An episode of controversial cartoon series SOUTH PARK has sparked outrage after depicting Hollywood director STEVEN SPIELBERG in a rape scene with HARRISON FORD.
The show made its season 12 debut on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur on Thursday (09Oct08).
In the opening episode, entitled The China Problem, the show's characters have flashbacks of Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford getting raped by Jewish director Spielberg and his fellow filmmaker George Lucas.
Anti-Defamation League spokesperson Myrna Shinbaum tells the New York Daily News, "South Park has been offensive and has had very anti-Jewish pieces in the past. We understand that the show is trying to satirise, but it may get lost on those who are haters." According to reports, bosses at Paramount Pictures have scheduled a meeting with executives at its parent company, which produces the Comedy Central series.
Comedy Central's Senior Vice President Steve Albani says, "We don't comment episode by episode on South Park or whether they cross the line, but South Park has a history, and people know what they are getting into when they watch it." Paramount have declined to comment on the episode.