HBO Apologizes for Putting George Bush‘s Head on a Pike in ’Game of Thrones’: ‘Bad Taste’
- Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:31pm by
Erica Ritz
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(Photo: Screen Shot via Fox News)
HBO has issued an apology for using a severed head with the likeness of George W. Bush in a scene for its hit show “Game of Thrones” after a day of controversy rocked the network.
The show’s producers originally pointed it out in the DVD commentary for season one, saying, “The last head on the left is George Bush,” before clarifying: “George Bush’s head appears in a couple of beheading scenes…It’s not a choice, it’s not a political statement. We just had to use whatever head we had around.”
Though, as the Blaze pointed out yesterday, why HBO had a severed head of George W. Bush “around” is anybody’s guess.
(Related: George W. Bush‘s Severed Head Appears on a Spike in Scene From HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’)
The producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss explained in a statement today:
What happened was this: we use a lot of prosthetic body parts on the show: heads, arms, etc. We can’t afford to have these all made from scratch, especially in scenes where we need a lot of them, so we rent them in bulk. After the scene was already shot, someone pointed out that one of the heads looked like George W. Bush
In the DVD commentary, we mentioned this, though we should not have. We meant no disrespect to the former President and apologize if anything we said or did suggested otherwise.
Game of Thrones (Photo: AP)
Though the two statements are somewhat contradictory — either they had an extra head of George W. Bush laying around and used it, or they rented a head that just so happened to look like George W. Bush — HBO issued a blanket apology:
We were deeply dismayed to see this and find it unacceptable, disrespectful and in very bad taste. We made this clear to the executive producers of the series who apologized immediately for this inadvertent careless mistake. We are sorry this happened and will have it removed from any future DVD production.
With HBO’s apology, The Los Angeles Times points out that this particular version of the “Game of Thrones” DVD set will likely be a collector’s item soon.
But Craig Eaton, the chairman of the Brooklyn Republican Party, was disgusted by the whole charade.
“Whether you like him or dislike him, whether you’re of the same political persuasion or not, we still have to respect the office of the presidency and all of those who hold that presidency.”
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Comments (92)
Volsense
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:23pmThe figurehead of HBO is Bill Maher. That alone should remove all doubt where their level of decency really is. A pig is a pig no matter how much make-up you put on it.
Report Post »WakingSheep
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:34pmWow,
Everybody on here gets worked up about game of thrones (doesn’t affect you, me, or my family) but ignore the blatant disregard for the Constitution (DOES AFFECT US) that Romney has.
There are more comments on the Game of throne thread than there are on Romneycare vs Obamacare.
Wow how lost we are……..
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:18pm“We meant no disrespect to the former President” Prove it, put Obama’s head on a pike! Oh no…never. That would be racist.
Report Post »WakingSheep
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:36pmI wonder if that’s the haircut Bush had back in his coke snorting days……
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:43pmObama‘s hair hasn’t changed since his drug addled days. Wake yourself up. R.P. couldn’t even beat Santorum head to head and you think he would beat Obama. You have to be asleep to have a dream that vivid.
Report Post »WakingSheep
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 5:01pm……….. I didn’t mention R.P……..
Now that you mention it though;
How is Romney going to stack up with the Constitution as his guide?
How will he stack up with 90% of his policies matching Obama’s?
I guess you aren’t going to wake up and realize what NDAA is.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 5:22pmWalkingsheep, you don’t have to mention RP, it oozes from you idiots like the stench from a rotting skunk and it’s not RP, it’s you.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 5:25pmYou don’t have to mention R.P., your stench gives you away. I like R.P., it‘s his Kool Aid drinking supporters I can’t stomach.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 5:35pmPerhaps they could get away with sticking the white half of Obama’s head on a pike.
Report Post »WakingSheep
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 6:19pmGood argument fellas…. Very thought provoking…
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 6:51pmBob will love the NDAA he will enjoy indefinitely detaining American citizens on suspicion without a lawyer or trial.
Report Post »shimauma
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:18pmHaving read the books, we subscribed to HBO when they bought the rights to make the series. I like the series; believe it or not there are a lot of lessons of what happens when you do something stupid, and being a real leader, and why honor is important, but fighting back is important too. Sadly, it is true that the folks that make the series are not very conservative friendly. I’m thinking I wish there was a way to cancel HBO til the next season of GOT starts…
Report Post »Ralphbp
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:10pmHBO is just an extension of the Marxist/Socialist/Democrats propaganda machine. Their apology is about as sincere as a shark‘s apology for chomping off someone’s leg. Useless! I have never liked nor subscribed to this Marxist tripe.
Report Post »As for the lefty poster (G.E.R.?) previously here, his viciousness is exceeded only by his lack of intelligence. He exemplifies the zombies very well. Tolerance and acceptance! Yeah, my hairy left cheek!
Individualism
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:05pmDamn if it only it was real than it would be punishment for war crimes.
Report Post »Chevalier
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:27pmMoron. . .then Obama must face war crimes, too!
Report Post »charles116
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:31pmAnd Cheney too.
Report Post »WakingSheep
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:36pmDon’t forget about Rumsfeld.
Report Post »Crazy Times
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 6:42pmDon’t forget that you all would not ever dare to attept to defend the country you live in…
..cowards.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 6:53pmnot by murdering people overseas but joining a milita and defending the citizens sure i would.
Report Post »Crazy Times
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 7:08pmIndividualism,
Stop trying to be think of yourself of something you will never ever be and face reality.
Report Post »407west
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:53pmSorry for what, where the h*ll ar the grownups! What pathic citizens we have, could I trade them for a bunch of illegals from Brazil-
Report Post »Glad I don’t get HBO, starting to wonder what channels are left,sick of Rachel Ray, Guy stuffing his face,Anderson,Piers,are all interchangeable from channel to channel, are we short on american talent or funds! Oh the golf channel gushing over Tiger YUK…
Oh my I’m going to miss John King, is his wife going next!
az_patriot
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:50pmCancelled my HBO subscription today. Some moron spent time creating the image and then some other moron put it on the air. HBO – you lose.
Report Post »Gamaliel
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:40pm“Sorry”? . . . doesn’t cut it. Certainly heads would really roll if this was done to the annointed one.
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:31pmWhere is BO’s head? If you’re going for Bush, who is a Patriot, I think the opposite should also be used.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:55pmI doubt if these cowards would even put a black head on a pike, I don‘t watch this crap but I’m betting they wouldn’t even do that.
Report Post »charles116
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:33pmBush is such a patriot, if he goes to some countries in Europe he’ll be arrested as a war criminal.
Report Post »Cheney too,
Nothing like that home skoolin’, huh?
charles116
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:34pmThere were no black folk in that part of the world at that time.
Report Post »Do some homework
Lloyd Drako
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:48pmCharles116: That part of what world? The world where winter comes at irregular intervals and lasts an unpredictable length of time? It’s fantasy, not history.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 5:25pmLOL at you Charles! You sad fool.
Report Post »JawaJam
Posted on June 15, 2012 at 4:56amBe nice to Charles116, He is still getting his weekly updates about the SS Minnow crew who are trapped on an island after a storm during their 3 hour tour.
Report Post »dont tread
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:29pmall they did was comment on how the head looked like bush’s head, it wasn’t a model of his head as some news agencies are reporting
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:36pmYour name should be, “Doesn’t Read”.
Report Post »dont tread
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:41pmi listened to the commentary, did you?
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:25pmHBO, cable in general, and all of the networks except perhaps FOX….are liberal. Television is a liberal wasteland. The best thing we can do as conservative patriots is to either start a conservative network (and I do not mean FOX), begin a serious boycott campaign on those companies that run their commercials on the most liberal shows, boycott television altogether, or if we have no conservative network…do the other three.
Report Post »GreenMountainBoy
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:25pmWonder if anyone will get upset if I hang BHO in effigy in my front yard?
No, that would be a waste. It would be better to use as a 3D target for my bow.
(I keep his chin pointed up, like that arrogant pic of him, and try to hit the nostril.)
Boy these people (libutards) are going to be really surprised when, after you say you are really pissed, you actually do something, other than whine.
Report Post »The people who say “Violence never solves anything, never tried it!”
In the O.C.
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:24pmI know HBO wil not be reading these comments on a conservative thread. I know they can’t even spell conservative, much less be aware of its existence, but nevertheless I would like to say that they’re so-called “apology” and mea culpa is nothing but a pile of steaming ****. They don’t mean a word of it, the damage is already done – again – and they don’t give a rip about any responsible person pointing out the obvious and disgustingly mean and rotten and unncessary action by “Game of Thromes personnel. Anyone who believes a word the people associated with the production of this program that it was the “only one they had lying around”, is a fool. They are nothing more than President Bush-hating, low-life, bottom-feeding amoeba. LOW. LIFES. Very low and disgusting.
Report Post »In the O.C.
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:27pmI apologize for my typos. I was typing too fast. Sorry.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:23pmWe’re sorry…that we got caught. Bill Maher cost DirecTV my HBO subscription a long time ago. If you still have it and are conservative, shame on you.
Report Post »NanTrek
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:15pmIsn’t it refreshing to see another “spontaneous” apology for a slap at a Republican President! Remember when the Secret Service was dispatched to arrest a couple who said “Clinton sucks”? American citizens lose their rights to free speech about scurrilous Democrat office holders but good men are routinely heaped with scorn by the Leftists in Hollywood while we wait in vain for redress.
Report Post »The cancellation department at HBO must have been pretty busy after this story broke. We cancelled HBO years ago when we couldn’t watch it without feeling the need to go to Confession immediately afterward.
marhee9
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:21pmIn bad taste………you think??? Just imagine having that done to Barack Obama. Oh my would this be a whole diffeent issue. I hear people talk about the tea party holding signs comparing Obama to Hitler all the time. They never actually show these “supposed” signs, yet just google Bush and Hitler. There are still thousands of sites where not only do they make the comparison, ou can get shirts, coffee mugs, all sorts of items with Bush in a Nazi uniform. There is no outrage over this however.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OPf1dK-qlE
G.E.R
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:04pmThe only thing HBO should apologize for is not using his real head.
Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:07pmTypical lefty coward, good job.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:21pmJust a lame bombthrower, you are irrelevant.
Report Post »wianno94
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:52pmIn the spirit of fair and balanced HBO, will you be putting a head of BHO on a pike? Nah…I didn’t think so. Cancelled as of June 18.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 3:09pmGood for you …. I even trimmed back my cable so that I am no longer supporting ALGORES Current TV.
Report Post »T-2
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:44pmwill they pay Bush loyalty for using his head?
Report Post »Unbelievable
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:42pmApology not accepted and if I had HBO I would cancel it.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:41pmTo late …It’s been cancelled..Ferk hbo, bill mar, nbc, msnbc, food network, and comcast…
it’s all dnc propaganda
Report Post »taxwarrior
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:37pmHey once the secret service finds out that one of the producers also produces porn movies they’ll be sending truck loads of agents out to the left coast to interview him
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:44pmOr party with him(and his “ACTORS”)
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:36pmToo late for an apology. Libs are cowards and that‘s all they’ll ever be.
Report Post »toto
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:47pmWorse than cowards. Evil, grotesque examples of humanity. The irony is they are so opposite of what they claim to be.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:54pmYou got that right marine they’re just a bunch of candyasses with no integrity whatsoever.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:56pmThey couldn’t do one of Obama, they would never do that, the screams from the left would be deafening, plus there isn’t enough latex in the world to sculpt his ears to proper size or enough BS to fill the head.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:36pmIt was really funny to us when we did it, but now that we got caught, we apologise. Yeah, just what is the maximum effective range of an excuse….or an insincere apology?
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:35pmsure it wasn’t intentional right? we are all buying that we know how nice HBO is to conservatives right? all that bill maher oh the civility. too bad game of thrones you show your true colors and don’t like the consequences. better books than shows anyways
Report Post »taxwarrior
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 2:34pmBS – Just the left getting another slap at Bush.
But the Teaparty calling Obama a Socialist now that’s hate.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:32pmWhat’s hateful about calling one a socialist? Socialism is a form of economy, or what your post is referring to, Obama’s economic beliefs…not a derogatory term. Would you call the tea party “You hateful free-marketers?” Hardly insulting.
However, I for one will not call Obama a socialist, as I believe that is the wrong term to describe him. Fascist is a better example.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on June 14, 2012 at 4:41pmMy correction…Communist, not socialist. Communists and fascists are both socialists, the difference being in how the government runs the corporations…so yeah, with socialist being the broader term, Obama will stiff fit in that.
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