In These Trying Times, Denmark Debuts Children's Show About Man With Giant Penis

You've heard of Stretch Armstrong, the children's toy whose arms stretch into next week? Well, get ready for John Dillermand, the guy whose… well, look, you've read the article title.

Yesterday, before all the craziness at the US Capitol, The Guardian published an article about controversial new Danish TV show John Dillermand, a claymation series aimed at children about a man who overcomes obstacles with his giant penis.

As you may have expected, the title character, whose last name basically translates to "penis man," has caused some controversy as to whether this type of content is appropriate for children. Danish author Anne Lise Marstrand-Jørgensen wrote, "Is this really the message we want to send to children while we are in the middle of a huge #MeToo wave?" (Denmark is in the midst of a #MeToo reckoning kickstarted by TV presenter Sophie Linde).

“It’s perpetuating the standard idea of a patriarchal society and normalising ‘locker room culture’ that’s been used to excuse a lot of bad behaviour from men," added Christian Groes, an associate professor and gender researcher at Roskilde University. "It’s meant to be funny – so it’s seen as harmless. But it’s not. And we’re teaching this to our kids."

Still, not everyone in Denmark is upset about John Dillermand, the man whose comically large penis gets him wrapped up in all sorts of wacky shenanigans. Child and family psychologist Erla Heinesen Højsted said, "John Dillermand talks to children and shares their way of thinking – and kids do find genitals funny."

"The show depicts a man who is impulsive and not always in control, who makes mistakes – like kids do, but crucially, Dillermand always makes it right. He takes responsibility for his actions. When a woman in the show tells him that he should keep his penis in his pants, for instance, he listens. Which is nice. He is accountable," she continued.

After the storming of the U.S. Capitol died down, Twitter was finally free to fully appreciate the wonder of John Dillerman.

And yes, in case you're wondering, John Dillerman is free to stream on the DRTV website.