Before Saturday’s game at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox handed the mic to David Ortiz, arguably the team’s biggest star for the last decade, who thanked the community, local officials, and Boston’s first responders. He concluded his brief remarks with 16 emotionally charged words.
“This is our f***ing city. And no one is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.”
The crowd roared, but would the Federal Communications Commission balk at the televised profanity? Apparently not. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski published this tweet soon after.
The FCC, among other things, regulates the broadcast of profanity, and has said the legality of “offensive” words would depend on the context. According to a 2004 order, instances would be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
And in this case, Ortiz’s remarks have been deemed acceptable. Under the circumstances, that’s probably the right call.
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