ESPN's Offensive Promos

[finz2left5]

Hello All,

Hello all, my name is Carol and I'm mom to Maren -- a gorgeous and vibrant three year old with Down syndrome. I am trying to spread the news and start a good grassroots advocacy campaign to get ESPN to pull their promos---at least know that we don't think they are acceptable!

The NBA finals promos are based on a Black Eyed Peas song "Let's get Retarded." They have changed it to "Let's get it Started" and seem to think that the adaptation is acceptable. I have been posting on parent boards trying to get parents to let ESPN, Disney and ABC (all affiliate companies) and the NBA to let them know that this is NOT acceptable! As parents of children with developmental delays, we see how harmful these messages are.

Please email and call . . . . let your family members know. Hopefully they will pull the promos or do free PSAs for March of Dimes, ARC, NDSS, etc during the finals. Write the groups that you are active in and let them know too!!

Thanks, Carol
[e-mail]

Some numbers and addresses

ESPN customer service
is 860-766-2000

msn.espn.go.com/sitetools/s/contact/espntv.html

www.nba.com/email_us/letters_to_nba.html

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

And, here are the offensive lyrics . . . . with retarded changed to "get started" on ESPN

what the fuss is all about:

Let's Get Retarded, in here...

And the base keep runnin' runnin',
and runnin', and runnin',
and runnin', and runnin',
and runnin', and runnin',
and runnin', and runnin',
and runnin', and runnin',
and runnin', and runnin',
and runnin', and runnin',
and...

In this context, there's no disrespect,
so, when I bust my rhyme, you break your necks.
We got five minutes for us to disconnect,
from all intellect collect the rhythm effect.
Obstacles are inefficient, follow
your intuition, free your inner soul
and break away from tradition.
Coz when we beat out, girl it's pullin without.
You wouldn't believe how we wow sh@! out.
Burn it till it's burned out.
Turn it till it's turned out.
Act up from north, west, east, south.

[Chorus:]
Everybody, everybody, let's get into it.
Get stupid.
Get retarded, get retarded, get retarded.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Yeah.

Lose control, of body and soul.
Don't move too fast, people, just take it slow.
Don't get ahead, just jump into it.
Ya'll here a body, two peices to it.
Get stutted, get stupid.
You'll want me body people will walk you through it.
Step by step, like you're into new kid.
Inch by inch with the new solution.
Trench men hits, with no delusion.
The feeling's irresistible and that's how we movin'.

[Chorus:]
Everybody, everybody, let's get into it.
Get stupid.
Get retarded, get retarded, get retarded.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Yeah.

Runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin',
and runnin' runnin', and runnin runnin'
and... Come on ya'll let's get...Oohhoo!
Aha, let's get oohhoo... in here (right now yeah.)
Cookoo, aha, let's get, cookoo, in here...
Cookoo, aha, let's get,
cookoo, in here...ow, ow, ow...
ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya...

Let's get ill, that's the deal.
At the gate, we'll bring the bud top drill. (Just)
Lose your mind this is the time,
Ya'll test this drill,
Just and bang your spine. (Just)
Bob your head like epilepsy,
up inside your club or in your bentley.
Get messy, loud and sick.
Ya'll mount past slow mo in another head trip. (So)
Come then now do not correct it,
let's get pregnant let's get hectic.

[Chorus:]
Everybody, everybody, let's get into it.
Get stupid. (Come on)
Get retarded (come one) , get retarded (yeah), get retarded.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here. (R-E-T-A-R-D-E-D)
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded in here.
Let's get retarded (ha),
let's get retarded (woah, woah, woah) in here.
Yeah.
Oohhoo! Aha, oohhoo...
in here... Cookoo,
aha, cookoo,
in here (R-E-T-A-R-D-E-D)...

[christie]

K, bear with me here, but first off what is ESPN?? And in order to undrstand are you saying they are nooo longer using the word "Retarted" ??

Have to say, it may just be me BUT I have noooo freaking idea what that song or whatever it is means or is supposed to mean or what the heck its representing???

CC

[donnita]

This is what I heard from another group I belong to...

Hey Guys

Please read the item below and let me know if you are aware of this and if you have a problem ( I do ) with ESPN using this song and group to promote the playoff's?

Talk to you soon.

Published May 23, 2004

Peas and prosperity

During the NBA playoffs, 30-second spots featuring Black Eyed Peas -- WILL.I.AM, APL.DE.AP, TABOO and the group's newest member, FERGIE -- singing "Let's Get It Started" have been running on ESPN and ABC. The promos, shot like music videos, feature quick cuts of the Peas interspersed with various NBA legends (including GEORGE GERVIN, BILL RUSSELL and BILL WALTON).

"We wanted to create this sort of pop culture that would cross generation lines, demographic lines and geographical lines," ESPN spokesman SETH ADER told Armour and Co. "Something that would strike you because it's cool."

The Black Eyed Peas, together for almost 10 years, have been doing this kind of thing a lot lately. "Let's Get It Started" -- which is "Let's Get Retarded" on their latest CD "Elephunk" -- was also used in the movie "Barbershop 2." Two other songs off the disc, "Hey Mama" and "Shut Up," were used in commercials.


The group's song is still "Let's Get Retarded". They only changed the words to "Let's Get it Started" for the basketball ads. I hadn't read the lyrics before they were printed here, but definitely agree that they are not appropriate.

[shellk]

I do agree that the lyrics are offensive. But, they have been changed for the promo...I thnk I would of been more offended it they were singing the orginal lyrics...There are lots of songs with the word "retarded" in them and I will say that some are offensive but, this song I have never listened to. I'll check it out. As far a s changing the lyrics...Maybe someone was thinking ?? We should change the chorus and lyrics to Get it Started so that we don't rawl up any groups...

Michele