"Show Dogs" was pulled from theaters less than a week after its opening and will be re-edited to remove scenes many parents felt sent a troubling message about grooming for sexual abuse, Deadline reported Thursday.
The objectionable scenes involve the dog character, Max, having to get used to strangers touching his genitals to inspect them as part of his undercover operation, which involved competing as a show dog.
Max is initially uncomfortable with the genital touching, but his human partner Frank tells him to go to his “zen place” when he was being touched. One scene depicts Max in his zen place as his parts are touched for inspection.
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation said in a statement that the movie scenes depicted “disturbingly ... similar tactics” to what pedophiles use when grooming children.
“Children’s movies must be held to a higher standard, and must teach children bodily autonomy, the ability to say ‘no’ and safety, not confusing messages endorsing unwanted genital touching,” the statement said.
Global Road Entertainment, which made the film, said the dog show judging was accurately portrayed in the film but apologized in a statement to parents who saw the message as offensive, saying that parents had a “right to react to any piece of content.”
NCOSE was gratified by the re-editing of the movie and thanked producers for recognizing their concerns.
“Show Dogs” is expected to be back in theaters minus the objectionable scenes by Friday, according to Yahoo Entertainment. The film made only $6 million in a lackluster opening weekend.
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