By
The Associated Press
Spokesperson says injuries to young people 'incredibly upsetting'
NEW YORK - MTV says it's upsetting when young people injure themselves with the popular show "Jackass" in mind, but insists it isn't responsible for viewers who try dangerous stunts.
The show is in the media glare after a handful of copycat cases and an incident in Kentucky Monday in which friends filmed a 16-year-old boy being hit by a car - although there was some question about whether "Jackass" had anything to do with that case.
"Jackass" premiered in October and quickly became MTV's most popular series. Its star, Johnny Knoxville, has been doused with pepper spray, sat in a portable bathroom when it was tipped over and lay down on a barbecue in a fire resistant suit hung with steaks.
A 13-year-old Connecticut boy suffered second-degree burns imitating the steak stunt in January. An 11-year-old boy, also from Connecticut, was burned copying a stunt where he soaked a rag with engine degreaser, wrapped it around his leg and set it on fire.
Sunday, a 19-year-old Minnesota man told police he was inspired by "Jackass" when he stopped traffic by running around with a chain saw in the rain, dressed in a hospital gown.
The Kentucky victim broke his leg and suffered other injuries when he hurtled over the hood of a car intentionally driven into him by friends.
Garry Edmondson, the Kenton County attorney, told NBC's "Today" show yesterday that he was looking into whether MTV bore some legal responsibility for the incident.
"Certainly they are morally culpable," he said.
"Today" showed video six times of the boy flipping over the car.
MTV executives would not comment on "Jackass" yesterday. A spokeswoman, Jeannie Kedas, said it's "incredibly upsetting" when young people hurt themselves, but MTV is not responsible.
"We're taking this very seriously and we're taking a closer look at the show, but we haven't made any decisions," Kedas said.
She wouldn't say what options are being considered. "Jackass," which airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET, has ended its season of original episodes and is about to go into reruns.
MTV runs a disclaimer, both orally and in print, at the beginning of each "Jackass" episode telling viewers they shouldn't re-enact any activity performed on the show. MTV also tells viewers it does not accept tapes submitted by viewers who want to be on "Jackass."
The network strengthened its disclaimer and moved the show from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. after the Connecticut incidents and after complaints from U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the former Democratic vice presidential candidate.
Although MTV said "Jackass" is aimed at viewers age 18 to 24 and carries a TV-MA rating, its executives admitted in a letter to Lieberman that one-third of the show's audience is 17 or younger.
Lieberman believes MTV bears some responsibility for copycat stunts and should rethink the show, said the senator's spokesman, Dan Gerstein.
"You don't want to over-exaggerate the influence of the show," Gerstein said. "It's not like there are thousands of kids running into the streets imitating things they've seen on the show. But if these things add up, and someone gets seriously hurt by them, it raises some questions."
There was some doubt yesterday whether "Jackass" had anything to do with the Kentucky incident. The Independence, Ky., police department said in its report that the boys were copying "Jackass."
But Eric Deter, a lawyer who represents a friend of the boys, said his client insists the incident had nothing to do with "Jackass."
MTV points out that "Jackass" has never run a stunt in which someone gets hit by a car, although a commercial for a sneaker currently airing nationwide does.
