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Carol Thatcher dropped by BBC for racist word

195 replies

ComeWhineWithMe · 03/02/2009 18:14

Don't lnow if anyone has already posted (have checked can't see anything) .

I am shocked that she even thought using the term was acceptable .

Silly silly ignorant woman.

uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090203/tuk-carol-dropped-for-golliwog-remark-6323e80.html

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 05/02/2009 12:33

I heard on Radio 4 this morning that people who witnessed the conversation did challenge her about it at the time. Don't know who it was, what they said or whether they got anywhere though.

daftpunk · 05/02/2009 12:33

rhubarb; if someone is intimidated by the word gollywog then they need to grow a backbone....i can see how it might upset a few people, but bloody hell!

i didn't know it was jo brand who had complained...which is a bit rich as she's made a career out of poking fun at fat people.

Peachy · 05/02/2009 12:33

Do they Rhubs? I was looking for a hat with Christian on it for Mn the ther day and happned across a KKK hat on a Chrostian website, load of tossers the lot of 'em.

And yes I do mean all. Before someone posts 'Ah but what if a BNP member was nice to you and gave you a million'- generous tosser, but tosser nonetheless.

ScummyMummy · 05/02/2009 12:33

"I also think if Jo Brand is complaining it is a bit of a case of pots and kettles."

What do you mean? Jo Brand has not used an offensive racist term, has she?

Agree with rhubarb's posts.

Rhubarb · 05/02/2009 12:34

I said intimidated by her. She comes across as very arrogant and stubborn and dismissive, not an easy person to confront. But if people DID confront her at the time and she refused to acknowledge that, then good on the whistle-blower.

Rhubarb · 05/02/2009 12:35

Well hello Scummy! How the hell are you?

SheherazadetheGoat · 05/02/2009 12:39

dh reported someone for making a racist comment ina meeting. apparently when he remonstrated with teh guy he was all shocked and did 'whats he on?' face to everyone else who was too chicken to comment.

racism is not acceptable and certainly cannot be excused in teh work place.

i am guessing this is not an isolated incident.

Spaceman · 05/02/2009 12:40

CT is on the TV because she won a stupid gameshow that the likes of US (not me!) voted for her to win. She ain't there because she's an intelligent journalist that's for sure. Aren't we all supposed to love her for her battiness and her down to earth toff attitude? I don't, but it appears that's why she's got the job in the first bloody place and then we shoot the woman down in flames for being old school in her attitudes.

Rhubarb · 05/02/2009 12:44

That's showbiz for you, if you can't hack it, don't work in it.

However she could do a Jade Goody comeback if she is that way inclined, which I don't think she is.

A thread was on Mumsnet last week, a mumsnetter was wondering whether to report a man who had pulled a "spastic" face when she told him her boys were autistic and said 'Like this?' I suppose she was just overreacting and should have dealt with it there and then? The reason she didn't is because she was intimidated by the man and was shocked at what she had just seen.

MmeLindt · 05/02/2009 12:44

Having an "old school attitude" is not excuse for using racist language. Neither is being a bit batty.

daftpunk · 05/02/2009 12:48

there's alot on tv that might offend,
little britain for instance takes the piss out of special needs...is that ok do you think?

Spaceman · 05/02/2009 12:49

Re the BBC and standards. I'm not sure a group of thirty something men giggling and guffawing about the Queen's c**t at 9.30pm is at all tasteful. I was offended; it was sexist, disrespectful and horribly crass, but that sort of offense obviously goes down well in BBC. It's 'okay'.

The BBC has no standards in anything else until someone cries racism, when it suddenly becomes all sensitive and moral.

So, if the lovely people of Sandrigham can be excused for being underinformed, CT can also, can she not?

doggiesayswoof · 05/02/2009 12:49

Spaceman the word is being "reinforced" purely in the context of being an unacceptable word to use

Some people clearly don't understand that yet, so they need it spelled out

NOT a good idea to bury the history of racism, awareness is a good thing

Your analogy with a builder on his tea break is crap, Thatcher is a public figure. Freedom of speech does not mean you can use the language of hate with impunity. You don't know that she wasn't challenged at the time either - she may well have been.

elliott · 05/02/2009 12:52

This has probably been said before but it is completely wrong to view the remarks as 'private' when they were said on 'company time' in the green room. Its a bit like thinking you aren't accountable for your actions if out on a corporate dinner entertaining clients - of course you are, its part of the job.

happywomble · 05/02/2009 12:54

I think the controller of the BBC is posting on this thread .

Spaceman · 05/02/2009 12:54

Lindt; I wasn't saying it was an excuse. I was saying her foppishness won everyone over and has now got her into trouble. It's double standards again from the BBC.

daftpunk · 05/02/2009 12:56

er..what else was there..oh yes, the episode of the office when david brent left the women in the wheelchair on the stairs during the fire drill because she was too heavy....

lol!

Rhubarb · 05/02/2009 12:58

I'm not going to start comparing this with other programmes as we'll be here forever. Yes of course the BBC is a hypocritical shite organisation - does that mean we should just let everyone on there say what the hell they liked all the time?

I'm really glad that people are waking up to the amount of offensive shite on TV atm, not just swearing but completely inappropriate and crass stuff. The corporation is willing to sell itself if it thinks it'll make any money in doing so.

CT wasn't there as a comedian treading a very thin line, she was employed as a journalist, there to be unbiased and professional. She failed and therefore broke her contract.

daftpunk · 05/02/2009 13:01

you see if you're gonna be a guardian reading lentil eating "oh that's so un pc...she should be sacked"...then you have to bang the drum for all minorities being offended...

Spaceman · 05/02/2009 13:05

Doggy; see my comments regarding Carol Thatcher and why she is where she is today. Do you think we should in future be more careful about who gets top jobs in the public eye; instead choose people who have worked their way up the ranks and proven their intelligence, decency and integrity. She's just turned out to be another car crash like all the other 'stars' in hello magazine we need as our Demigods.

If we put half witts in the public eye then we shouldn't be so shocked, disappointed and hurt when they let us down with their ignorance. But then, it makes the headlines, which sells more news, that makes money for the media, who spends it on entertainment, to be watched by the viewers, who want more celeb meat.

Hype, hypocracy and double standards.

kettlechip · 05/02/2009 13:06

Totally inappropriate to think, let alone say what she did. CT has always struck me as being a bit of a loose cannon, and a little unhinged tbh. The BBC are probably better off without her, she's a liability, especially on a live, primetime show.

happywomble · 05/02/2009 13:06

Even the Guardian readers are not supporting the BBC's stance....look at comments on Guardian online.

gingerninja · 05/02/2009 13:11

Racism is unacceptable and anyone using racist language in the workplace should face disciplinary. It doesn't matter whether it was broadcast or overheard by only one person. She has overstepped the mark.

I'm rather glad she didn't appologise because sacking her saves me from ever having the misfortune of watching her again.

Spaceman · 05/02/2009 13:14

Plus, i didn't say bury the history of racism. What a stupid thing to imply. My intended point is that the next generation of kids today are unlikely to have been exposed to the word. Until they are able to understand it in an historical context, then the Sun's headlines will only serve to provide school bullies with the latest in playground ammunition, that wasn't available last week.

theyoungvisiter · 05/02/2009 13:24

I'm with the beeb on this -

  1. it was NOT a private conversation, she made it in a work environment, in her capacity as a "journalist" (cough cough), in front of colleagues and guests.
  2. It's a totally offensive term and if she doesn't know that then she really needs to wake up and smell the 21st century
  3. She hasn't even been sacked or suspended, they are just not using her any more which they are perfectly entitled to do as is any other show - they use the choice of presenters they feel best represents the show at any one time. If Edward Stourton can be dropped from The Today Prog for being too posh/male/English or whatever the alleged reason was, I don't see why Carol Thatcher can't be dropped for using racist language (intentionally or not).

I've been really shocked at the vitriol in teh papers against teh BBC over this - classic BBC bashing, if it had been the same story at Channel 4 no-one would even be reporting it.