“Baby It’s Cold Outside” is a classic Christmas song that’s been played for years. However, due to complaints about the lyrics, many radio stations have stopped playing the song. Instead of hearing the song as a flirtatious conversation between a man and a woman, listeners believe the lyrics “ring date-rape warning bells”, according to NPR. Radio stations in Ohio, California, and Canada have stopped playing the song after receiving complaints. The host of WDOK in Cleveland, Glenn Anderson, said the lyrics are “manipulative and wrong”. A radio station in California stopped playing it after receiving calls from people who have been sexually abused.

Although some of the lyrics can be taken the wrong way, the woman never says that she doesn’t want to stay. The reasons she gives for needing to leave have to do with what other people will think. The female lead claims that “My mother will start to worry” and that “My father will be pacing the floor”. She also makes a comment about what the neighbors will think if she stays over in the second verse. Furthermore, in the third verse, the woman says that her “sister will be suspicious” and that her “brother will be there at the door”. The woman in the song is more concerned about what others will think, and never states that she doesn’t want to because of any reason that doesn’t have to do with what others will think. This idea is further solidified with the line “There’s bound to be talk tomorrow. . . At least there will be plenty implied”. Furthermore, the woman is in no hurry to leave. She makes a comment about staying to have “half a drink more” and “Maybe just a cigarette more”. She wasn’t rushing to get home, and the lyrics suggest that she wanted to stay for longer. It is understandable why some people may find the song controversial because of the lyrics sung by the man, but by listening to the female’s part, it can be understood that she wants to stay, but is hesitant to because of what the neighbors and her family may think. Plenty of other songs written these days are much more offensive than this Christmas classic is, but they’re still played anyway. If radio stations stop playing “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, then they should stop playing these other songs as well.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Christmas movie that is found to be offensive. Critics are upset about the “verbal abuse”, bullying, and exclusion that are in the movie. They find that Donner abuses Rudolph by making him wear a fake nose to hide his red one and that the other elves bully Hermey for wanting to be a dentist. Critics of the film also believe that Rudolph’s coach and the other reindeer bully Rudolph by not letting him “join in any reindeer games”. By the end of the movie, however, the other reindeer learn to appreciate Rudolph’s nose when Santa asks him to lead his sleigh. Voice actor, Corrine Conley, defended the movie, saying that “it’s all reconciled in Rudolph” and claimed that “if it left a resonance of bullying, it wouldn’t be so indelible on people’s hearts.” Whoopi Goldberg also came to the movie’s defense. She said, “He’s a kid that nobody believed in and suddenly they realized he is special, he is who he is for a reason.” Although Rudolph is bullied by the other reindeer, he is later on loved when they realize how special he is.

It is understandable why some people have problems with “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. However, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is nothing more than a flirtatious conversation between a man and a woman who wants to spend the night but is afraid of what others will think. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Christmas movie that teaches kids to be accepting of one another’s differences. Both are Christmas classics that should continue being played during the holiday season.