Fred Hill and Fox 29 News: Philadelphia Father And Local Television Station Try To Create Controversy Over Princess Leia [Video]
It is safe to say that Fred Hill and Fox 29 News Philadelphia have been living under rocks for the past 30 years. This week, both the television station as well as the father of two young girls tried to create controversy around a trip that Hill took to his local Target Store. The item in question was a Slave Princess Leia action figure from Hasbro’s Star Wars Black Series line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvuSS5Zoiu0
According to Fred Hill, he was strolling down the aisle at Target with his daughters looking for a gift to take to a birthday party. When they happened down the row that contained Star Wars items, they were in shock about what the children saw. Don’t worry. Fred Hill is a dad who must want to capture every moment of his children’s lives on camera. You can see their reaction because Fred filmed it.
Fred Hill didn’t reach out to Hasbro, the makers of the figure. He didn’t reach out to Target, the store selling the figure. He reached out to Fox New 29, and they put hard hitting reporter Chris O’Connell to work. He did an exclusive interview with Hill. Hill was quick to point out that he didn’t want his daughters to see that “crap.”
Hill was particularly put out by the questions his children asked about the figure, and his answer to them will floor anyone who is has seen the Star Wars saga.
“They’re like ‘dad why does this doll have a chain around its neck?’. I don’t have any answers. I was just blown away looking at it.”
For those of you who do not follow any pop culture, let me explain. This Princess Leia Slave outfit represents a scene from Return of the Jedi released in 1983. In the film, Leia is caught trying to break Han Solo out of his carbonite prison at Jabba the Hutt’s Palace. Han is sentenced to death. Leia is enslaved by the oversized slug and forced to wear the outfit in question.
Fox 29 News went on to annoy shoppers by asking them whether they thought the action figure was appropriate. According to the article title, parents were furious, but most of the quotes didn’t seem to constitute the word furious.
“It’s a little indecent. A little more clothing would have helped.”
“It’s just a bit much for a child. So, no, I probably wouldn’t give this to my 4-year-old and maybe not an 8-year-old.”
“It’s true to the scene, but I don’t know if I would purchase this for my girls.”
The last time I checked, Philadelphia had bigger problems than the toys that are on the shelf. This looks to be Fred Hill and Fox News 29 trying to create a problem that does not exist. I would love to hear what the readers have to say. Does Slave Leia infuriate or offend you, or was this guy looking for his 15 minutes of fame?
[Photo by Lucasfilm]
