"How do black people feel? How do brown people feel? How do cripples feel? How do fat people feel?"

You don’t think her asking the black presenter “what are you” but not posing the same question to the white presenter demonstrates racial prejudice?

Ok.

Well the context is that whilst on live daytime TV last week she was blatantly racist towards Andi Peters on several counts, along with impersonating his co-host Christine Lampard's NI accent to her face in a mocking way. And because of the backlash from the offence she has caused, she has now defended herself by using yet more offensive and discriminatory language to describe people who she apparently feels need to be othered.

You don’t think her asking the black presenter “what are you” but not posing the same question to the white presenter demonstrates racial prejudice?

Ok.

Exactly, the woman was showing interest and completely misunderstood. The hounding of her was outrageous. This is not comparable.

I fail to see how Margolyes' language in the live broadcast exhibited racial prejudice towards Andrew Peters. Tactless to make personal remarks in the situation, yes, but remarking that black people have a variety of shades of skin is simply a factual observation. I have many friends - also family - who are black, and the subject occurs in conversation with regularity; predominantly in assessing from what region of Africa a particular person is likely to originate. Conversations not restricted to within black circles, I might add. The subject is very interesting.

That said, Margolyes' use of the colonial-era term "high yellow" was crass, as were her later comments attempting to extenuate the original perceived offence. She is an insensitive bighead (and crashing bore), at worst, and it was this and this alone that was the cause of any unease experienced by Andrew Peters.

Yes she is exactly like that. I haven't seen the interview but I actively avoid watching her especially on Graham Norton. She is elderly and sounds upper class, and very articulate. She tells anecdotes that start off eloquent and then will say 'sucking cock' or some such thing, and everyone hoots with laughter. That's her thing. I don't know her views but I suspect she is being more controversial to get more attention that's all she seems to care about.

I've never heard of her, she sounds s bit like that desperate Katie Hopkins who used to say controversial and racist things for attention. Some people are just born unkind.

No she's not. She's also not required to victim blame some Jews by likening them to Nazis during the holocaust. That hasn't stopped her though.

She’s 85 years old. How many of your 85 year old parents aren’t stuck in their ways and living in a different reality? She’s from an entirety different world altogether. It doesn’t make it right. It doesn’t make it palatable. But it does explain why she doesn’t understand the modern world.

They certainly are and its a disgrace in this country that its being allowed. But 'their own' does not apply to her re Israelis. She is not required to support the Israeli regime or the Israeli people.

Are you saying British Jews aren't being persecuted? Racist my eye.

Where do you start with this 😆 🤣 😂

I was under the impression that Miriam had mimicked Christine's accent but it was Andi. But I don't think she was being racist at all. She was just clumsy, after all she's pretty old and believe me I have older friends who would never say that everyone is welcome! Even if she did add the footnote that there were a few who wouldn't be. High yella may be considered to be offensive now but originally it was intended as a statement that you were of high status. She just sounded genuinely interested to me, albeit without a filter.

I've heard a LOT of people who are disabled refer to themselves as cripples or their walking sticks as their 'crip sticks'. But you probably haven't, if you are not disabled yourself.

> And no, NO-ONE is ok if Chubby Brown or Jim Davidson says it too.

Well, they play to sold-out venues every summer, so apparently lots of people are very okay with it, and a lot, lot worse. This is a perfect summary: https://www.vice.com/da/article/roy-chubby-brown-gig-133/

Are you aware that the lady in question was speaking to someone who was wearing traditional African clothing which no doubt prompted her question?

Yes I was going to say this, someone upthread says she probably hates fat people and cripples. Well she doesnt, this is how she also identifies

I think although I dont agree with what she is saying, its quite refreshing that a celeb (so to speak) doesnt apologise for something.

She’s built her whole career on this schtick so none of it is a surprise. There are worse acts filing the summer season theatre in Torquay so I find it hard to get riled up about it. People will keep interviewing her because people want to watch it - look at the posts here asking for links etc. Of course it’s vile but it sells papers.

I don’t take offence at the cripple word - my siblings and I use sticks for our mobility and referrals to ourselves an old cripples. MM does the same.

I fail to see how Margolyes' language in the live broadcast exhibited racial prejudice towards Andrew Peters. Tactless to make personal remarks in the situation, yes, but remarking that black people have a variety of shades of skin is simply a factual observation. I have many friends - also family - who are black, and the subject occurs in conversation with regularity; predominantly in assessing from what region of Africa a particular person is likely to originate. Conversations not restricted to within black circles, I might add. The subject is very interesting.

That said, Margolyes' use of the colonial-era term "high yellow" was crass, as were her later comments attempting to extenuate the original perceived offence. She is an insensitive bighead (and crashing bore), at worst, and it was this and this alone that was the cause of any unease experienced by Andrew Peters.

A woman as old as her, who has written a book, has enough life experience and intelligence to know that the way she referred to the colour of Andy Peter's skin was grossly and wilfully offensive. The accent was also grossly offensive.

If I said that to someone, I'd rightly lose my job. There's no way you can explain away calling someone that unrepeatable term.

I don't think Andy Peters dealt with it well at all. If it is safe to do so, you should call out racism every time, terminate the conversation, or refuse to further engage with the person. He did none of those. It may well have been a surprise for him to have experienced overt racism on his own talk show, but as a seasoned presenter, he should have managed that better.

I fail to see how Margolyes' language in the live broadcast exhibited racial prejudice towards Andrew Peters. Tactless to make personal remarks in the situation, yes, but remarking that black people have a variety of shades of skin is simply a factual observation. I have many friends - also family - who are black, and the subject occurs in conversation with regularity; predominantly in assessing from what region of Africa a particular person is likely to originate. Conversations not restricted to within black circles, I might add. The subject is very interesting.

That said, Margolyes' use of the colonial-era term "high yellow" was crass, as were her later comments attempting to extenuate the original perceived offence. She is an insensitive bighead (and crashing bore), at worst, and it was this and this alone that was the cause of any unease experienced by Andrew Peters.