Patrick Warburton, best known for his role as Joe Swanson on the hit animated sitcom Family Guy, has declared that he will no longer apologize for being part of the show.
Despite criticism from some viewers and even his own mother, who called the show “a destruction of morality,” Warburton believes that critics are taking themselves too seriously.
“I used to apologize for being on Family Guy, and I apologize no more because this world is a horrible native satire,” Warburton said in a recent interview with Fox News. “Everybody takes themselves too seriously, and… I think in many ways become an overwhelming mess. But we need humor in our lives, and we need love and humor, acceptance. It’s all rather simple.”
Family Guy, which has been on the air since 1999, tells the story of the Griffin family, consisting of parents Peter and Lois and their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie, along with their talking dog Brian.
The show has received generally positive reviews and good ratings, but it has also been criticized for its use of offensive jokes, including racial humor and violent, gory, and disturbing images.
One of the show’s main critics is The Parents Television and Media Council (PTMC), an American group that advocates for what it considers to be responsible, family-friendly content across all media platforms.
Warburton’s mother Barbara is a member of the group and has publicly criticized the show, saying that it offends God and is leading toward the destruction of morality.
Despite her objections, Warburton has continued to appear on the show, which has become a cultural phenomenon.
He believes that the show’s humor is necessary in today’s world.
“We need humor in our lives,” he said. “We need love and humor, acceptance. It’s all rather simple.”
The controversy surrounding Family Guy has also led to discussions about representation in animation. In 2020, Mike Henry, who had voiced the character of Cleveland Brown, a black neighbor and friend of the Griffin family, for two decades, stepped down from the role, citing the need for actors of color to play characters of color. He was replaced by YouTuber Arif Zahir.
While Family Guy has faced its share of criticism, Warburton and his fellow cast members have remained unapologetic about the show’s content. Despite its flaws, they believe that the show serves an important purpose in today’s world.
