Morning After Pill Plot Device Causes Walking Dead Controversy

Steve Barton |

Nov 24, 2011

Source Name:

The Wrap

Source Url:

http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/walking-dead-show-runner-responds-morning-after-controversy-33057

Post Thumb:

/may11/twdthumb.jpg

If you’re not caught up on AMC’s “The Walking Dead” Season Two, then you just may want to skip this story entirely. If you are, then this is a juicy one. Read on for news about the latest hissy fit.

According to The Wrap the showrunner of AMC’s hit zombie show stepped forward Wednesday to defend his show’s portrayal of morning-after-pill contraception. Glen Mazzara’s advice to groups who claim that last Sunday’s episode inaccurately portrayed how the drug is used: Forget the morning-after pill, and take a chill pill because it’s only a TV show.

The series raised a lot of ire last week by employing the so-called “morning after” pill in its November 20th episode, and it had nothing to do with the ever-raging pro-choice-vs.-pro-life debate.

In a blog post titled “Walking Dead Is Wrong on Emergency Contraception, Stick to Zombies,” the American Civil Liberties Union huffed, “‘The Walking Dead’ is not doing its fans or themselves any favors by promoting false information. Lori is several weeks pregnant, and the morning-after pill can’t induce a miscarriage. What it can do is prevent pregnancy if taken within 5 days of unprotected sex; although the sooner it is taken, the more likely it is to work.”

Glen Mazzara’s response is as follows …

“The producers and writers of ‘The Walking Dead’ are fully aware that the morning-after pill would not induce an abortion or miscarriage,” Mazzara responded. “We exercised our artistic creative license to explore a storyline with one of our characters, not to make any pro-life or pro-choice political statement. We sincerely hope that people are not turning to the fictional world of ‘The Walking Dead’ for accurate medical information.”

What’s next? Is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gonna post a study on where human flesh fits on the friggin’ food pyramid? Get a grip, people.

In this latest season of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” TV series, the survivors arrive at Hershel’s Farm, where we meet Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson); his daughter, Maggie (Lauren Cohan); and middle-aged ranch foreman Otis (Pruitt Taylor Vince). The new cast members join series regulars Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Sarah Wayne Callies as Lori Grimes, Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh, Laurie Holden as Andrea, Jeffrey DeMunn as Dale, Steven Yeun as Glenn, and Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes.

To stay up-to-the-minute on all things walker related, follow @WalkingDead_AMC on Twitter and visit “The Walking Dead” on Facebook. For more be sure to hit up the official “The Walking Dead” page on AMC.com.