A television network in India was censured for airing a Grey’s Anatomy scene that featured a “homosexual encounter,” which reportedly violated broadcast guidelines.
The Grey’s scene in question is from a 2008 Season 5 episode, where one of the show’s female doctors (Callie Torres, a bisexual character) asks for sex advice from a male surgeon (Sloane) on how to please a woman.
In India—where homosexuality is still illegal—complaints can be filed over TV shows that contain sex, drugs, nudity and, more broadly, content that goes against the government’s “social values.” India’s Broadcasting Content Complains sent a notice to Star Channel after receiving complaints about the episode, which aired in June.
Mashable reports:
The notice was given after a complaint from the ministry of information and broadcasting which described the scenes as ‘indecent’ and ‘vulgar’. BCCC, a self-regulatory body set up by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, has asked for a reply from the channel by Dec. 1.
India’s broadcast networks typically censor programs by removing scenes that could be deemed offensive, but with stricter guidelines than American programming:
Potentially offensive words are muted and replaced with politically correct versions in the subtitles. For instance, earlier this year the season five finale of Game of Thrones was edited to half of its original length.
A BCCC member told the Times of India, “Keeping Indian audiences in mind we felt that the scenes were not tasteful. So we have asked them to respond.”
The Grey’s scene is below.
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