Legal expert: 'Abusive' video exploits 6-year-old & warrants investigation
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Christian Examiner) -- The video is "horrifying" and the t-shirt company is exploiting little girls, says a legal expert, responding to an ad with "princesses" spouting obscenities supposedly to further a feminist agenda.
"It is not free speech, it is exploitation of innocent girls," Anita L. Staver, president of Orlando-based Liberty Counsel, said after looking at a two minute and thirty-five second commercial for a t-shirt.
Staver told Christian Examiner using a 6-year-old child in the video is "abusive" and said there should be an inquiry into the company's treatment of the young girls used in their "vulgar video and of their families."
"Parents who allow their children to be exploited in an embarrassing video should be investigated to see if there is other abuse involved," Staver said.
Staver said Ohio residents can anonymously report suspected abuse by calling the child abuse hotline at 855-642-4453. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website says to "err on the safety of the child."
FCKH8, a for-profit t-shirt company based in Columbus, Ohio, released the two minute and thirty-five second commercial for t-shirts which has gone viral on social media and been criticized by conservatives and liberals alike for its shocking profanity by children.
The pink video sports sweet little girls dressed as princesses in tiaras and taffeta. But they belie the image by throwing around the F-word, rolling their eyes—and heads—and swaying their hips around with attitude, while talking about sexism, rape, and workplace "inequality" between men and women.
"Pretty. Pretty. Pretty," each of the dolled-up divas says in the high-energy video, with pincurls dancing, batting their eyelashes for effect.
Until the music skips a beat—and they force their face into the camera—one with a pronounced lisp—to screech profanities would send most puppies to the doghouse.
"What the f***! I'm not the pretty F***in' helpless princess in distress!
"I'm pretty f***in' powerful and ready for success."
The pint-sized divas, ranging about 6-8 years in age, throw around the F-word, roll their eyes—and heads—and sway their hips around with attitude, while taking about sexism, rape, and "inequality" between men and women in the workforce.
YouTube even found the video so shocking at first that they took it down, but later put it back up where it is being shared on Facebook and via other means by people who are both supportive and those who are critical.
Many of those who are critical have suggested the video exploits children.
Staver said child abuse is defined in the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as an "act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation" or "presents an imminent risk of serious harm."
Ohio, where the t-shirt company is based, defines an abused child as a child who: "Because of the acts of his parents, guardian, or custodian, suffers physical or mental injury that harms or threatens to harm the child's health or welfare."
"Making a child utter obscenities on film and posting that video online could result in serious emotional harm to the child," Staver said. "Using child a young as six years old for this video is abusive."
On the feminist ideals the video purports to advance, Staver said it's a fail: "The YouTube video exposes the young girls to ridicule and bullying and does not advance women's rights. Imagine the embarrassment they will experience because their vulgar speech is immortalized online for viewing by every potential employer or boyfriend."
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