Cele|bitchy | “Super Size Me” filmmaker Morgan Spurlock offends some at high school speech

Academy-Award nominated documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock angered some and delighted others with a controversial speech at a high school in Pennsylvania on Friday. Spurlock is the creator and star of the film “Super Size Me” which follows his health-damaging experience of eating only McDonalds food for 30 days.

In Spurlock’s speech, he is said to have made an off color joke about “retards” and to have used the F word. While some were offended, many students predictably thought the speech was great:

In his hourlong presentation before 700 students, Spurlock joked about the intelligence of McDonald’s employees, using an Indian accent as he imitated a cashier trying to figure out how to ring up a Quarter Pounder hamburger. He also joked about “retarded kids in the back wearing helmets” and teachers smoking pot in the balcony.

There actually were special education students in the back row. Teachers led them out during the hourlong presentation.

“If you put the whole package together, the use of the F-word and poking fun at teachers and the comments about special-needs students, it just wasn’t appropriate,” Superintendent William Lessa said.

Most students laughed, gave Spurlock a standing ovation and mobbed him for autographs. But a speech Spurlock was to make at the school later Friday night for community members was canceled.

Spurlock says the school made the outrageous request that he not mention McDonalds in his speech because a member of the school board runs a local franchise. It is possible that his comments were blown out of proportion by hostile adults in the audience, but if he did make a reference to “retards” he deserves the public ire that he’s receiving. Everyone knows that the “r” word is cruel and taboo.

Spurlock has yet to comment on the incident in his official blog.

Spurlock recently produced the groundbreaking socially conscious reality series “30 Days” for the FX network. Episodes followed everyday people undergoing life-changing experiences for a month. In one episode, Spurlock and his girlfriend, vegan chef Alex Jamieson, lived on minimum wage for a month in Ohio. Minor health problems and a backbreaking work schedule helped them realize firsthand how difficult it is for hardworking Americans to make ends meet. The Season One DVD of 30 Days will be available in June.

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