Some parents need to get a grip on reality.
Sesame Street producers were forced to yank a clip, featuring a duet with pop-sensation Katy Perry and Elmo, from an upcoming episode scheduled to air New Year's Eve because some parents complained her outfit was to racy for children.
In other words, Katy Perry was showing too much cleavage.
People were given a sneak-peak at the pop-star's duet with Elmo on Sesame Street's website last week. Some enjoyed the clip of Elmo and Katy together, but others were outraged. The latter group complained, and complained, and complained until producers were left with little choice but to pull the clip from ever airing.
In the clip, which can still be viewed on YouTube, Katy Perry is pictured wearing a cute yellow/green dress with a wedding veil. She's playing dress-up with Elmo, who at the beginning of the clip announced he doesn't want to play anymore.
She breaks into a reworked version of her 2008 hit song, "Hot N Cold," which if people actually listen to the lyrics, they would quickly realize it is quite educational for the little ones. It consistently references opposites, like up/down, hot/cold, in/out.
But, according to upset parents, the educational content of the song is neither here nor there. The problem lies within Katy's cleavage.
Some were complaining, saying she should put on more clothes. Celebrity gossip site TMZ, noted some of the comments made by parents on Sesame Street's site before the video was removed.
-- "You can practically see her t*ts. That's some wonderful children's programming."-- "They're gonna have to rename it cleavage avenue"-- "My kid wants milk now."
Really? My kid wants milk now. Come on. That comment is more disturbing than anything Katy is wearing.
Her costume - and that's what it was after all, a costume because she was playing dress-up - was no worse than anything a figure skater wears at a competition. And the fact is, what looks like Katy's bare chest is actually covered in flesh-coloured mesh that goes all the way to her neck - similar to what figure skaters wear.
So does this mean we should ban figure skaters from appearing on TV? My guess is no.
I find this bothersome because honestly, kids are exposed to way more cleavage just by going outside. If you haven't noticed, cleavage is everywhere these days. So are legs, arms, and butts. And it doesn't appear as though society, as a whole, is going to change and demand coverage any time soon. Though I do acknowledge the fact there will always be a minority group who will constantly fight to have less exposed in public.
With that said, I doubt any child is noticing cleavage any way. They will be focused on the red, furry Elmo and the girl in a dress singing with Elmo. If anyone is going to notice the cleavage, it's the moms and dads watching the show with their child. And why should it offend them?
From Katy's point of view, she's quoted as saying: appearing on Sesame Street was the "highlight" of her career.
She clearly enjoyed the opportunity, and in my opinion, it was the producers' responsibility to tell her to cover up if they felt it was inappropriate. Obviously they didn't, so why are people blaming Katy? If anyone should be blamed, it should be the producers.
But honestly I don't think there is anyone to blame here because I don't think there is a problem. I think the clip was playful and cute, and any child who watches it is going to see it exactly as that - playful and cute.
