An actor’s testicles hung out of his costume on stage during the Olympics Opening Ceremony show that featured a drag-queen version of the Last Supper, one of the holiest moments of Christianity. They were the balls viewed ’round the world. And the tableau was followed by drag performances of various types, including one number depicting the Greek god Dionysus who appeared to be mostly naked but covered in blue paint.
Now, Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, has filed a Federal Communications Commission complaint against NBC for airing obscene and indecent content from the Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in the complaint that NBC and its stations/outlets on TV, cable, and internet carried (and continues to make available) the Olympics Opening Ceremony on July 26, which included an adult male purposefully exposing himself in the presence of a child/children. There was a child performer on the stage during the exposure.
“This content is both obscene and indecent and, to make matters worse, was aired during viewing hours when it was likely seen by millions of children and minors,” the complaint said. “The obscene/indecent content occurred during a portion of the ceremonies that mocked Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. The Olympics was forced to issue an apology over the content.”
From the televised performance, it’s impossible to tell if the actor’s testicles were actually exposed or were sheathed by a body suit that accentuated his genitals.
According to the FCC, “federal law prohibits obscene, indecent and profane content from being broadcast on the radio or TV.” The FCC further states:
Obscene content does not have protection by the First Amendment. For content to be ruled obscene, it must meet a three-pronged test established by the Supreme Court: It must appeal to an average person’s prurient interest; depict or describe sexual conduct in a “patently offensive” way; and, taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
Indecent content portrays sexual or excretory organs or activities in a way that is patently offensive but does not meet the three-prong test for obscenity.
The FCC says airing obscene or indecent content is a federal crime, but this is a case that may be dismissed by the lower court due to First Amendment claims.
“The blasphemous Olympics’ Opening Ceremony which included, among other obscene and indecent acts, a man partially exposing himself around children, is patently offensive for any sensible American and requires immediate FCC action against NBC” Fitton said. “The Justice Department should also launch an investigation, especially given the use of children in this obscene and indecent NBC broadcast.”