Saturday, October 06, 2007 Another US TV show uses ‘slut’ on Cory’s photo
THE Aquino family took offense at the way former president Corazon Aquino was spoofed in a US satirical news program.
Sen. Benigno Aquino III deplored as “insensitive” and “in extremely poor taste” the joke played on his mother in the “Daily Show” aired over American cable channel Comedy Central last Sept. 18.
Although she is not familiar with the TV program, the former president was annoyed. But in an ABS-CBN interview, she said, “I’ve already prayed for the people behind it. I’m leaving it all up to God.”
Aquino’s daughter, TV host and actress Kris Aquino, was also offended. She said Americans would not like it either if Filipinos made fun of their presidents.
“What if we took someone like, say, former president Jimmy Carter who builds homes for the poor all over the world, and said he was a former ‘call boy’ (male prostitute)?” she told ABS-CBN TV Patrol World.
A segment by “news correspondent” Samantha Bee titled “Is America Ready for a Woman President?” showed pictures of various women leaders, including former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir and former president Aquino.
Aquino’s picture had the word “slut” written on it.
In the same ABS-CBN report, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said a diplomatic protest must be made because the government needs to “draw the line” when it comes to jokes about former presidents.
Aquino became president after former dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in 1986 in a people power. She is known for her clean living and religiosity.
The spoof followed a controversial episode of another American TV show, “Desperate Housewives,” that had the character played by actress Teri Hatcher make a disparaging remark against Philippine medical schools.
ABC Studios and the show’s producers apologized after the Filipino community in the US and the Philippine government protested.
