HORSHAM, Pa. – Oscar-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock has apologized for a profanity-laced, politically incorrect talk at a suburban Philadelphia high school that some administrators and teachers found offensive.
On his blog, the “Super Size Me” director wrote Sunday that “it is never my intent to insult or demean anyone – and I understand how some of my remarks may have offended some in attendance and if you feel they did, then I am deeply sorry.”
Spurlock appeared at Hatboro-Horsham High School on Friday afternoon as part of a two-day Health and Wellness Fair sponsored by the Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation and spoke to about 700 students from physical education, family and consumer science classes.
A speech scheduled in the evening for the general community was canceled, and officials say Spurlock might not be paid.
Spurlock – who in the documentary “Super Size Me” ate three meals a day at McDonald’s for 30 days – was supposed to talk to students about eating healthy.
He did, but during his fast-paced, humorous talk, Spurlock used the F-word, imitated and mocked various ethnic groups – including Indians and Mexicans – joked about teachers smoking pot in the balcony, talked about his sex life and made insensitive remarks about special education students.
Administrators were not amused.
Spurlock said he does this to “connect” with students, while Superintendent William Lessa suggested the talk was more appropriate for a comedy club than a high school.
The story, and Spurlock’s remarks, spread like wildfire on the Internet after The Associated Press picked up an Allentown Morning Call story over the weekend.
“We’re just looking to get past this thing and get back to normal,” said Principal Dennis Williams, adding he has been besieged by interview requests from newspapers and television and radio stations.
Williams said he “pulled the plug” on Spurlock at the end of the question-and-answer period of his hourlong talk.
Williams said he addressed the controversy with students Monday morning.
“I spoke to students over the loudspeaker and made it clear to them that what they witnessed was not our intention,” he said, adding a lot of students he has talked to were offended by Spurlock’s remarks. “And that makes me proud. We have a pretty diverse population here and we stress understanding and our kids realize that.”
The principal said a letter will be sent to parents and posted on the school’s Web site. Williams has received about 10 or 15 phone calls or e-mails from parents. “Most were in appreciation of what we did, while a few questioned why we brought him in in the first place.”
Although Spurlock referred to “retarded kids in the back wearing helmets,” the filmmaker wrote on his blog that he only referred to himself as “retarded” and “did make an aside about kids sleeping in the back wearing helmets, which was done with no malicious intent.”
There were about 15 special education students in the back row, but teachers escorted them out after 10 minutes.
Spurlock could not be reached for comment Monday.
On his blog, Spurlock reiterated his claim that he was told shortly before his speech not to speak about McDonald’s because a board member of the Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation owns a franchise.
According to Linda Piper, director of the foundation, this is partially true. A former board member, she said, does own a McDonald’s franchise. And part of the contractual agreement with Spurlock, Piper said, was that he “not make McDonald’s the primary issue and instead make the primary issue be about health and wellness and the effects of fast food in general, not just McDonald’s.”
Spurlock received a standing ovation from most of the students and was mobbed for autographs. Williams, Piper and Lessa then met with Spurlock backstage.
“I wanted him to know he was speaking to high school kids and how inappropriate it was,” Williams said.
Spurlock, the principal said, responded that he has given similar talks to other high school groups and never before been “confronted” by administrators or teachers.
“I told him, ‘Consider yourself confronted,'” Williams said.
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