Is MTV's "Skins" child pornography?

By Douglas V. Gibbs

The Parents Television Council says that MTV's television drama, "Skins," is too racy, even for cable television, and that the sexual content on the show involving teens as young as 15 crosses the line when it comes to child pornography. The watchdog group is urging the Department of Justice and U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committees to open an investigation.

PTC calls the show "the most dangerous program ever for children."

One of the show's sponsors, Taco Bell, as this scandal grows, has pulled all of its advertising from the program.

"Upon further review, we’ve decided that the show is not a fit for our brand and have moved our advertising to other MTV programming," said a Taco Bell spokesman.

The show appeals to the teenage crowd, and features teenage actors engaging in “foul language, illegal drug use, illegal activity as well as thoroughly pervasive sexual content,” PTC President Tim Winter said in a letter sent to the chairmen of the US Senate and House Judiciary Committees and the Department of Justice.

MTV, after Taco Bell's decision to pull its advertisements, has engaged in a number of meetings where the MTV executives even went so far as to discuss criminal charges.

The show is a British import, and its recent debut featuring underage actors engaged in sexual situations, drew 1.2 million viewers younger than 18.

“It is not clear as to whether MTV is in violation of federal or state child pornography laws, but that does not mean that they won’t end up defending themselves somewhere in the United States," Ian Friedman, an attorney specializing in computer-based sex offenses, said.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Parents Television Council Calls for Federal Investigation Into MTV's Skins - Hollywood Reporter

Taco Bell Pulls Ads From 'Skins' Over Racy Content - MyFoxDC