Wait, is that…? HBO apologizes for using decapitated Bush head
(CNN) – HBO issued an apology Wednesday after astute observers of the popular show "Game of Thrones" noticed a familiar silhouette on a decapitated head atop a spike.
A prop head of former President George W. Bush, wearing a long stringy wig and covered in mud, was one of several severed parts featured in the scene, which came in the final episode of the show's first season. The medieval series chronicles often-bloody struggles between families for control of the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
The head may have disappeared into the background had the shows creators not mentioned it in the DVD commentary.
"George Bush's head appears in a couple of beheading scenes. It's not a choice. It's not a political statement. We just had to use whatever heads we had lying around," one of the creators says.
HBO and CNN share a parent company, Time Warner. On Wednesday, the network issued a statement apologizing for the head.
"We were deeply dismayed to see this and find it unacceptable, disrespectful and in very bad taste," the network said in a statement. "We made this clear to the executive producers of the series who apologized immediately for this careless mistake. We condemn it in the strongest possible terms and have halted all future shipments of the DVDs, removed it from our digital platforms and will edit the scene for all future airings on any distribution domestic or international.”
Also see:
Romney details 'First 100 Days,' says Obama's 'words are cheap'
From CNN Politics
- Grand jury indictments, explained
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- US flying surveillance drones farther south over Black Sea after collision with Russian fighter jet, officials say
- US to send Patriot missile systems and tanks to Ukraine faster than originally planned
- Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight among group honored at the White House
- Untitled
That's unfair. Bush was not a vulture capitalist.
imagine the out rage by the meida and those on the left had it been "Obama's" head --everyone would be calling the producers, HBO raciast......what a fake for HBO to issue an apoligy -they knew what they were doing -–it's like commiting a crime and then saying sorry for getting caught......what hypocrisy!!!!!!!!!
Stupid and disgusting. George Bush, whether you agree with his policies or not, whether you like him or not, is a former President of the United States and deserves the respect which should be accorded to ALL U.S. Presidents. This is right up there with that idiot preacher in Florida who just lynched President Obama in effigy.
Romley would turn things up side down and would not no what to do he would help the rich get richer and not worrie about the poor. He might even go to war and get a blank check like bush did.
roscoe66
What if that had been a copy of 0bamas head even after he loses in 2012. All you would here is...Dat be racist. My god,the NAACP, Sharpton,Jackson,the NBPP, what a hey day they would have. Poor taste HBO.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roscoe, there isn't a single comment on this thread condoning this behavior – even from the libs. However, if it HAD been President Obama's head, the comments from the right would be disgusting to say the least – much like anytime something happens to a Dem, or yesterday's comments about the candidate being backed by Gabrielle Giffords winning her seat where your ilk called it a "sympathy vote".
If it were anyone but a white guy's head, people would be screaming for HBO to be boycotted.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HBO is a premium channel. If you don't like their content, stop paying for it. That being said, it was in very poor taste.
Ray E. (Georgia)
Those that hate President Obama only hate themselves. There, I fixed it for ya!
marisombra
This shows how desperate the liberals are...ha ha ha
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How so? Because some random individual associated with a violent television show on a premium cable channel did something stupid? Frankly your comment is quite indicative of the desparation of neocons.
Well, that's creepy and rather vulgar. They probably should have turned that head that was 'laying around' (ick) more to the other side to make it completely unrecognizable.
I imagine they felt rather puckish doing this, but–really, now–how hard would it have been to slap some papier mache and paint and a wig on a canteloupe and use that? Rude, rude, rude. They need to keep the 12 year olds out of the prop department.
The show is great, though.
Speak for yourself Juan. That Iraqi shoe thrower wasn't testing out his pitching arm.
As I previously stated, this is no excuses disgusting. Having said that, I'd like to comment to my friends on the right. I really do enjoy living in a country that allows BOTH sides of the aisle to give opinions. I'd hate to be limited to FOX News and other Conservative media outlets only. Which is what most of you want ... one media, ruled by one opinion - your own.
Thank God we still do have a mixture of media coverage in America giving both sides of an issue. The question becomes: for how long?
roscoe66
What if that had been a copy of 0bamas head even after he loses in 2012. All you would here is...Dat be racist. My god,the NAACP, Sharpton,Jackson,the NBPP, what a hey day they would have. Poor taste HBO.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roscoe, there isn't a single comment posted prior to on this thread prior to your comment condoning this behavior – even from the libs, yet you turn it into an attack against President Obama & dems in general. However, if it HAD been President Obama's head, the comments from the right would be disgusting to say the least – much like anytime something happens to a Dem, or yesterday's comments about the candidate being backed by Gabrielle Giffords winning her seat where your ilk called it a "sympathy vote".
This is right up there with that idiot preacher in Florida who just lynched President Obama in effigy.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And we've yet to hear a single word of condemnation from our friends on the right.
More disrespectful is what "W" did to our country — and he did it in the name of money. I'm comforted that 68% of my fellow Americans are smart enough to realize our current economy still has its roots firmly embedded in the Bush wars and his tax cuts for the super rich.
Seems like my prayers are coming to fluition! You'll soon burn in hell for your evil deeds GWB, Dick Cheyney, Donald Rumsfeld, Donald Trump, Eric Cantor, Rush Limbaugh...
We just had to use whatever heads we had lying around," one of the creators says.
=================================================================
OK... this begs the question, "Why is ANY head of a current or former US President LYING AROUND a movie stage?" Which leads to this question, "How many other heads of current or former US policitians are LYING AROUND these productions?" NONE of this is appropriate for the time period that the series is taking place in.
Sorry, but this was an intention prank by somebody on this set and that person should be fired for this travesty. A simple apology is not enough.
Lynda/Minnesota wrote:
...I really do enjoy living in a country that allows BOTH sides of the aisle to give opinions. I'd hate to be limited to FOX News and other Conservative media outlets only. Which is what most of you want ... one media, ruled by one opinion – your own. ...
-----------–
I beg to differ. Most of the drones on the right are not expressing their own opinions and ideas. They are told what to think, and taught how to say it. That's a fact.
HBO acted in poor taste. Educated Ds and Rs can agree with that.
But I didn’t see too much outrage from Rs as to Nugent’s comments, or the effigies that were hanged of the President on the other hand. Lots of silent high-fives and putting 'Your Country First', I guess.
Humm,
I would like to say to my Liberal friends on the left (There are so few of you), I hear the Tea Leaves are about to reveal an abrupt change in the wind. You just may just get Mitt in November. Then you will have to row your own canoe. Conservatives think you have the smarts to do it all yourself. Are they right or do you need the Nanny State??? I am sorry but you are going to get thrown to the wolves. Got a back up plan??