Portal 2 'adoption controversy': US TV news says game is offensive to orphans

WBTV in North Carolina takes on Valve

Local North Carolina, US news station WBTV has taken a pop at Valve and its loveable Portal 2, over what it deems an in-game "controversy".

The channel's report, which you can watch below, attacks the game and its developer for "making fun of adoption", whilst Valve and Sony's decision not to make a comment on the article is described as "passing the buck".


WBTV interviews Neil Stapel, father of a 10-year-old adopted Zoe, and suggests he was left "shocked and really surprised" by the game's content.

Stapel's daughter reportedly witnessed bot Wheatley, voiced by UK comic Stephen Merchant, deploy jibes throughout the game based on Chell's alleged status as an orphan.

"I don't know what to do," Stapel tells the channel in its report. "I still don't know what to do."

The station then shows a scene in which Wheatley calls Chell "fatty fatty no parents".

"Did you hear that?" asks WBTV's Brigida Mack over some game footage. "The character in the popular kids' video game is actually taunted for being adopted."

"It literally pokes fun for not having parents," adds Stapel. "It throws the most ultimate question that child is ever going to have for you right into the living room."

He later adds: "It's rated E for Everybody. And I was thinking it's rated E for Everybody except for orphans."

For the record, the full script from the edited Portal 2 scene used by WBTV reads:


GLaDOS: And...

Wheatley: What?

GLaDOS: What exactly is wrong with being adopted?



Wheatley: Some of my my best friends are actually orphans...

GLaDOS: Also, look at her you moron. She's not fat.

Wheatley: I AM NOT A MORON! Just do the test, just do the test.

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