trainman | 01/29/2012 at 08:07 PM
I'm not really sure where to begin... I am in true shock that anybody would complain about anything in this movie. Have we really sunk to this level in society? That we are outraged by something as benign as this? Really people? I think the people who take the time to complain about something like this should stand back, and re-evaluate their true values. I hate to see what all the "No jokes about anything!" people will do to the future society of my children...
Posted by: Mark | 01/29/2012 at 07:59 PM
OH grow up & lighten up! Leprosy may not be funny, but in real life PIRATES are not funny, either! Sheesh, it's humour. Farts aren't funny either, but we still laugh at that, too.
Posted by: growup | 01/29/2012 at 06:43 PM
Posted by: Ray | 01/27/2012 at 03:41 AM
"Let the hate mail begin..."
In light of your comment, you're not worth it.
Posted by: Kitten | 01/29/2012 at 11:57 AM
Posted by: cynic
"Hansens disease, or leprosy is not curable..."
Yes it is.
World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs101/en/
Excerpt:
"Leprosy is curable and treatment provided in the early stages averts disability. Multidrug therapy treatment has been made available by WHO free of charge to all patients worldwide since 1995, and provides a simple yet highly effective cure for all types of leprosy. Over the past 20 years, more than 14 million leprosy patients have been cured, about 4 million since 2000"
Posted by: Kitten | 01/29/2012 at 11:55 AM
What a waste of time, Leprosy lobby group????? Garabage.
So seeing how in probably every country this movie will be played there is medical help to cure leprosy how would this offend anyone??? Not that many movie theatres in 3rd world countries where people die from leprosy.
Get a real job you self righteous whiners.
Posted by: Matthew | 01/29/2012 at 10:45 AM
That really was a joke, Trevor. Hope you're laughing :)
Posted by: Wendy | 01/29/2012 at 10:34 AM
Trevor, you are an idiot. And you are ugly too...and your feet are too big, your ego is overinflated. How did someone as stupid as you ever get born?
No bitchin' now, Trevor. Just joking - so don't get offended :)
Posted by: Wendy | 01/29/2012 at 10:33 AM
Really???? Wow, people really need to get a life. It's a cartoon for goodness sake....and to the Mom that posted she won't take her kids to watch this movie...at some point you will need to cut the cord.
Posted by: Gia | 01/29/2012 at 10:17 AM
To all those advocates of those suffering from Leprosy, you have my condolences now pick yourselves up and relax - it's just a movie. (Where's William Shatner when we need him?)
Posted by: The Ripper | 01/29/2012 at 08:37 AM
Damn political correctness!!
Posted by: hobgob | 01/29/2012 at 01:50 AM
I don't want to sound like an insensitive prick here, but everyone needs to relax, and take it for what it is...an attempt at humour. Pretty soon, we won't be able to watch comedy movies anymore, because we won't be able to make jokes about anything, because someone somewhere who will be offended.
Everyone just lighten up.
Posted by: John | 01/29/2012 at 01:08 AM
If people dont stop nit picking about everything that offends them they are going to have a heart attack.
By the time they realize it they have taken up more then half their lives looking for everything that offends them.
Do you think people with diseases sit there and wallow in pity or do they try to get on with their lives, you see them cry, laugh, sad, happy, smile, mad.
Lighten up, if this scene wasnt singled out , you would have watched the movie and laughed at the joke(s) and not thought anything of it.
Posted by: Molly | 01/29/2012 at 12:51 AM
I thought it was funny. People make fun of little dicks all the time, but do you hear me complaining ?
Posted by: Claude Desaulniers | 01/27/2012 at 02:12 PM
Actually I find the comment about the pirate who is more chair than person to be extremely offensive. These film producers are idiots. I wont let my kids see that movie.
Posted by: Mom | 01/27/2012 at 12:55 PM
So why then would you post it for all to see??????
Posted by: Lee Ann | 01/27/2012 at 12:51 PM
Leprosy is not funny to those that live with it. That being said, this is a cartoon about Pirates; the kind that we read about in history of 200 years ago. Would it not be a better stand for these advocacy groups to recognize that but use this opportunity to bring their cause to light in the 21st century...
Posted by: Hatcher | 01/27/2012 at 10:39 AM
People have to grow up and quit being so sensitive! Quit whinning because someone made fun of a disease! Grow a backbone, and don't be posting " what if you had leprosy how would you feel" crap! Society is getting to be to whiny over the stupidest things, so what if someone said something that offended someone else, get over it and quit your bitchin'!
Posted by: Trevor | 01/27/2012 at 10:37 AM
I am a pirate and I am offended by all the jokes and the way pirates are portrayed in this film. Screw the lepers, there is only one joke directed at them. There are far more pirate offenses.
Please everyone, do not laugh when you see this movie! Think of the poor pirates!
Posted by: Nate | 01/27/2012 at 10:32 AM
What about the poor Pirate with a wooden led and arm? Are groups not complaining about that!!!??? What about the dentally challenged guy who spits out his dentures?
I also saw cruelty to a fish in the trailer. PETA! Where are you?
Posted by: Don | 01/27/2012 at 07:07 AM
Its a joke folks, get over it. Hell, even Jeff Foxworthy made a leprosy joke a few years back. It was even funny...
I'm going to be a dick here - most of the people who suffer from leprosy, don't see movies. I'm sure they have other things to worry about than a short joke making light of them. They would be much better served by these leprosy advocacy groups sending them the medicine to treat thier affliction, as well as a complimentary fly swatter to keep the flys off thier faces. Some pants, t-shirts, and three square meals a day wouldn't hurt either...
Let the hate mail begin...
Posted by: Ray | 01/27/2012 at 03:41 AM
Hansens disease, or leprosy is not curable. It's treatable. Sure, limbs don;t fall off - they just fester with gangrene until they have to be amputated before the infection spreads.
Posted by: cynic | 01/27/2012 at 12:27 AM