"PIMPS AND PEDOPHILES" ARE CORRUPTING CHILD ACTRESS, SAYS MEDIA EXPERT TED BAEHR

Salacious Screening at Sundance

"Pimps and pedophiles" are

corrupting child actress, says media expert Ted Baehr

Hollywood, CA – "Pimps and pedophiles are destroying and corrupting the innocence" of child actress Dakota Fanning, Christian media expert Ted Baehr charged today.

On January 22, the independent movie "Hounddog" will premier at the Sundance Film Festival. The movie stars Dakota Fanning as a child who becomes sexually promiscuous and is eventually raped, after being physically and sexually abused by her disturbed father. A controversial "simulated" rape scene reportedly shows the girl's reaction during the violent act. Fanning's mother, Joy, and her agent, Cindy Osbrink, may have accepted the role for Dakota in hopes of winning an Oscar.

"This is nothing less than prostitution and pedophilia," said Dr. Baehr.

He suggested that the sexualization of young children like Dakota is part of the "sick ideology" of "Freudian followers of Kinsey, radical feminists and perverts" who believe in the "pseudo-scientific" evolutionary theory that all children are born with an innate lust for sexual fulfillment.

"These politically correct moral degenerates tolerate sexual promiscuity, including pedophilia," Dr. Baehr argued. "They show no concern for protecting the innocence of children, much less the sexual purity of teenagers and young adults.

"This movie sets a new low for Hollywood, which has been increasingly making sympathetic movies about pedophiles like 'Little Children,' 'Kinsey' and 'The Woodsman'," he added.

Dr. Ted Baehr, president of the Christian Film & Television Commission™ and publisher of www.movieguide.org, sharply criticized the Director, Fanning's agent and her mother for encouraging her to take this role at the thought of winning an academy award, as some news agencies have reported.

"Too often young, female stars are lured into starring in salacious roles only to find these films seriously damage their careers," said Dr. Baehr, citing the negative effect of movies like STRIPTEASE and SHOWGIRLS on the careers of Demi Moore and Sharon Stone. "What a tragedy that this bright, young, 12-year-old girl has been sacrificed to the golden statue of the Academy Awards!"

Dr. Baehr noted that a recent Los Angeles Times poll showed that 74% of girls and 57% of boys age 12 to 17 don't want to see movies, videos or TV programs that are disrespectful to women and girls.

"What these actresses, directors and agents don't understand is that moviegoers tune out in increasing numbers after seeing their favorite stars disrespecting themselves on camera," Dr. Baehr said.

"This movie looks like a clear case of child abuse to me," he added. "The legal authorities should take harsh action against it. For instance, recent child abuse laws, such as "Jessica's Law" in Florida, are giving a mandatory 25 years in prison to a first conviction for child rape."

Dr. Baehr also urged all movie and video distributors to reject this movie and report the filmmakers to the legal authorities.

MOVIEGUIDE® is dedicated to redeeming the values of the entertainment industry by influencing industry executives and informing the public about the influence of the entertainment media. For more information, please visit www.movieguide.org.

Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of MOVIEGUIDE® and Chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission™, is a well-known movie critic, educator, lecturer, media pundit, and media scholar. He is the co-author of the upcoming "The Culture-Wise Family: Upholding Christian Values in a Mass-Media World" with Pat Boone (Regal Books).

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Joe Turman at Shirley & Banister Public Affairs at 703-739-5920 or jturman@sbpublicaffairs.com.

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By Ted Baehr Click here for bio and archived articles