By Deirdre Spilman
Opinion Editor
Horrible acts of terrorism struck the Boston Marathon this past Monday. What should have been a day of community and celebration turned to tragedy when two bombs went off at the finish line.
As is usually the case when something goes awry, people look to find a culprit and place blame, and these events have produced one of the most ridiculous theories I have ever heard in my life.
A clip is circulating on the Internet saying that the popular Fox television series “Family Guy” predicted the horror that took place this past Monday.
The clip mashed together two scenes from an episode that originally aired March 17. The first scene of the video is the show’s protagonist and lovable idiot, Peter Griffin, winning the Boston Marathon by driving his car and running over other racers.
The clip is then edited to show another part of the episode when Griffin’s mobile phone acts as a bomb trigger that blows up a bridge unbeknownst to him after he befriended a terrorist.
The idea that this episode predicted or was the inspiration for the attacks on Boston is idiotic. Somebody with too much time on his or her hands was just looking to stir up controversy and place blame.
And besides, if people were going to use a television series as motivation for attacks, do you really think that “Family Guy” would be the most obvious choice?
Because of all the unnecessary hype surrounding the episode, Fox has pulled it from Internet circulation. Fox spokeswoman Gaude Paez said Tuesday the episode has been removed from Fox.com and Hulu.com, according to an April 16 Washington Post article.
Somehow I doubt this episode will ever see the light of day again, which is unfortunate because it is completely irrelevant to the bombings.
Even “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane thinks this theory is insane.
“The edited ‘Family Guy’ clip currently circulating is abhorrent, the event was a crime and a tragedy, and my thoughts are with the victims,” tweeted MacFarlane.
If you have ever seen “Family Guy,” you know enough to take most of its plot with a grain of salt. Yes, the concept of terrorism was addressed in an episode and some may find it offensive, but that is what “Family Guy” is.
It is offensive humor. The writers do not focus on one group of people, religion or event and try to make fun of it. They tackle all subjects that are considered to be taboo which is why it is so ignorant to dwell on this single, viewer-manufactured clip.
This show does not deserve to be associated with such a terrible event. To say that “Family Guy” predicted the bombings is as ridiculous as saying that an episode of “Sesame Street” predicted 9/11.
People need to stop placing blame where it does not belong and try to do something productive with their lives.
