Seth MacFarlane weighs in on ‘SMILF’ controversy
The 'Family Guy' creator isn't too happy with Boston city councilor Ed Flynn's reaction to the series.
“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane shared supportive words for “SMILF” creator Frankie Shaw after her show was criticized by Boston city councilor Ed Flynn.
In a Feb. 6 Facebook post, Flynn called for the removal of ads for the Showtime series about a single mom from South Boston, saying he was “tired of Hollywood making a profit off of these abysmal shows that in no way capture the real lives, character and contributions of the people of South Boston.”
On Saturday, Shaw responded to Flynn on Facebook, mentioning MacFarlane.
“I have a feeling that the judgement comes from underlying gender-bias more than anything else,” Shaw wrote, regarding Flynn’s post. “And I get it, these deep-seated unconscious judgements are centuries old and very hard to recognize. But just like Ben Affleck and Seth MacFarlane, who came into town to make their very male art of chasing women, robbing banks, and getting high with teddy bears, I’d like the same consideration to tell the stories that are important to me.”
MacFarlane, a New England native whose show “Family Guy” is based in Rhode Island and whose films “Ted” and “Ted 2” are set in Boston, strongly backed Shaw and “SMILF” on Twitter Sunday.
“Flynn treads on dark ground,” MacFarlane tweeted. “Whether a writer is drawing from personal experience or pure imagination, it’s troubling when anyone, politician or otherwise, suggests a story should not be told or a character should be censored. Make room, Ed.”
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