Conservative Mothers Launch Boycott Against Wheel of Fortune
A coalition of conservative mothers has launched a formal boycott against the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune, claiming the program's new What the Fun? category hints at obscenity and makes the show unsuitable for family viewing. The group One Million Moms announced the campaign on October 30, urging parents to stop watching the previously family-friendly program.
What Sparked the Controversy?
The organization, which describes itself as pro-family and pro-life, published a statement declaring that Wheel of Fortune's recent changes have destroyed its family-friendly nature. They specifically targeted the newly introduced puzzle category What the Fun? which they claim aims at a mature audience with insinuated profanity.
It is not the show it was with this implication of the f-word, the group stated on their website. Parents will have to explain to their children that the primetime program they were once allowed to watch is no longer a clean show.
The protest page includes a link to a petition where signees pledge to stop watching Wheel of Fortune unless producers remove the controversial category. According to the site, more than 12,500 people have already signed the pledge.
Who Is Behind the Boycott?
One Million Moms operates as a ministry of the American Family Association, an organization known for engaging in culture war issues. The late Pastor Donald E. Wildmon founded the parent organization, which currently maintains 99,000 followers on its Facebook platform.
Wheel of Fortune has not publicly responded to requests for comment regarding the boycott. The What The Fun? category was introduced during the current season according to fan sources. The controversy emerges as the group simultaneously objects to promotional puns for the new SpongeBob movie that they claim contain inappropriate wordplay.
