HBO Show "Entourage" Sanctions Domestic Violence and Murder

by Delilah | September 29, 2009 at 12:00 pm

245 views | 39 Recommendations | 10 comments

As Susan Murphy Milano points out in her MurphyMilano Journal today, yes, this is a fictional television show. However, as we've seen in the past, so many viewers are adversly affected by what they watch on popular television. Not that we should censor, but could we at least have a little more class and decency back in our "entertainment?"

In the show Piven plays a high powered agent to the stars in Hollywood. When his character Ari Gold is asked if he has a pre nup agreement with his wife the response is:

"I will kill my wife first before I'd let that happen."

One comment left on the site is right when she says the domestic violence community should be outraged, especially coming up close to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

I love this show and have a times on to tape because I work nights. Ari Golds character is a work hard play hard guy. In his world yea it would be nothing for him to wipe out his wife. Lots of men living in California with high powered jobs on wife #2,3,4 have thought the same thing. To put it out there though a bad vibe or the wrong message. In the real world men are killing the kids and wives over financial matters. The violence community should be outraged along with the enterainment media folks.

Every day there are several accounts in the news of men (and sometimes women) assassinating not only their spouse, but their children, too. Some say it's the economy, others feel differently, but no matter what, we are losing whole families to violence that has gotten out of hand.

To watch someone on a popular show have such a flippant attitude, and to know that many in real life do, towards life and especially the life of someone they vowed to love and honor, is more than tasteless, it's just fueling the fire.

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a211423

at 13:06 on September 29th, 2009

Delilah

I understand your outrage at the portrayal of a person perpretating violent behaviors, and I would never watch such a show myself. There should be a rating for violence that can guide a person's choice about whether to watch it or not. Having said this, to see violence against anyone romanticized is disgusting and advertisers will hear about it and recall their advertising. Let's hope that through public disapproval the show will not have advertisers. People can watch the show and write to the advertisers voicing their disapproval. Public opinion can be influencial if used properly.

Amy Judd

at 13:17 on September 29th, 2009

I hate this show, could you add an opinion flag to your post though? Thanks

Delilah

at 16:31 on September 29th, 2009

LOL, still pretty new here and didn't know about "opinion flags."

I will do my best and see if I can figure that one out! Learning new tricks every day!

Amy Judd

at 16:39 on September 29th, 2009

That's ok, if you have any questions, just ask!

jazzyzazzy

at 15:16 on September 29th, 2009

At the end of the day we do have a choice wither to switch on or off the channel.

Anny Jacoby

at 16:48 on September 29th, 2009

As a Survivor and Advocate I am appalled that HBO would even allow this to happen. HBO has provided documentaries on Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women but allowing this scripted statement to air is over the top. We are honoring Domestic Violence Awareness month beginning October 1st - how degrading and demeaning to victims and survivors who have suffered and/or died at the hands of an abuser. Yes, we have a choice to change the channel but other shows have been censored and/or advertisers have pulled out for their own reasons and beliefs. Is it so wrong to expect everyone to at least show respect for victims and survivors of domestic violence or any violence against women? I think not.

humanityblues

at 19:34 on September 29th, 2009

I watch entourage. It's just OK. But Ari is obviously being tongue and cheek there. I didn't really see any big deal about violence against women. Ari loves his wife to death in the show.

I will say the show is getting kind of annoying. I don't know how much longer I can watch 4 young guys talk about how great their lives are a half hour every week. This seems to be much to do about nothing, but I'm all ears I guess. I didn't see it as offensive.

The_Cynic

at 20:28 on September 29th, 2009

0ff <-------- button!

Delilah

at 03:29 on September 30th, 2009

I agree with you and everyone has the choice to turn this show off, as a matter of fact, I, personally, have never seen it! However, just because those who are offended, or those who aren't interested, turn it off and ignore it, the message is still there going out into millions of homes that are still watching. It's not the show I have a problem with, it's the attitude towards killing off a wife to save himself his money and possessions. There are too many cases, too numerous to mention here, that this is exactly what his happening. Men are choosing murder instead of divorce, and now they are not only taking out their spouse, but their children as well......guess it saves them on the child support bill.......Too much fiction being played out in real life.

Entourage Lover (not verified)

at 12:11 on October 29th, 2009

Entourage is a great show, and they don't need advertisers. It's on cable. Try watching the show before you voice you opinion on one statement in one episode out of dozens. Apparently millions of other viewers do not share your opinion. I don't condone domestic violence either, but I think we should praise the fact that Ari loves his wife so much that he did not get a prenup, and that he didn't feel the need to because of that reason? If you watch the show, you'd see why he said what he did so casually. It's because there is no way in hell that he and his wife would ever get to the point where, if they had signed one, a prenup would come into play (i.e. they would never get divorced). They are both rich (Ari is a businessman, and his wife comes from money) and perfect for each other. In fact, I think they are a poster couple for the perfect marriage.