Brazil Has A Cow Over 'Simpsons' Episode

Posted Wednesday, April 10, 2002 at 4:20 PM Central

by Heather Koehler

Bart and Homer may touch the hearts of millions, but they struck a nerve with Brazilian officials and Fox is getting sued.

Riotur, the tourism agency for Rio de Janeiro, filed a civil lawsuit against the network in response to the episode, "Blame it on Lisa," in which the family travels to Rio de Janeiro for a vacation.

The Simpsons didn't like Rio very much as their resort was filled with mad monkeys, Homer was held ransom by a cabbie, a boa swallows Bart and Marge meets the not-so-friendly police force. Riotur didn't like it either and adds they were additionally offended by the depiction of their natives as Spanish-accented, thick-mustachioed dancers and a local orphanage name that translated to "Filthy Angels Orphanage."

The group claims they spent $18 million last year to promote Rio as a great vacation destination and in one hour Fox and The Simpsons tossed it down the tubes.

Isn't there something called the First Amendment here in America?