The Sopranos is a series which portrays Mafia type characters who often express televisionthemselves in shockingly crude language, including profane language. In one scene, one of the characters, in an outburst of temper uses a combination of the Lord’s Name and “f–k”. The reference was clearly not intended to be sacrilegious, but simply amounted to meaningless abuse. The Tribunal came to the conclusion that the circumstances were of such a nature that one could not infer that the words, judged within context, advocated hatred based on religion that constituted incitement to cause harm. The time of the broadcast was also after the watershed. Decision of the Adjudicator upheld that there had been no contravention.

[2003] JOL 10512 (BCCSA)

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