Seth MacFarlane is defending himself and his humor in the wake of criticism over a joke about Lou Gehrig's disease in his new hit movie, Ted.
ALS Therapy Alliance, a Boston-based group dedicated to raising awareness and funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, last week voiced objection to a line in the film in which Mark Wahlberg's character says, "From one man to another, I hope you get Lou Gehrig's disease."
MacFarlane says now in a statement to that he realizes "ALS is a horrific tragedy for those who suffer from it, and by no means do I or anyone associated with this film have anything but compassion for the individuals afflicted."
However, he adds, "the joke in the film is made at the expense of our 'villain,' Rex, and not at the expense of those suffering from the disease. That is its intent, and I believe that is how it plays. The mere mention of any disease should not be cause for ire (I lost my mother to cancer, yet there is a joke in the film which contains the word cancer). I urge analysis of context, lest the 'outrage industry' get the better of us."
