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Television

Controversial movies and TV

Who was offended? Right-wing groups What was their beef? Amid much fanfare, comedian Ellen DeGeneres' eponymous character came out of the closet in a two-part episode called "The Puppy Episode." Right-wing groups were not amused and pressured network ABC to drop the story line and some advertisers did pull sponsorship. Evangelical preacher Jerry Falwell called DeGeneres "Ellen DeGenerate." Although this was the highest-watched episode of the sitcom, ABC prefaced some of the following season's episodes with parental advisory warnings.

Who was offended? Right-wing groups

What was their beef? Amid much fanfare, comedian Ellen DeGeneres’ eponymous character came out of the closet in a two-part episode called “The Puppy Episode.” Right-wing groups were not amused and pressured network ABC to drop the story line and some advertisers did pull sponsorship. Evangelical preacher Jerry Falwell called DeGeneres “Ellen DeGenerate.” Although this was the highest-watched episode of the sitcom, ABC prefaced some of the following season’s episodes with parental advisory warnings.  (Mike Ansell / Associated Press)

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'I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry'

Who was offended? Asian Americans

What was their beef? In this comedy about a fake gay marriage, it wasn’t gay rights activist who were steaming. Instead, Rob Schneider’s portrayal as an Asian minister drew anger from the Media Action Network for Asian Americans. In a statement, the group singled out a specific scene, writing, “Schneider plays a minister who makes their union official, donning prosthetic makeup (slanted eyes, bigger nose, darker skin color, etc.) to play a stereotypical Japanese nerd with thick eye-glasses and a bowl-style haircut who speaks in broken English with missing ‘r’s.”  (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

'The Passion of the Christ'

Who was offended? Jews

What was their beef? Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” was one of the biggest hits of 2004. Its stark images of Jesus’ crucifixion and the violence toward him, as well as villainous portrayals of many Jewish people, created a religious furor. Rabbis around the world said the film had the potential to transmit potent negative images, attitudes, stereotypes and caricatures about Jews and Judaism.  (Philippe Antonello / Associated Press)

'Submission'

Who was offended? Muslims

What was their beef? When Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, a descendent of Vincent van Gogh, released the 10-minute film “Submission,” with its criticism of violence against women in Islamic society and its images of seminude actresses with passages from the Koran displayed on their bodies, he became the target of death threats. He shrugged them off, but on the morning of Nov. 2, 2004, he was killed in the streets of Amsterdam by Mohammed Bouyeri, a Dutch citizen who was later sentenced to life in prison.  (Rick Nederstigt / AFP)

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