AIBU as the mother of mixed race children to be furious that Giles Coren’s article in The Times included the phrase “fuzzy-wuzzies”?

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Why did The Times even allow this to be published? I can remember when I heard this derogatory term being used as a racist insult in the playground during the late 80s. It makes me want to weep. I know Giles Coren has form where racism is concerned but FFS 🤦🏼‍♀️, it’s 2022, not 1922. This is not funny, arch satire and could have horrific consequences. He may as well have used the n word and no doubt people like him do in private company. I really fear for my young children and what they might be subjected to if this is acceptable in print.

(This is my first time posting here on Mumsnet so please be gentle! I know this issue is being discussed a lot of Twitter though and several anti-racism campaigners have commented.) Here is a link to the full article, which is behind a paywall: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/call-yourself-british-ill-be-the-judge-of-that-dwl3qp53w

I'm speechless.

How did that possibly get past the editors?

Holy shitballs. What was he writing about?

YANBU. He’s a despicable twat, I don't understand how he still has a career

Im guessing they allowd it because Giles Coren brings in subscribers, and he accomplishes that by being "controversial".

It's typical of him, he's dreadful.

Without seeing the article, isn't that part of a quiz which will determine whether you are a normal right-thinking modern person or a throwback to less enlightened times? And that answer is clearly not the 'right' one?

What is that snippet even about? Trying to justify the British Empire??

Giles Coren is a revolting, talentless, little scrote and the reason I no longer buy The Times.😡

I read that as though he is pillorying racist attitudes from colonial times, but I think it is crass, completely unnecessary and agree that it is offensive.

It's terrible and should never have been printed.

(I don't think it makes any difference that you are the mother of mixed-race children though! I'm not white either but it's bloody awful however you look at it.)

Jeeeeezzzzz. So this wasn’t written in 1972 or straight out of Viz? Didn’t he also write a nasty bit about his kid being fat?

I think he is taking the piss out of Victorian attitudes but I cant see the article.

You are 100% not unreasonable. He is an utter cunt. Up against the wall come the Revolution.

Can't read the article without signing up but i can imagine it's bloody awful.

Watch out though - Mumsnet is full of racist apologists so you'll soon have people saying it's ok, didn't mean anything by it, my friend is black and doesn't mind...

I can read the screen shot and can't fathom why that language was used?! That's appalling.

As your link is behind a pay wall and I'm not paying to read it I can't comment on the full article's intent.

A combination of nepotism and Old Boy's Club.

He's an all round vile person- his comments after Dawn Foster died were horrific. He keeps his career because of his family connections
I feel he is definitely the type who would be a domestic abuser

From the bit I could read he makes a reference to 'don't like it up 'em' which, like 'fuzzy wuzzies' is quoting from from Dad's Army, a tv series from the 70s - the outdated language of Lance Corporal Jones, an old soldier who'd fought in the Boer War.

Not justifying in any way, just offering context...

I can see what he intended, and why he might think it was ok -it's not his opinion, it's a lampoon of racism- but that's gobsmackingly appalling.

It's actually not a term I'd ever heard in a racist way, just a silly rhyme about a bear with no hair, and was momentarily worried I'd been unintentionally racist (white guilt).

But that's not subtle or coded or anything at all hard to interpret.
I'm horrified by it.

Who is Dawn Foster? I can’t see a reference to anyone called that name in the article.

He just a massive troll isn't he. Like the male Katie Hopkins.

Can an actual racist lampoon racism by using extremely racist language though?

No of course not, context is irrelevant

On Twitter someone described him as a pound shop Lawrence Fox.