To be shocked that this was ever ok?! Blackface on Little Britain...

[BrexitBingoGenerator]

Hello. I've just been looking at the Daily Mail (sorry) and there is a thing about this. I was genuinely gobsmacked seeing the photo and it's completely offensive. However, at some time in the not-so-distant past, this was seen as mainstream comedy and I remember it being on primetime telly. So a critical mass of people must have thought this was ok? I never really watched little Britain and this sketch in particular made me want to heave, but I think at the time it was rather for its horrible portrayal of women generally. I don't remember outrage over it at the time. But maybe there was? I guess I'm just ashamed that comedy like this could have been screened in my adult lifetime.

@BeijingBikini Yes. Marjorie was the butt of the joke. Such a vile character. I suppose she was the based on the ‘Karen’ stereotype before there was Karen.

@TatianaBis

A great many did- after all it was mainstream television and watched by more than just the racist little-englanders as you call them.

Ignorance is mainstream.

Anyone who found their blacked up sketches funny is racist imo. It was always truly bizarre that it was allowed on TV in the 21c.

what even the black people who liked it

Well tinkly that's not what they joke about. Nothing is off limits, the language is dreadful and no children are allowed. Be offended by everything if you want.

I a l do didn't actually clock bubbles devere as a woman of colour. To me they were taking the piss out of her weight, and mostly her age, but that's probably ok isn't it? We are allowed to be as cruel as we want snout women over 35.

@randomer

try Mind Your Language, now that was funny.

It's very popular in China, for some strange reason.

I just do not think the show was racist; it was clear they were poking fun at stereotypes of various social groups, and people who were prejudiced towards them, rather than directly at those social groups. There's no point getting personal at me, we are all allowed to have an opinion and watch things that make us laugh as well as interpret them differently. I think the show was great as do most people I know (people of various races and social groups).

@Vodkacranberryplease

Well I thought it was hilarious- and it's equal opportunities offensiveness. My only thing would be if anyone black thought it was offensive/felt uncomfortable or offended and that would not be cool.

Comedy is, as a general rule, pretty close to the bone if it's good stuff. There is literally no group of people I have not seen sent up from the mighty Queen Elizabeth II to people driving Prius's. No one is safe - that's the point. We are all going to get the piss taken out of us for something.

exactly.

@BeijingBikini

I just do not think the show was racist; it was clear they were poking fun at stereotypes of various social groups, and people who were prejudiced towards them, rather than directly at those social groups. There's no point getting personal at me, we are all allowed to have an opinion and watch things that make us laugh as well as interpret them differently. I think the show was great as do most people I know (people of various races and social groups).

You can deny it’s racist but that doesn’t make it not-racist. There is no way two white men dressing up as black and Asian characters and using racist language isn’t racist. As a test - find one of your Asian colleagues (or someone on the street if you like) and do an impression of Ting Tong. You should have no problem with that if you genuinely don’t believe it’s racist. Which it is.

They were poking fun at racist stereotypes but dressing up as other races to impersonate them is inherently racist so it doesn’t really work.

There is a difference between poking fun of British people's ideas of what foreign people are like (what Little Britain does) and poking fun at foreign people.

I know Asian people who themselves do impressions of Ting Tong so that argument doesn't really stand.

I have never, ever, found any aspect of Little Britain funny.

There were lots of sketches that specifically poked fun at racist people. Marjorie, the old jam ladies who puked every time they saw a black/gay/poor person. That horrid university lady who described all the students in the most offensive terms possible.

I know Asian people who themselves do impressions of Ting Tong so that argument doesn't really stand.

They choose themselves to do it? And you can’t see how that’s different to someone elE doing it? That’s why I said to find a stranger or a colleague. Of course you wouldn’t.

were lots of sketches that specifically poked fun at racist people. Marjorie, the old jam ladies who puked every time they saw a black/gay/poor person. That horrid university lady who described all the students in the most offensive terms possible.

Why did they have dress up as women to do it? That’s still offensive.

It was a fucking horrible programme that I hated. Phew got that off my chest now. I was surrounded by people back then who liked it and I didn't say anything.

what even the black people who liked it

I don’t know any BAME people who liked it nor any white either.

But when racism is mainstream some ethnic minorities accept it as part of the status quo.

But woman face is celebrated??

“Can’t stand David Walliams in general and try and dodge my youngest from reading his books.” It is this kind of puratism that is why a lot of people are actually turning against the narrative of trying to police humor.

Maybe I should expand. My youngest has additional needs and his reading ability is far below his age- he can barely read so I read to him every night. Much like when my older child wanted to read the same Peppa pig book every bloody night (and I’d hide it so I didn’t have to) I can’t face reading DW’s books. Because they’re shit. I don’t “police humour” I read him all sorts of other stuff- often the same stuff over and over as he loves it so much. But David Walliams books are just something I can’t be doing with. Awful shite.

I loved come fly with me. Now Stelios ftom easyJet definitely had the right to be offended there - not a peep from him though.

I know people that know him and apparently it was pretty accurate 😁.

I found it strangely affectionate and rather sweet in some ways. A bit less edgy that little Britain but they gave probably both grown up a bit.

But let's be honest Walliams loves dressing up as women so if we are applying any of the logic here we could say it's all trans phobic.

But let's be honest Walliams loves dressing up as women so if we are applying any of the logic here we could say it's all trans phobic.

Or we could continue to say it’s racist. Which it is.

Or we could continue to say it’s racist. Which it is.

Just because your opinion is that it's racist doesn't make it actually racist.

I don't think 'woman face' is a thing, surely? Women all look different, there's no one defining facial characteristic that all women share.

It’s not my opinion. A white man in blackface is racist. A white man pretending to be an Asian woman is racist. Let me know how your Ting Tong impression goes down at your local takeaway, won’t you?

Stating your opinion in bold still doesn't make it fact.

Ah BejingBikini you’re getting a bit desperate - I know it’s hard to admit it’s racist. I know you’re doing your best to avoid admitting there’s no way you’d do an impression of Ting Tong in your takeaway because it’s racist. I know, it’s ok