Lenny Henry on BBC Breakfast

Itsokay2020 · 2023-03-02T22:18:11+00:00

Did anyone else watch the interview with Lenny Henry on BBC Breakfast this morning? It was meant to be about WBD, but I am appalled at his suggestion that children should join the library, borrow six books and never return them: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1741329/Charlie-Stayt-Lenny-Henry-warning-BBC/amp So tired of this country and its low standards, poor morals and people like this being given a platform to make ridiculous statements like this one from Lenny. AIBU?

VladmirsPoutine · 02/03/2023 22:22

You're right. It really is people like Lenny Henry and his questionable morals who've bought the country to its knees. If only ofcom were able to issue arrest warrants.

Pearfacebananapoop · 02/03/2023 22:25

I know it's Lenny Henry and I know he jokes. But yeah I agree with you.

Wolfiefan · 02/03/2023 22:25

Love Lenny. Erm. It was a joke. 🤣

Thepurplelantern · 02/03/2023 22:26

Lenny Henry the comedian made an ironic joke

Ponoka7 · 02/03/2023 22:28

"and people like this being given a platform"

Could you expand on that? Given what else has been revealed over the last couple of days, strange that you are so outraged at a WC comedian making a joke.

skippy67 · 02/03/2023 22:29

Yes, Lenny Henry has brought the country to it's knees. 😥

UdoU · 02/03/2023 22:33

It was a joke. The article even says he was teasing.

He grew up in a household without books.

Original poster

Itsokay2020 · 02/03/2023 22:35

Those that say it was a joke, can you explain?

Lenny Henry is a judge for the 500 words competition, should he not be a little more considered in the messages he is giving people? Low standards of reading and literacy in the UK aren’t a joke, making libraries accessible to all is very important… depleting them of books because Lenny Henry thinks its okay for children not to return books is not funny

OP posts:

Honeysuckle16 · 02/03/2023 22:40

I’ve always admired Lenny Henry since he was a children’s ambassador for Comic Relief staying with an African family in their makeshift shelter. The house stank of sewage in gutters outside, was insanitary and not weatherproof. Lenny Henry maxed out all his credit cards to buy a better home for them. He changed the lives of this family.

Wolfiefan · 02/03/2023 22:40

He is a comedian.
His facial expression showed clearly it was a joke. 🤦‍♀️

BotterMon · 02/03/2023 22:41

Are your pearls warm from being clutched so tightly.

No I didn't watch it but if I had I would have laughed at Lenny's joke.

You have an issue with the man who co-founded Comic Relief being given a 'platform' i.e. appearing on the BBC?

Thedogscollar · 02/03/2023 22:42

Jesus you seriously have had a sense of humour bypass OP.

Eevvee · 02/03/2023 22:43

Someone has had a sense of humour bypass.

At least he's telling kids to go to the library instead of dressing up in costumes like schools are.

Yellowdays · 02/03/2023 22:44

😄🤣

BitOutOfPractice · 02/03/2023 22:44

He’s a comedian. He made a joke.

if you think Lenny Henry is responsible for the state of the uk today, you’re looking in the wrong places.

Dudley and proud ay we?

Kranke · 02/03/2023 22:47

Yep, watched and was clearly a joke. Maybe he’s not the people like him bringing making ridiculous statements that are contributing to the poor morals and low standards. You might want to look closer to home?

ALotLikeYou · 02/03/2023 22:47

It was a joke.

Do you often take things like this as though they’re meant seriously?

TheySeeMeRowling · 02/03/2023 22:54

I can see the headlines now. TV shocker! Popular comedian tells joke. Turn to page 6 to see who’s laying on a fainting couch clutching her perils as friends try to explain what a joke is.

DominoBlue · 02/03/2023 23:10

I saw it and thought it was a weird thing to say. It wasn't obviously a joke and it wasn't funny in the least. Lenny Henry isn't and has never been funny. By doing those stupid voices and shouting it looked like most of the children were frightened. I don't know why he said it but it's not worth getting worked up about. I did think it seemed like a huge advert for his books tho. I haven't read any but hope they are not as bad as those bloody David Walliam blokes books, which are basically unreadable.

Cma1988 · 02/03/2023 23:17

Oh come off it it was a joke ffs.

there are quite a few white/middle class comedians who have said much worse and don’t get the shock horror factor. He wasn’t telling people to steal books. Basing his “morals” on one joke is just ridiculous he does an awful lot for charity and youth programmes. Sorry I think you need to get a grip.

SpyouttheLand · 02/03/2023 23:44

Itsokay2020 · 02/03/2023 22:35

Those that say it was a joke, can you explain?

Lenny Henry is a judge for the 500 words competition, should he not be a little more considered in the messages he is giving people? Low standards of reading and literacy in the UK aren’t a joke, making libraries accessible to all is very important… depleting them of books because Lenny Henry thinks its okay for children not to return books is not funny

Depleting towns of their libraries will have had a far greater impact that one comedian's joke.

Plenty of low morals in this country, but really?

CremeEggQueen · 02/03/2023 23:56

Wolfiefan · 02/03/2023 22:25

Love Lenny. Erm. It was a joke. 🤣

This 😁
You do realise he's a comedian, right?
He wasn't being entirely serious.

CremeEggQueen · 02/03/2023 23:57

Depleting towns of their libraries will have had a far greater impact that one comedian's joke
Well said

KievsOutTheOven · 03/03/2023 00:01

DominoBlue · 02/03/2023 23:10

I saw it and thought it was a weird thing to say. It wasn't obviously a joke and it wasn't funny in the least. Lenny Henry isn't and has never been funny. By doing those stupid voices and shouting it looked like most of the children were frightened. I don't know why he said it but it's not worth getting worked up about. I did think it seemed like a huge advert for his books tho. I haven't read any but hope they are not as bad as those bloody David Walliam blokes books, which are basically unreadable.

Unreadable in what sense? You do know that that are children’s books, right?

DominoBlue · 03/03/2023 08:20

@KievsOutTheOven They are awful books, horrible characters and poor writing. Sentences that just don't make sense. Without his name on them I doubt they would have got published.