Danes divided on kids’ TV show about superpowered penis

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – A Danish children’s animated TV show about a man with the superpower of an infinitely stretchy penis has divided the opinion of parents and politicians in Denmark.

The show “John Dillermand” – which roughly translates to “John Pee-Pee” – has been airing on state broadcaster DR since late December. The show features an animated clay man in a red and white striped outfit with a stretchy penis – sometimes useful, sometimes out of control, but fully dressed.

Even in famous progressive Denmark, not everyone is happy.

Some Danes have taken to social media, calling it “disgusting” and “substandard” for a show aimed at children aged 4 to 8.

“Am I the only one who finds it objectionable that children find it amusing to watch adult penises on DR?” Morten Messerschmidt, a conservative Danish People’s Party lawmaker, wrote on Twitter.

Author Anne Lise Marstrand-Jørgensen asked if the show was “really the message we want to send to children, at a time when we are in the middle of a huge #metoo wave?

Others have called it “funny” and “harmless”.

In the TV show, the penis gets stuck in the door of a bus, clings to balloons as the character flies through the air, and is used both as a helicopter rotor and as a whip to tame a lion .

DR said the show aims to recognize children’s curiosity for their bodies, including parts they might find embarrassing, by having a childish adult with an unusual body as the main character.

“Small children like to be naked and explore. They play doctor’s games, examine themselves and like naughty words, ”Margrethe Bruun Hansen, a child psychologist consulted during the production of the show, told DR.