Commentary: 

As of last night, the Auctioneer at #ThePurge (seen below), one of the more fun and spontaneous portions of the event is gone. This is now two years in a row that people with a thin skin and an agenda have managed to get things removed from the park. 

This all began when a pair of 13 year-old girls who were at the event with no adult supervision felt they were singled out and called "Sluts and Whores" by the Auctioneer. 

If you've seen the Purge movies you know that this is a part of the "show'. If you look at the video in this link you will see that they girls were in no way singled out, but referred to. They weren't called up on stage, they weren't ridiculed publicly. 

As a parent, I have to admit that when I first heard the story I was very torn. I know I wouldn't be happy if somebody had called my daughter a slut in the way that it was first presented (that they were called up and singled out).

But as more details began to come out I became far less torn. A few thoughts on the matter. 

• Halloween Horror Nights is an event intended for "Mature Audiences". I can't imagine dropping my 13 year old daughter off at a theme park by themselves, let alone an event like HHN

• As a parent, if you are going to drop off your 13 year old at an event, it's up to you to research that event. A look at the HHN website to see the properties that are represented should give you that information that it's not appropriate. 
• The Purge is an Rated R movie, 13 year old girls wouldn't be allowed into the movie without an adult. I think the time is coming where HHN will be the same. it sucks for the 99% of other people who "get it" but it's better than the alternative. 
• As seen in this video from our friends at Inside Universal, the Auctioneer did the same thing on opening night and other nights. Everybody gets it, they laugh, they realize they are a part of "The Show" and not ACTUALLY being called Sluts. 
• The Purge (and many other scare zones and mazes at the event) have simulated murder, whether by Chain Saw, Werewolf, Alien, Vampire, Zombie, etc ... apparently that is all ok, but two words said in a show is unacceptable. 

Was Universal wrong here? Only in the sense that they let the Auctioneer become the scapegoat in this situation. The show has run for almost a month before this came to light. If it was about just getting an apology, why go to Gloria Allred, one of the most notorious media attorneys in Southern California? 

In my opinion Universal does owe these girls an apology, for having parents that didn't do enough research to make sure the event was appropriate for their kids. 


So what do you think Universal needs to do to insure this doesn't happen again? An age restriction? Toning down the event and making it more family oriented? 

At the VERY least they need to make sure those under a certain age (16 or 17) aren't attending the event without adult supervision.