To think Eammon Holmes needs to go now

[Hugolugo]

He's always been a chubby misogynist with questionable.comments to make about his wife but now he has compared a woman's afro hair to the fur on an alpaca. Has the world gone completely bloody mad? How come he still has that job? And, no, the 'I have old fashioned northern Irish charm' act doesn't make up for it. I for one am certainly not feeling charmed! I have no idea how Ruth puts up with him tbh.

Totally agree with this, earlier in today’s show the lady in the wheelchair was explaining that she had been suffering with this debilitating illness for 2 and a half years. Moments later when asking a question, Eamon started with “so you’ve been like this for 7 years” or words to that effect. When Ruth corrected him, he said oh I thought the 2 was a 7 referring to his paper. An easy mistake to make however my instant thought was, were you not listening to this lady as she literally just TOLD you it had been 2 and a half years.

Not aware of these comments or the context but just to add another view .. I met Eamonn some years ago at a specific award ceremony. And he was absolutely lovely.

And?

You're commenting as if people who say racist things only ever go around shooting evil looks and insulting everyone....

You know that people with homophobic views can be absolutely lovely to the elderly, right? Misogynists have children and I'm sure they're capable of being absolutely lovely to them too.

The fuck does that have to do with what he said?

@PicsInRed

People like to think they are good, and they know racism is deemed "bad", therefore the racist thing they actually said couldn't possibly be racist, as they're not racist, because they're a "good" guy.

That's the logic of the good bloke racist.

I like Eammon. Much prefer him to Phillip. But don't watch often, and didn't know any of this! It's put me off. Yeah he probably didn't "mean" to be racist. But the fact is, us white people don't get to say what is racist or not. Its a vile comment and he should know better. The rape and retard thing is just as vile. Couldn't agree more with the comment above.

@Doublestar

People use the word uppity to describe someone stuck up or who thinks themselves better than others. That's the definition and that's what it means to me and I suspect, the vast majority of people.

So I personally will continue to use it as I see fit, thanks.
Its pretty entitled to tell people they can't use a descriptive word from the English dictionary to describe someone who is, you know, uppity, as it offends them personally.

I think it is pretty rude to liken someone's hair to alpaca and Zoe Williams should make a complaint if she feels it's necessary.

But yeah fire him, he's fat, white, old and from northern Ireland after all!

The irony of your use of the word " entitlement "

I was on This Morning with them presenting. I'm terribly famous

Eamonn said something to me that was a bit dismissive - on live tv. He was, I think, trying to make a joke, but it was very condescending and belittling. However, I'm quick witted and managed to make That Smart Comment by return. He was furious and told me off in the Green Room afterwards! Didn't like me outwitting him.

Oh. OK then. I've met men like you before, love.

She was lovely. Really lovely.

I assume he has a penis made of macaron. No other explanation for it.

I find it unbelievable that a man of his experience and education doesn't understand why that was such an inappropriate comment to make

I agree it was completely unacceptable but someone said he has also said ‘uppity’ which I didn’t know was racist and I only knew ‘bogie’ had racist connections very recently even though I know quite a few black Americans. They’re not words I have ever used but there are words that you’re not always aware are racist, homophobic etc.

If it was the first time he saw her natural hair and said something like that then I would be disgusted and would be calling for him to be cancelled 100% but he was talking about the style and colour. It’s still offensive and rude and completely unnecessary but he wasn’t being deliberately racist.

@toocold54

I find it unbelievable that a man of his experience and education doesn't understand why that was such an inappropriate comment to make

I agree it was completely unacceptable but someone said he has also said ‘uppity’ which I didn’t know was racist and I only knew ‘bogie’ had racist connections very recently even though I know quite a few black Americans. They’re not words I have ever used but there are words that you’re not always aware are racist, homophobic etc.

If it was the first time he saw her natural hair and said something like that then I would be disgusted and would be calling for him to be cancelled 100% but he was talking about the style and colour. It’s still offensive and rude and completely unnecessary but he wasn’t being deliberately racist.

How do you know he wasn't being deliberately racist?

being blonde a lot of people make comments about my hair and a lot of jokes about how thick I must be due to my hair as well or other rude jokes about it matching etc
I for one would not know uppity was considered racist and would use this about a person if i thought they were
Was the presenter offended , maybe they joke with each other ? Who knows
Some things I joke about with friends might seem off to someone else ??

I know someone who used to work with him. He only spoke to his co presenters when the cameras were on. He made jokey digs and put people down a lot whilst dressing it up as comedy. All the women hated him. A separate friend works with Ruth at QVC and says she is lovely

I'm from NI and my dad used to work with Eamonn Holmes in the 80s when he was still with UTV (and still with his first wife). Dad always said he was an awful arrogant prick, and the matey persona was all for the cameras, seems like he hasn't changed a bit!

Don't think this was meant to be deemed as racist

Irrelevant though, since it was, in fact, racist. It's not the first time, as detailed upthread.

*People use the word uppity to describe someone stuck up or who thinks themselves better than others"

Specifically, black people, for millions of racists, for many, many years.

So I personally will continue to use it as I see fit, thanks. Its pretty entitled to tell people they can't use a descriptive word from the English dictionary to describe someone who is, you know, uppity, as it offends them personally

Knowing that a word is intrinsically associated with segregation, and has been used for decades as a word specifically referring to black people 'getting above their station,' and yet you are determined to carry on using it, speaks volumes.

If you're happy for some people to think that you're chucking around a racist reference, crack on. But some people will then think that you're racist, because some words carry the weight of history with them.

But that doesn't bother you. So there we are.

I didn’t even see the racist element, does that make me racist too

Of course not. But hopefully you've learned how another bit of everyday racism works.

It’s a scary world we’re living in now, frightened to do or say anything

It's a scary world alright. But scary because people aren't free to chuck casual racism around with carefree abandon? Nah.

@RobynNora well I didn't And I have asked many people who also don't know either and said its a word to describe a posh persom

RobynNora well I didn't And I have asked many people who also don't know either and said its a word to describe a posh persom

Don't worry, it's only on MN that people would froth at the mouth over people using the word uppity. Back in the real world no one would bat an eyelid.
Some people really do love finding stuff to get offended about. It's a shame bc it takes attention away from the genuine offensive stuff and people just start to turn off and lose interest.

Don't worry, it's only on MN that people would froth at the mouth over people using the word uppity. Back in the real world no one would bat an eyelid

Here's an idea: Google it. Then decide whether it's 'only on MN' that people get upset about the word 'uppity.'

Err uppity absolutely does have racist connotations, it does not just mean posh! You really should take this information on board, its ok to not know something, but when someone tells you that something is racist, you really should listen to them. Otherwise you risk looking foolish at best, or racist. But if you don't care about that, well that says a lot about you.

I'm not sure anyone would enjoy bring told on live TV that their hair resembles a alpaca would be great banter.

It's just plain rude. If it wasnt in live national TV and she retorted with "at least I have still have all my hair" and they both fell about laughing then maybe he could say it's just banter between friends. It's like your boss making sexist comments and you laughing whilst thinking what a dick as the boss has the upper hand.

It doesnt matter. If its offensive then its offensive.

It's not about how the giver feels. It's about the receiver feels.

It's not ok to override those feelings because you feel you know better.

But generally who says someone looks like a animal on live TV? Who would enjoy being told that? Honestly? You pick holes in people and say it's a just a laugh as it amuses you. It's not ever about how the other person might feel.

Hey Sue! Your long hair looks like a horses tail! And then we all cracked up.......

I can imagine Ruth gave him a good talking to after the show, I sometimes wonder what she really thinks of his behavior. He cuts across her a lot and interrupts her, she grins and bears it but she she doesn't seem the sort of woman to put up with that to be honest. That said, I love them and wish they would present full time, I sense he might have burned his bridges there though, bet Ruth is fuming!!

@Doublestar since I’m quoted here, I’ll respond. No frothing here. I remember asking my other half at the time and he was unsure of the racist connotations so I can accept plenty of people don’t know. Never said otherwise.

Still think Eamonn is a racist though and I won’t turn a blind eye to racist behaviour because that makes me complicit. Check out his rant about Meghan Markle. He’s the one you’d describe as frothing - he’s seething with rage and it’s unsettling to watch. That, coupled with numerous other comments detailed here tells me all I need to know.

@FrenchCovidInfo

Don't think this was meant to be deemed as racist

Irrelevant though, since it was, in fact, racist. It's not the first time, as detailed upthread.

*People use the word uppity to describe someone stuck up or who thinks themselves better than others"

Specifically, black people, for millions of racists, for many, many years.

So I personally will continue to use it as I see fit, thanks. Its pretty entitled to tell people they can't use a descriptive word from the English dictionary to describe someone who is, you know, uppity, as it offends them personally

Knowing that a word is intrinsically associated with segregation, and has been used for decades as a word specifically referring to black people 'getting above their station,' and yet you are determined to carry on using it, speaks volumes.

If you're happy for some people to think that you're chucking around a racist reference, crack on. But some people will then think that you're racist, because some words carry the weight of history with them.

But that doesn't bother you. So there we are.

But it's not intrinsically associated with segregation in Britain, because segregation never existed here. Why would this word be widely used in this context in Britain, when, as I have said before, the specific circumstances that gave rise to the connotation never existed in this country? Expecting people in one country to know the culturally specific connotations of a word in a different country is a little unreasonable.

I'm 35 years old and very well read. I had never been aware of uppity as having racist connotations before this evening. I've just checked my dictionary and it makes no reference to this connotation in the definition.

Of course, now I know the connotation, I will be very cautious in my usage of it and am grateful for the education. But I don't agree that it's commonly known to be a racist slur in the UK, and just as I have been educated this evening, I would hope those who have immediately taken offence at the use of the word would pause for a moment to likewise be educated by the comments of those on this thread who have genuinely not known the connotation before. Rather than jumping straight to accusations of racism, let's have some awareness that the word's racist connotations are not as obvious to everyone as some people may have previously thought.

Of course, now I know the connotation, I will be very cautious in my usage of it and am grateful for the education. But I don't agree that it's commonly known to be a racist slur in the UK, and just as I have been educated this evening, I would hope those who have immediately taken offence at the use of the word would pause for a moment to likewise be educated by the comments of those on this thread who have genuinely not known the connotation before

I agree to a point. And this is the salient point - to learn something and move on. It's the people who announce that they will continue to knowingly use a racist term/word that are the problem.

@EnidSpyton Maybe it was a super unfortunate coincidence that he chose this unusual word to describe a black American woman and he had no idea of the massively racist collocation, but it raised a red flag because a hell of a lot of us do know what it means and he has form for making dodgy comments!

I'm white as can be and even I have amassed the skills to play bingo on this thread, particularly with a certain posters comments.

no way was he trying to intentionally be racist

it was another silly comment, that he doesn’t stop to think about

no malice behind it.

Here we have: he's not racist he's just stupid. Because a grown man, with all the money and resources he has, is apparently incapable of reading a couple of articles online, or a book, or using google.

Typically leads to...

He needs to be educated

Or he could, you know, recognise he's a grown adult and educate himself?

If he's so stupid why is he in a job like that? Surely in a country of 60+ million people, there must be at least someone who is just as talented and yet not quite as stupid.

I'm sure we could even find one with an accent.

You can truly, hand on heart, believe he was intentionally being racist?

The idea that any sort of racism is only racism if it's intentional.

Does that apply to everything else, yes?

Truly Judge, hand on heart, I didn't intend to kill her when I got in my car drunk, drove through a red light and knocked her over.

Please.

I didn’t even see the racist element, does that make me racist too?

My absolute fave! I love these shoving in a plank in your own eye to prove your own ignorance because you somehow believe it will save the racist from removing a splinter from their own.

"But I don't get offended when people insult my long, thick, shiny, balayage blonde hair!"

It’s a scary world we’re living in now, frightened to do or say anything.

Will somebody, somewhere, please think of the children and their right to grow up in a world where they can be offensive to anyone they choose?!

Next thing you know, they'll be coming for baba black sheep and our SKIN TONE plasters.

Snowflakes I tell you. Fucking woke brigade. Ruining things for racists everywhere since the day the first tweeter tweeted.

Snowflakes I tell you. Fucking woke brigade. Ruining things for racists everywhere since the day the first tweeter tweeted

I need a like button ^

But it's not intrinsically associated with segregation in Britain, because segregation never existed here. Why would this word be widely used in this context in Britain, when, as I have said before, the specific circumstances that gave rise to the connotation never existed in this country? Expecting people in one country to know the culturally specific connotations of a word in a different country is a little unreasonable

^This, a zillion times

Do people not know that the same word can be used differently (and sometimes even have a different meaning) in different countries? Can you not for once show a little respect and stop the navel gazing for a minute? The 'educating' brigade is intrusive and massively overbearing