Obama Phone provider advertises on "Black Jesus"

"Black Jesus," the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim show that has been criticized as being both blasphemous and racist, has had trouble finding advertisers, but that did not stop SafeLink, the leading provider of Obama Phones, from supporting the show by purchasing advertising time during a recent episode. However, pressure on advertisers by family groups and Christian advocates have had a dramatic effect.

Safelink is owned by TracFone, and its CEO is F.J. Pollak, who is a strong supporter of President Obama, having donated and "bundled" hundreds of thousands of dollars to his campaign. Safelink provides millions of Obama Phones to individuals on public assistance, although they refuse to release specific numbers on how many phones and how much profit they earn on them.

Safelink first advertised during the August 14 episode of "Black Jesus," but even they have felt the pressure from the American Family Association and One Million Moms, who have organized a nationwide protest against the show's advertisers. Very few advertisers continue week to week, with most bowing to pressure and announcing their intent not to continue buying ad time. Safelink did not buy advertising during the most recent episode (September 4, in an episode in which Jesus and his followers grow and sell weed out of a community garden).

The protest against the show's advertisers has had a dramatic effect. For the September 4 episode, the show only featured one commercial break, while most 30-minute shows feature two. Instead, Adult Swim featured just as many promotional spots for other Adult Swim shows as they did actual commercials. Among the advertisers for the September 4 episode were the following (contact information for each advertiser, where available, is included):

*20th Century Fox Movies (advertising the film "The Maze Runner"). Click here to contact Fox Movies through Facebook, and click here to contact them through Twitter.

*Playstation/Bungie (advertising the video game "Destiny"). Click here to contact Playstation through Facebook, and click here to contact them through Twitter. To contact Bungie (the developer/publisher of "Destiny") click here to contact them through Facebook, and click here to contact them through Twitter.

*Hydroxycut (who has advertised over multiple episodes). Click here to contact them through Facebook, and click here to contact them through Twitter.

*Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures (advertising the film "The Equalizer"). Click here to contact them through Facebook, and click here to contact them through Twitter.

*Southern New Hampshire University. Click here to send them feedback through their website, click here to contact them through Facebook, and click here to contact them through Twitter.

Even with the dwindling advertiser support, the show continues to pull in viewers. The premiere episode had 2 million viewers, and while the audience has shrunk, "Black Jesus" still ranks in the top ten cable shows for the night, with just under 1.5 million viewers.

Cartoon Network's blasphemous 'Black Jesus' triggers backlash

The premiere of the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim comedy "Black Jesus" Thursday night delivered exactly what it promised: a profane show that ridiculed Christ and the Christian faith and perpetuated every negative stereotype the black community has had to endure over the years. In response, the American Family Association (AFA) has asked supporters to complain about the show's content to advertisers, a move that has already caused one company to pull their ads.

"Black Jesus" is the latest series from Aaron McGruder, the creator of the comic strip and animated series "The Boondocks," which itself was a lightning rod of controversy for its frank approach to race. McGruder's new show, set in Compton, California, depicts Jesus returning as a black man to spread the gospel in the "hood." What has angered many Christians, however, is the portrayal of Christ drinking and smoking weed, all while dropping F-bombs and using the Lord's name in vain. The mostly-African American cast has been singled out for reflecting the very worst stereotypes about life in the "hood."

In an interview for Vice.com, executive producer Robert Eric Wise justified McGruder's depiction of Jesus by saying “What Aaron has done, and I feel this in my heart—he's made Jesus cool. I don't feel judged by this Jesus. I actually want to hang with this Jesus. And I don't have to rush to church and throw on a suit and pray for forgiveness."