ABC might have stepped over the line during a recent episode of Desperate Housewives, sparking a public outcry culminating in online petitions, angry phone calls and criticism from Philippine officials. Sunday’s Desperate season premiere featured Susan (Teri Hatcher) at the doctor’s office, a character who becomes horrified to learn she may be going through menopause. Here’s how it played out:

“Listen, Susan, I know for a lot of women the word ‘menopause’ has negative connotations. You hear ‘aging, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire,’” says the doctor. “Okay, so before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren’t, like, from some med school in the Philippines?” Susan offers her supposed-to-be-funny rejoinder.

And that’s when the desperation hit the fan. Calls started rolling in, and as of Wednesday evening more than thirty thousand had added their names to an online petition demanding apology from ABC. The network has responded with a statement saying they’re considering editing the episode, and has offered their “sincere apologies.” The prepared statement said the network had no intention of disparaging the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines. The episode has drawn international attention and plenty of YouTube hits, beginning a PR nightmare for ABC execs.