Controversial 'Scooby-Doo' spinoff 'Velma' in hot water again over sickle cell joke
Despite garnering some of the worst reviews in IMDB history, the HBO Max show has somehow been renewed
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Velma," the HBO spinoff of "Scooby-Doo," that has been repeatedly called out for issues such as sexualizing minors and pushing a woke agenda, is now in hot water over a crass joke at the expense of those who suffer sickle cell anemia.
The HBO Max show has been picked up for a second season, despite ending up as the third worst-reviewed show in Internet Movie Database (IMDB) history.
All of this comes as the show is now under fire for a joke that tied attractiveness to the blood disorder sickle cell anemia. As noted by the entertainment site Bounding Into Comics, longtime "Scooby Doo" character Fred tells Velma "I have a disease where I can’t recognize people who aren’t hot…. My doctor says it’s basically sickle cell for rich people."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}HBO "Scooby Doo" spinoff "Velma" has been annihilated by critics since it debuted earlier this month. (Hanna-Barbera)
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America called out the joke:
The new "Scooby-Doo" spinoff includes nudity, gratuitous violence and an "oozing corpse" in one episode. It became the third worst-rated show in history on entertainment site IMDB in January.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VELMA IS OFFICIALLY REVEALED TO BE A LESBIAN IN NEW ‘SCOOBY-DOO’ FILM
The classic 'Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!' was co-created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears. (Hanna-Barbera Productions)
During episode four, titled, "Velma Makes a List," the new series made multiple jokes about children in a sexual manner.
In episode four, the town’s mayor lusted after high school girls. Another episode featured Velma going to a strip club and pole dancing for her father.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Yet, industry website Deadline explained that "Velma" is returning for a second season: "[CEO of Warner Television Group Channing] Dungey's team is working on a second season of Scooby-Doo spin-off Velma, an adult animated comedy that comes from Mindy Kaling."
"Velma" does a brief pole-dance in the most recent episode on Thursday. (HBO Max)
Fox News’ Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.