Producers ng ‘Desperate Housewives’nag-apologize

Tinatayang 19 milyong televiewers ang nanood ng unang episode ng ikaapat na season ng Desperate Housewives noong Linggo (Setyembre 30) nang gabi sa ABC.

Nanguna ito sa mga primetime shows nang gabing iyon.

At naging kontrobersyal ito para sa mga Pinoy dahil sa eksena ng karakter na si Susan Mayer (ginampanan ni Teri Hatcher).

Sa eksena, nagpa-medical check-up si Susan. Nagulantang si Susan nang sabihan siya ng doktor na maaaring nagme-menopause na siya.

"Listen, Susan, I know for a lot of women the word ‘menopause’ has negative connotations. You hear ‘aging,’ ‘brittle bones,’ ‘loss of sexual desire,’" dayalog ng gynecologist.

Hirit ni Susan, "OK, before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren’t, like, from some med school in the Philippines?"

May viewers na nagtawagan sa network para magreklamo. Ayon sa isang tagapagsalita ng ABC noong Miyerkules, hindi pa tiyak kung ilan lahat ang tumawag.
Noong Miyerkules nang gabi ay mahigit 30,000 pangalan na ang naka-attach sa isang online petition para humingi ng paumanhin ang ABC network.

Nakasaad sa petisyon na, "This type of derogatory remark was discriminatory and hurtful, and such a comment was not necessary to maintain humor in the show.

"Additionally, a statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field.

"Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States; many enter the U.S. (and successfully pass their US licensing boards) as doctors, nurses and medical technicians.

"In fact, the Philippines produces more US nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience or value of Filipino Americans in health care is extremely disrespectful and simply ignorant.

"Many of the hospitals in major metropolitan areas of the US (and the world) would not be able to operate without its Filipino and Filipino American staff members.

"As Filipino Americans and allies, we band together to ensure that this type of hateful message should not be allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. "Given the recent amount of media attention given to Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays) and Rosie O’Donnell (against Asian/Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show’s producers, the show’s actors and ABC itself.

"We demand a public apology to the Filipino American community, and we demand the episode be edited to remove the ignorant and racist remark.

"We will not allow hateful messages against our community (or any other oppressed community) to continue."

Noong Miyerkules ay nagpahayag ang ABC (na pag-aari ng The Walt Disney Co.) na ikinukunsidera nito ang pag-e-edit ng naturang episode.

Pahayag ng ABC, "The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere.

"There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines.

"As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs."

Ang report na ito ay hinalaw sa AP (Associated Press).