Today's "Muppets" are no longer the same characters in the TV series during the 70s, 80s, and 90s that fans have come to love during their childhood days.
The conservative group One Million Moms and Reverend Franklin Graham have come out to strongly voice their concerns that the current edition of "The Muppets" might negatively influence the thoughts of children.
The show aired once again on Tuesday on ABC Network. One Million Moms, which has always promoted family-friendly programming, is now urging the network to cancel the series, according to the Gospel Herald.
The group expressed concern since the new, edgier show will reportedly focus on "adult content" and tackle a wide range of topics including sex, drugs, and "inter-species relationships."
"It is not the show it once was," the petition created by One Million Moms reads. "ABC has ruined 'The Muppets.' How many parents want to explain the punch line of sexually charged jokes to young children?"
The group said it expects "a lot of shocked moms and dads when they discover that the family-friendly Muppets of the 1970s are no more. It appears that no subject is off limits. The new show is aimed at a mature, modern audience and addresses subjects not suitable for family viewing."
One Million Moms said it is hard to swallow the new episodes of "The Muppets" since the beloved characters from the past are now weighing in on abortion and promiscuity.
"Many parents unknowingly will let their children watch an episode only to find out its perverted nature too late, unless they are alerted ahead of time," they further said. "Parents will have to explain to confused children that the programme they once were allowed to watch is no longer a nice show. This would have been completely unnecessary if ABC had made the programme follow its original family-friendly design."
Graham showed his support for One Million Moms on his Facebook page, adding that the "whole show should be off limits."
"Hollywood seems to be in a frenzy to see what new moral low they can reach in their programming. Their agenda is to promote sin to a younger and younger audience," he wrote. "I applaud the group One Million Moms for speaking out against this and urging parents to call on ABC to take it off the air. The Bible says, 'Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.' That goes for Kermit the Frog as well!"
