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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to want this presenter fired...

324 replies

Princess28 · 12/08/2015 20:07

I'm all for freedom of speech but I think as a radio presenter on BBC you do need to have some standards. He describes (from minutes 9-12) how breastfeeding is 'unnatural' and 'guys' don't want to see it in public. He describes a situation on a bus with a larger lady breastfeeding. He's not a rent a gob guest- he's the presenter. So aibu to want him off the airwaves?

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02y4dz4

OP posts:
Original poster
Princess28 · 12/08/2015 20:08

Aaah- can someone link for me???

OP posts:
pookamoo · 12/08/2015 20:10

link

CrapBag · 12/08/2015 20:11

YABU.

He is entitled to his opinion whether you agree with it or not. He certainly shouldn't lose his job over it. What a stupid thing to say.

As usual more BF hysteria. It's just feeding a baby ffs. I really don't get what the big deal is and why we need to keep banging on about this.

pookamoo · 12/08/2015 20:11

"guys" ?

DH is fine with it... so is he either lying or not "a guy" Hmm
The guy is an idiot.

Charis1 · 12/08/2015 20:12

Why is he not entitled to his opinion? YABVU

callamia · 12/08/2015 20:13

I think it's fine to complain about his ignorance and stupidity. I'd rather complain to his face though. Way more fun.

CupboardOfLoveliness · 12/08/2015 20:14

Someone elses opinion is just that. Yes, there is freedom of speech still in this country although it doesnt seem like that a lot of the time.. Just dont listen to him again then.

Loose his job? really? who are you to say that?

pookamoo · 12/08/2015 20:15

He actually said "I didn't realise what she was doing, I thought she was just cuddling a baby then I looked over..." and then claimed the bus was "too full" to look anywhere else. What, like the inside of his eyelids?

crapbag is right, he does have a right to his opinion, but he was stating as a fact that men don't like breastfeeding and that they are pretending to support their partners when they say they do.

I'd imagine he knew it would be controversial and thought he could generate a bit of airtime debate. YANBU.

shitebag · 12/08/2015 20:17

YABU.

Even those in the public domain are allowed an opinion on things, his comments sound uninformed and rather ignorant to me but who am I to tell him how he should feel and what he should say?

ecofreckle · 12/08/2015 20:19

I don't think is reasonable input from a presenter. People have worked hard to normalise breastfeeding which helps mothers feel more comfortable to use their boobs as evolution intended to fulfil a basic need. I don't think there should be a witch hunt but I agree that this is worthy of complaint. I'm off to ask my husband about ofcom code and whether this is officially wrong rather than just wrong in my eyes.

Original poster
Princess28 · 12/08/2015 20:21

As a licence payer I expect certain standards from the BBC. It's the way he gives his opinion- like it's fact.

OP posts:
CupboardOfLoveliness · 12/08/2015 20:25

As a licence payer you expect certain standards? omg Grin

Original poster
Princess28 · 12/08/2015 20:27

Also- there are plenty of opinions that BBC presenters have to keep to themselves- for example political leanings (even if they aren't brilliant at hiding it!)

OP posts:
howtorebuild · 12/08/2015 20:27

The DM doesn't like the BBC, you could do a sad face story.

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/08/2015 20:29

I think that YABU for expecting certain standards from the BBC.

CupboardOfLoveliness · 12/08/2015 20:29

Runs off from thread.... get over yourself Grin

Original poster
Princess28 · 12/08/2015 20:29

Haha howtorebuild- a sad face, a bus AND breastfeeding- DM heaven!

OP posts:
Spilose · 12/08/2015 20:30

I don't think he should be fired. Educated, yes

msgrinch · 12/08/2015 20:33

Grin standards from the BBC. Yabu for that and he's completely entitled to his own opinion. We all have our own views on everything, no he should not be fired.

MummaGiles · 12/08/2015 20:33

It helps to incite debate and a some passion in people if someone voices a controversial or button pushing view like that. He's there to get listeners.

Original poster
Princess28 · 12/08/2015 20:35

Ecofreckle- that's what I mean. He's the presenter. If he was a guest that would be a whole different matter.
I will give that in my anger sacking might be a bit far...but at least an apology.

OP posts:
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 12/08/2015 20:36

Who is it?

If he'd remarked at length on seeing another protected group he would probably have been sacked. Maternity and sex are both protected characteristics and so breastfeeding is covered by both being a consequence of one and only something women can do for the other.

Substitute "breastfeeding woman" for "black woman" or "gay man" or "disabled child" and it gets a bit clearer if you're at the narrower end of the thinking scale.

CaptainHolt · 12/08/2015 20:36

My jaw was on the floor listening to that

'Fellas/Guys don't like it' 2/3 times
'There's plenty of formula out there with the same calcium and vitamins in it'
'It's unnatural'
'It was OK in the stone age when we didn't have washrooms with locks on the doors'
'It's not a great look'

He is rather stating his uninformed opinions as facts and going out of his way to put bf mothers in their place, which would be at home or in a locked toilet washroom. I don't think that's OK on publicly funded radio.

CaptainHolt · 12/08/2015 20:39

There's already a petition

HedgehogAtHome · 12/08/2015 20:40

I just listened to this and DH's reaction as he overheard was priceless! He assumed this was a parody.

I don't want him sacked, but I hate the way he's clearly thinking he's speaking for all men and presenting it as such.