Shadow Puppetry with Prince
Prince's shadow has enraged the community of people who write angry letters to the FCC. During the Super Bowl halftime show, his guitar looked a little too much like something else. I pointed this out at the time, though I didn't contact the government.
Read some of the letters after the jump, courtesy of The Smoking Gun. They're a little crude. So if you're easily offended, don't click. I'd hate for a post about complaints to prompt more.
"...Everything was fine until the unveiling of the 'cloth silhouette' that showed Prince with his guitar! It makes me sick that my kids were in the living room of our home and watched this adult male on TV make graphic gestures with his guitar, making it look like he was holding onto a penis and testicles!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU ALLOWED THIS TOO AIR, then again, YES I CAN!!!...So, is this something we all get to look forward to from now on 'sexual gestures, nudity (Janet Jackson), and what-not', or is the FCC going to do something to bring clean family friendly TV back to the air?"
"I find it highly unacceptable to have a family watching a sporting event only to find Prince stroking, manipulating and fondleing his guitar behind the curtain. This image only made him look extremely large which made the rest of us feel small, and unable to preform this evening."
"...I fell as though Prince's performance was VERY OFFENSIVE. The part of his act in particular that comes to mind it when they pull up a big sheet and his shadow is cast upon it. He is holding a guitar and in the shadow it looks as though he has a large penis with pitchfork on the end. It was not only profane it was very sadistic! I can't believe this would be allowed after what happened with Ms. Jackson. Please look into this further. Thanks in advance!"
"It was obscene to show Prince, a HOMOSEXUAL person through a sheet, as to show his siluette while his guitar showed a very phalic symbol coming from his below-midriff section. I am very offended and I would preffer not to have showed it to my 4 children who love football. One of them has hoped to be a quarterback and now he will turn out gay. I am actually considering to check him for HIV. Thanks CBS for turning my son GAY."