A Long Island University doctoral professor claims that Rankin/Bass’ Christmas special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” inspires children to bully their peers. And here we thought it just raised awareness for misfit toys.

Dr. George Giuliani, a professor of special education and author of the book ‘No More Bullies at the North Pole,’ that takes the perennial holiday special to task. He suggests that ‘Rudolph,’ which has run on television every year since 1964, teaches kids some “wrong messages” and includes overtones and incidents of “sexism, favoritism, exclusion and hypocritical behavior” committed against Rudolph and Hermey the elf who wants to become a dentist.

Giuliani appeared on ‘Fox and Friends’ to defend his theory about the special with easily agitated conservative comedian Brad Stine. Watch below and decide whether Rudolph makes kids prejudiced against their red-nosed and elvish peers.

[via Mediaite]

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