Popular MTV show under fire for stunt |
Brooke Heitz |
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"Jackass" has created a major controversy in recent weeks. This show depicts "the gross, aggressive, self-mutilating young-male mode of rebellion du jour that is crashing its shopping cart head on into the mainstream," according to a recent article by Times Magazine writer James Poniewozik. Such comedy is also leading the polls Poniewozik pointed out. On Feb. 1, 13-year-old Jason Lind from Connecticut tried to imitate Johnny Knoxville's stunt when he had a friend dump gasoline on him and then light him on fire. The teen was badly burned, according to an article MSNBC.com. The teen was unaware that Knoxville was wearing a fire-resistant suit that protected him from the flames. MTV released a statement to NBC news stating, "We don't know all the facts but we are hoping for the best for this boy. However, the show makes it extremely clear that none of the stunts shown should be tried at home." Shows like "Jackass" are becoming more popular in today's society. Since MTV's change in the late '80s, more and more of these shows are being aired daily as the audience continues to grow. The realization is obviously hard for some to tell and the controversy in issues like that of Lind's will continue. Many believe MTV was better off playing music videos the majority of the time, while some disagree and like it the way it is today.
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