BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

"It frightens Christ out of you" was a phrase used by a former soldier in a trailer for a

forthcoming episode of the repeat of the New Zealand at War series. It was broadcast

on TV One during the afternoon of Saturday 23 December and at 8.10pm on Christmas

Eve.

Mr Campbell complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that the repeated use of the

offensive phrase during the broadcast of a promo breached the good taste and decency

standard. Further, he said that the blasphemous comment denigrated Christians.

While acknowledging that the phrase could be hurtful to Christians, TVNZ maintained

that it did not breach the standards given its context. Dissatisfied with TVNZ's

response, Mr Campbell referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority

under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons below, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read the

correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). As is its practice, the Authority

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

A promo for a repeat of the series New Zealand at War showed battle scenes and

included a former soldier commenting: "It frightens Christ out of you".

Mr Campbell complained to TVNZ that the use of the name Christ in this context was

offensive as it reduced the word to the same level as a swear word. He expressed

particular concern that the phrase was used in a promo broadcast around Christmas.

Assessing the complaint under the standards G2 and G13 of the Television Code of

Broadcasting Practice, TVNZ acknowledged that the use of Holy names in a profane

context could cause genuine hurt. However, as certain expressions were in common

usage, TVNZ denied that the phrase used on this occasion was blasphemous or

represented Christians as inferior. It declined to uphold the complaint under the

standards which require broadcasters:

G2  To take into consideration currently accepted norms of decency and taste in

language and behaviour, bearing in mind the context in which any language

or behaviour occurs.

G13 To avoid portraying people in a way which represents as inherently inferior,

or is likely to encourage discrimination against, any section of the

community on account of sex, race, age, disability, occupational status,

sexual orientation or the holding of any religious, cultural or political belief.

This requirement is not intended to prevent the broadcast of material which

is:

i) factual, or

ii) the expression of genuinely-held opinion in a news or current affairs

programme, or

iii) in the legitimate context of a humorous, satirical or dramatic work

In its assessment of the complaint, the Authority focuses on the context in which the

phrase was used. After verbal and visual references in the promo to battle scenes, it

was said by an old soldier who was speaking from the heart about a terrifying

experience. It was spoken in a way which was neither offensive nor gratuitous, and it

did not encourage discrimination against Christians. Accordingly, the Authority

concludes that the phrase, in that context, breaches neither standard.

For the above reasons, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
21 March 1996

Appendix

Don Campbell's Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd - 23

December 1995

Mr Campbell of Papamoa complained to Television New Zealand Ltd about a trailer for

an episode of a repeat of the series of New Zealand at War.

The trailer, broadcast that day at 2.42 and 3.32pm included the phrase "It frightens

Christ out of you" and, Mr Campbell wrote:

I found this usage of the name of Christ to be offensive, even during the original

screening; but to have it repeated frequently as a promo is, to my mind totally in

breach of good taste and decency.

Moreover, he considered such usage to be discriminatory against those holding Judaeo-

Christian beliefs and denigrating of such beliefs. It reduced the Name to that of a swear

word which, at Christmas time, he thought was particularly insensitive.

In a second letter dated 24 December, he described the broadcast of the trailer at 8.10pm

on Christmas Eve during the "Carols in the Domain" programme as "even more

blatantly insensitive".

TVNZ's Response to the Complaint - 18 January 1995

Assessing the complaint under standards G2 and G13 of the Television Code of

Broadcasting Practice, TVNZ acknowledged the genuine hurt felt by some when Holy

names were used in a profane context. Nevertheless, it said, it had to be recognised that

certain expressions were in everyday use. It wrote:

TVNZ would not deny that in some circumstances expressions like "it frightens

Christ out you" could be offensive and blasphemous but feels that in this instance,

where an old soldier is grasping for words to describe the indescribable the phrase

is not unacceptable.

It seems to us that the phrase is not used in any blasphemous way, nor does it

represent Christians as being in any way inferior.

It does emphasise the torment that the soldier concerned had gone through.

Because of the context, TVNZ considered that standard G2 had not been contravened.

It was also of the view that the phrase did not contain any implied denigration of

Christians and it declined to uphold the complaint.

Mr Campbell's Complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 23

January 1996

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's response, Mr Campbell referred the complaint to the

Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

Repeating the points made in his letters of complaint, Mr Campbell wrote that the use of

the phrase "it frightens Christ out of you" was offensive and denigratory and in breach

of the nominated standards.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority - 31 January 1996

Reiterating the point that it was genuinely sorry that Mr Campbell had been offended by

the language which he regarded as blasphemous, TVNZ again maintained that it had not

been used gratuitously given the context. As for Mr Campbell's focus on the use of the

phrase in a trailer, TVNZ observed:

We accept that there is a difference in that the phrase has no specific context when

used in the trailer. However we see it as an expression drawn from the

programme which encapsulated the feelings of those soldiers who were to appear,

and therefore was itself relevant in the context of a trailer.

On the basis that a trailer in a sense was an advertisement for a forthcoming programme,

TVNZ pointed out that the Advertising Standards Complaints Board had accepted that

the words "Oh my God" were in common everyday usage and were neither

blasphemous nor denigratory. Likewise, TVNZ argued, the word "Christ" in the

specific trailer complained about was neither blasphemous nor denigratory.

Mr Campbell's Final Comment - 12 February 1996

Mr Campbell stated that TVNZ had taken the phrase to which he objected out of the

context of the item and "for their own purposes", it had been broadcast repeatedly:

... thus promulgating, I believe, the blasphemous use of the name of Christ in

less justifiable situations.

Mr Campbell referred to other less offensive material in the item which could have been

used in the promo to convey fear. He concluded:

It has been said that a good society is one that protects its minorities - their

persons, their properties and their beliefs; and also, I believe, their sensitivities

and feelings. I sincerely trust your Authority will recognise the rights of

Christians by upholding this complaint.