The all-inclusive world of Glee has come under attack for its latest plotline involving a transgender teen.
Glee Project runner-up Alex Newell plays an African American student who first appears as a male named Wade, but identifies as a female called "Unique" (who he calls "the real me").
US Fox News conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly of The O'Reilly Factor lashed out at Glee, which screens on the neighbouring Fox network, for possibly influencing children to "experiment with this stuff".
"Here's the problem with a show like this, though," he said. "If you make the behavior of these people ... if children hear it, unsupervised children, okay who don't have parents watching their — they might go out and experiment with this stuff."
"Do you really think that this is the kind of thing that's contagious?," responded panellist Judge Jeanine Pirro.
"I don't know," O'Reilly answered.
Another panellist, Gretchen Carlson, agreed that the show's transgender plotline was "way over the top". She also claimed that children learn from celebrities who experiment with homosexuality "on the side, and it may be drug-fuelled". Okaaay ...
A spokesperson for GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation) called the comments "extremely dangerous and completely divorced from reality. The two clearly do not have the best interests of individual children at heart."
GLAAD's Matt Kane has praised Glee for "rais[ing] the bar for diversity on network television again".
The show's portrayal of the relationship between Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) has previously angered conservative family groups.
Glee lost to Modern Family in the Outstanding Comedy Series category at this years GLAAD's 23rd Annual Media Awards. Last year the two shows tied for that same award.
