Advocacy Group Outraged At ABC for ‘Scandal’ Torture Scene

An advocacy group is outraged at ABC for a torture scene that took place in the hit TV show, “Scandal” starring Kerry Washington.  During the scene, a man is arrested for attempting to assassinate the president, and is arrested under the Patriot Act.   The man is innocent, but he is water boarded and beaten half to death in an attempt to obtain a confession.

The Parents Television Council was not amused, stating that the show didn’t receive the proper rating and was not appropriate for children.

“The brutal nature of that scene, which was rated as appropriate for a 14-year-old child, refutes statements made by an industry claiming to be responsible and concerned about societal violence,” the PTC said in a statement Monday.

The PTC particularly singles out the timing of the episode, coming on the same day entertainment industry representatives met with Vice President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss curbing gun violence in the wake of the Newtown school shooting.

The episode marked a Season 2 ratings high for the Kerry Washington-starring drama.

The organization also spotlighted ABC Entertainment chief Paul Lee for his remark that the network’s “job is always to get a sense of what the culture is feeling.” After detailing the waterboading and facial attack scene, the PTC asked, “is this what Mr. Lee believes the culture is feeling? And does he feel this material is appropriate for a 14-year old child?”

The PTC says it is calling on the Obama administration to get behind an effort for “real responsibility from those who produce and distribute violent media content as well as real reform of the failed TV ratings system.”

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