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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Complaint over panellist calling JK Rowling 'transphobic' upheld by Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

46 replies

miri1985 · 14/04/2021 15:57

www.thejournal.ie/jk-rowling-bai-complaint-5409272-Apr2021/

"The complainant put forward that a contributor called Rowling transphobic without evidence and that this statement was not challenged by anyone else appearing on the programme.

This complaint was upheld in a decision released today by the BAI.

The remarks – in which Rowling was called a “transphobic bigot” – were made during a panel discussion on Today FM’s The Last Word with Matt Cooper last September.

Rowling, author of the Harry Potter novels, has been criticised in the past for her commentary on gender identity."

"On 18 September 2020, the radio panel discussed tweets from Jedward in which they criticised celebrities for comments about Covid-19 and face masks.

The panel also mentioned tweets from Jedward about JK Rowling, which is how the ‘transphobic’ remark arose.

The BAI complainant said this statement wasn’t challenged by the presenter or the other panellists and that they believe this is a “very serious accusation”. "

"The BAI said The Last Word programme is “generally understood” to be a current affairs programme which is required to be fair to all interests concerned and to be presented in an objective and impartial manner.

“The Committee were of the view that, given the seriousness of the statements made by the panel member, and the lack of challenge by the presenter, the broadcast was not fair,” the BAI said in its decision."

Fair play to whoever complained, just goes to show that complaints like that matter

OP posts:
Wandawomble · 15/04/2021 02:02

Didn’t Jedward say her books should be burned? Pair of eejits.

saltedcaramelchocolate · 15/04/2021 07:36

@Soontobe60

I was just about to post this! I’m amazed that this was upheld considering Ireland seem to think that women are second class citizens and therefore would stick up for males - Jedward - over females - JKR. Every time we see or hear this nonsense we should put in a formal complaint. I send one in to the BBC last year about a R4 interview with some comedian who kept going on about ‘everyone knows that TWAW’ and therefore JKR was being transphobic. I didn’t even get a reply.
When I hear people describe Jedward as "a national treasure" I wonder when standards dropped so low. The duo that advocated for book burning? Surprised to see RTE mentioning this.
saltedcaramelchocolate · 15/04/2021 07:39

Yes, journal.ie doesn't seem to like comments on this type of topic. I wonder why?

BoeotianNightmare · 15/04/2021 07:41

Has someone really gone after Chimamanda? How dare they?

BraveBananaBadge · 15/04/2021 09:10

I put something here at the time, it was appalling:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4206823-new-yorker-radio-hour

ForeverFaithless · 15/04/2021 18:56

Jedward - useless talentless clowns

Womansisterdaughtermother · 16/04/2021 08:47

Thanks for the Times article Sunset. The amazing revelation there that this is the first complaint in 3 years that has been upheld by BAI!! Makes it all the more satisfying and important. Comments are worth a read.

YouSetTheTone · 16/04/2021 11:52

@Womansisterdaughtermother

Thanks miri for posting... I wonder will this get any coverage in msm....
It was reported today in the Daily Mail. Supportive comments under the article.
Abhannmor · 16/04/2021 15:50

A pleasant surprise for a change! Impressed by the Broadcasting Authority. Well done to the complainant.

Genesis1v27 · 18/04/2021 10:14

Eilis O'Hanlon uses the Last Word slur and the BAI decision on it as a jumping-off point for her column in the Sunday Independent today. It is a wide-ranging piece, covering a lot of points, from unnuanced "progressive" groupthink to the proposed criminalisation of "hate" and who gets to define it, as well as Maya Forstater's case (in passing) and what JKR stood up for. All important issues which require more public attention and real discussion.

Woke militants stifle tolerance and debate as well as dissenting voices

(The full article is behind a soft paywall, you can sign up for a free account to read three premium articles per month.)

334bu · 18/04/2021 10:17

Thanks for the link.

saltedcaramelchocolate · 18/04/2021 13:31

Thanks for the link. That is a good article by Eilis O'Hanlon.
Some more discussion like this is badly needed.
That complaint about RTE's comment on Biden winning was interesting.
While I would not have been a supporter of Trump I felt some more detailed analysis as to why such huge numbers of Americans were voting for him would have been interesting. Clearly very ordinary people feel very disillusioned with the politicians who really have no interest in representing the people who voted for them. They can't all have been right wing extremists.
Trump would never be described as "a man of the people" so why did so many people vote for him?

ImpatiensI · 18/04/2021 13:36

@Wandawomble

Didn’t Jedward say her books should be burned? Pair of eejits.
Dangerous eejits - laughing and gurning while they advocate for totalitarian tactics.
Flywheel · 18/04/2021 18:15

Just saw this article in the sunday independent
m.independent.ie/opinion/comment/woke-militants-stifle-tolerance-and-debate-as-well-as-dissenting-voices-40326004.html

Annasgirl · 19/04/2021 11:12

I meant to post this article last week when I read it - it was in The Irish Times. But as per usual, there is no discussion on it and nowhere are comments allowed.

It really is a travesty how low the media in Ireland have sunk. We honestly have no intelligent debate now on any topic - it is as if all public service broadcasting has turned into an American "talk radio" Shock Jock contest.

I was not surprised it was Matt Cooper who hosted the discussion - Matt was at the forefront of the woke agenda in recent years. He would not exactly have the intellectual weight to ponder the rights of women in a Prison versus the rights of a man who identifies as one.

However, I think most people in Ireland do not believe any of this is happening. No one believes me when I tell them that our Equalities Act protects gender not sex and that this loophole has allowed 2 men who identify as women to be housed in the Women's prison in Limerick. They really think I am making it up Confused

ForeverFaithless · 20/04/2021 00:51

Reminder to add your voice to the comments on the proposed new EU hate crime legislation, some good points here :

womensspaceireland.ie/articles/proposal-to-include-hate-speech-in-eu-crimes/

idonotburn · 20/04/2021 09:03

[quote ForeverFaithless]Reminder to add your voice to the comments on the proposed new EU hate crime legislation, some good points here :

womensspaceireland.ie/articles/proposal-to-include-hate-speech-in-eu-crimes/[/quote]
Thanks, but I can't see how to complete this without registering?

3timeslucky · 20/04/2021 12:15

@saltedcaramelchocolate

Yes, journal.ie doesn't seem to like comments on this type of topic. I wonder why?
I can't tell ... is that a rhetorical question?
ForeverFaithless · 20/04/2021 14:02

idonotburn - you do have to register but can still make your actual submission anonymous.

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