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Microsoft pulls out of 'Family Guy' deal over offensive jokes
Microsoft has backed out of a deal to sponsor a show of Family Guy after executives watched an episode and were horrified by jokes about the Holocaust, deaf people and incest.
Executives from the company went to see a screening before the planned broadcast next month only to be shocked by what they regarded as potentially offensive humour.
Family Guy, which is broadcast on the Fox network, centres on the adventures of an American blue collar worker called Peter Griffin and his dysfunctional family, including their pet dog Brian.
It has a reputation for edgy humour and tasteless gags with previous episodes featuring jokes about subjects including abortion, paedophilia, legalising marijuana and Mother Teresa taking a drug overdose.
However, Microsoft thought it could use the show to market its new operating system, Windows 7, and signed a lucrative deal with writers Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein.
The plan was for them to write a 30-minute variety style show featuring animated and live comedy sketches.
It was to have no advertisements and would instead include jokes promoting Windows 7.
A 30-second add during Family Guy costs approximately $215,000 (£132,000) so the Microsoft deal would have cost millions.
The episode was to be called "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show".
A publicly released preview featured characters from Family Guy using Windows 7 and making computer related jokes.
However, the writers also included more typical Family Guy material which has been described as "riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest". There was also a section in which the writers stepped in front of the camera to play Latino housekeepers.
After executives saw a run through of the show a Microsoft spokesman said: "We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humour of Family Guy.
"But after reviewing an early version of the variety show, it became clear that the content was not fit with the Windows brand."
He added: "We continue to have a good partnership with Fox, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas."
The computer giant had said it hoped the sponsorship agreement would blend promotion of Windows 7 "seamlessly with show content" allowing it to reach a "new audience of digitally savvy young adult viewers".
Despite Microsoft backing out Fox plans to go ahead with the Family Guy special on Nov 8 with another sponsor.
It is the second time this year Microsoft has dropped an advertising campaign featuring potentially offensive humour.
In July it pulled an internet only commercial called "Oh My God! I'm Gonna Puke" which featured a woman unable to stop vomiting after discovering pornography on her husband's computer.
Microsoft said it will continue with other parts of its deal with Family Guy, including continuing to run advertisements of Windows 7 on the Fox network.
A 12-week tour of colleges and universities across the United States featuring Windows 7 and Family Guy-themed events will also go ahead.