A talking dog comedy has been pulled from Australian cinemas after complaints scenes groom children for sexual abuse.
Show Dogs, starring rapper Ludacris as Max the K-9 Rottweiler, has now been dropped by theatre chain Cineplex ahead of its September Australian release.
The film is being recut to remove two scenes which show Max having his private parts examined during a dog show while telling himself to go to a ‘zen place’.
A talking dog comedy has been pulled from Australian cinemas after complaints scenes groom children for sexual abuse
Show Dogs, starring rapper Ludacris as Max the K-9 Rottweiler, was set to open in Australian in September but has now been dropped by theatre chain Cineplex
National Centre on Sexual Exploitation in the US slammed the film,saying it ‘sends a troubling message that grooms children for sexual abuse’ (pictured is Executive Director Dawn Hawkins)
The National Centre on Sexual Exploitation in the US slammed the film, saying it ‘sends a troubling message that grooms children for sexual abuse’.
‘It contains multiple scenes where a dog character must have its private parts inspected, in the course of which the dog is uncomfortable and wants to stop but is told to go to a “zen place”,’ said Executive Director of NCOSE Dawn Hawkins.
‘The dog is rewarded with advancing to the final round of the dog show after passing this barrier.
‘Disturbingly, these are similar tactics child abusers use when grooming children—telling them to pretend they are somewhere else, and that they will get a reward for withstanding their discomfort.’
The controversial scenes show Max’s human partner Frank helping prepare the Rottweiler for private part examination in a dog show final.
When Max is unhappy about it he snaps at Frank, to which Frank tells him to ‘go to his zen place’ to get through it.
The film is being recut to remove two scenes which show Max having his private parts examined during a dog show while telling himself to go to a ‘zen place’
In the scene showing the competition, Max is shown going to his ‘zen place’ as the judge’s hands slowly reach behind him, forced to put up with the uncomfortable treatment if he wants to win the dog show.
Production company Global Road Entertainment, which worked on Show Dogs, first responded to the controversy by defending the scenes.
‘It has come to our attention that there have been online discussion and concern about a particular scene in Show Dogs, a family comedy that is rated PG,’ GRE said
‘The dog show judging in this film is depicted completely accurately as done at shows around the world; and was performed by professional and highly respected dog show judges.
‘Global Road Entertainment and the filmmakers are saddened and apologize to any parent who feels the scene sends a message other than a comedic moment in the film, with no hidden or ulterior meaning, but respect their right to react to any piece of content.’
Production company Global Road Entertainment, which worked on Show Dogs, first responded to the controversy by defending the scenes
A day later GRE announced the film would be recut in response to concerns from moviegoers.
‘Global Road Entertainment has decided to remove two scenes from the film Show Dogs that some have deemed not appropriate for children,’ GRE said.
‘The company takes these matters very seriously and remains committed to providing quality entertainment for the intended audiences based on the film’s rating.
‘We apologize to anybody who feels the original version of Show Dogs sent an inappropriate message.’
Australian lobby group Centre for Human Dignity has called on Event and Village Cinemas to follow Cineplex’s lead and cancel school holiday screenings.
‘The underlying storyline throughout this disturbing film is that sometimes you just have to submit to having your private parts touched in order to get where you want to get,’ said CHD Director Wendy Francis.
A day later GRE announced the film would be recut in response to concerns from moviegoers