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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not accept this apology from Conor Benn?

28 replies

happyfootmum · 15/02/2017 10:12

Sportsman Conor Benn was recently filmed mocking another boxer for having talipes or club foot as it is commonly known. He was shown to google the condition and then laugh at the photo shown which is obviously somebody's poor baby. He's since offered a measly apology which I don't feel is sincere at all. Read the story here Angry

I have a son with the condition and it has been a tough journey so far and we are only at the start! AIBU to want Reebok to veto him as a brand ambassador and show that he's not a suitable role model? Please sign this petition to not allow him to get away from this without genuine remorse

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 15/02/2017 10:15

Ugh what a vile person

Good luck with your son's treatment, happy. The outcome in the majority of cases is very good x

Original poster
happyfootmum · 15/02/2017 10:20

Thank you Any. Our physio is very positive with our son's progress so far Smile

OP posts:
aaahhhBump · 15/02/2017 10:52

So angry! Tweeting @reebokuk and @DWSportsOnline regarding his sponsorship deals.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 15/02/2017 10:57

You can't demand genuine remorse and you can't demand a genuine apology if it's not there.

I'd push for Reebok to just drop him.

Good luck OP.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/02/2017 11:02

Signed. That's Horrible and disablist.
I'm sure Reebok and DWsports on line. Will get rid of him, after all. They wont want to give themselves a bad name will they.
Love to your little boy. Glad his phsyio is going well.

Original poster
happyfootmum · 15/02/2017 11:03

That's true Milk but my thinking is that if he's not embarrassed personally, then I want him to be embarrassed professionally. Thanks for your support!

OP posts:
Tomiades · 15/02/2017 13:14

Signed and shared! If no good apology is given, or he tries to weasel out of it, then this behaviour is normalised to his diehard fans, who would defend him no matter what. If, on the other hand, enough people embarrass him into what could pass for a real apology, then his followers may receive a bit of education about what it means to be a good human...

maras2 · 15/02/2017 13:26

Signed.
What a nasty man.
Angry

Marlboroandmalbec34 · 15/02/2017 13:28

Signed. Xx

TwitterQueen1 · 15/02/2017 13:33

I would sign except for the fact that I have to provide my email and my address, which I am not prepared to do.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 15/02/2017 13:43

I was born with this and so were 2 of my 3 children. My Husband often teases me about my gammy foot. I am very pc but I think you're over reacting, sorry.

GoNorthatthefirstleft · 15/02/2017 13:58

He's a horrible man but what do you think a petition will do i was born with a sever club foot in my late thirties still having ongoing surgery my latest one a few days ago with the possibility of amputation if this does not work. My son was also born with it to sometimes ok just have to nit become the mass offended . Waitrose me and my son often joke about our feet together it's how we cope .

GoNorthatthefirstleft · 15/02/2017 13:59

Sorry painkillers have messed with my ability to be coherent 😫

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 15/02/2017 14:05

Sometimes humour is the only way! I hope your operation goes well.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 15/02/2017 14:05

Sorry, WENT well!

BertrandRussell · 15/02/2017 14:05

He allowed himself to be filmed laughing at a picture of a child with very obvious disabilities. And using deeply offensive language about. Not sure how you could over react to that.............

AnyFucker · 15/02/2017 14:16

Laughing at yourself is entirely different to using some real baby's club feet to take the piss out of an opponent

Gamesmanship I can get, both competitors are grown ups after all and I am sure the other guy can give as good as he gets

But using the baby's photograph is fucking low

GoNorthatthefirstleft · 15/02/2017 14:19

What do you think petition will do ? Will it make him into a nice man ? He's clearly shown what an arse he is who clearly craves any attention good bad or indifferent things like this give him more airtime people like that are better ignored just like trolls on here. He'll get the attention he wants and I'm sure he'll be back with some other video.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 15/02/2017 14:22

I'm not a troll, I just think there are more important things to protest about than this.

Somerville · 15/02/2017 14:23

I'm all for a bit of black humour to help deal with one's own shit. But that's entirely different to mocking someones baby.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 15/02/2017 14:28

So he's an idiot. So? Ignore him. I've never heard of him to be honest. I treat silly adult behaviour the same way I treat silly behaviour from children: I don't reward it. Ignore.

BertrandRussell · 15/02/2017 14:57

He is being rewarded. By a sponsorship deal.

AnyFucker · 15/02/2017 15:30

He is in a position of responsibility with influence over young minds. Would it be OK if he were mocking someone's race, skin colour or religion ?

No.

He gets to stfu and be a decent role model or he loses the sponsorship. It should be as simple as that. Disability is not a soft target, or it shouldn't be.

princesspuds · 15/02/2017 15:47

Signed x

TiredMumToTwo · 15/02/2017 15:52

Signed x

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