Technology0 min ago
At the risk of rehashing this old debate...
ITV has been cleared of racism by TV watchdog Ofcom after Sir Trevor McDonald called the late controversial comic Bernard Manning a "fat, white *******".
A total of 112 viewers complained that the remark, made on Sir Trevor's ITV1 Sunday night news comedy programme News Knight the week Manning died, was inappropriate or racist.
But Ofcom said Sir Trevor "clearly intended to parody" Manning's own brand of comedy, which played on racial stereotypes and was often denounced as racist.
The regulator cleared ITV of breaching broadcasting guidelines, ruling that "any offence that may have been caused was justified by the context".
During the June 24 edition of News Knight, less than a week after Manning's death aged 76, Sir Trevor introduced an item as "Racist and Dead".
"This week, it's the turn of corpulent, narrow-minded northerner Bernard Manning," he said. "Personally, I never thought of Bernard Manning as a racist comic... just a fat, white *******...".
In its ruling, Ofcom pointed out that News Knight was broadcast at 10pm, a full hour after the 9pm watershed and that it was clearly "an edgy, satirical look at the week's news".
"In the case of this programme, Sir Trevor McDonald obviously, and intentionally, drew on Bernard Manning's own style of humour, which frequently played on the real or apparent prejudices of his audience.
"The comments were clearly intended to parody Manning's own comedy, where he claimed he was not himself racist, but simply made 'jokes' based on racial stereotypes," Ofcom said.
"It was in such a context that Sir Trevor McDonald could therefore state that he did not consider Manning to be a racist but then went on to say that he was '...a fat white *******'".
Justice was done then?
A total of 112 viewers complained that the remark, made on Sir Trevor's ITV1 Sunday night news comedy programme News Knight the week Manning died, was inappropriate or racist.
But Ofcom said Sir Trevor "clearly intended to parody" Manning's own brand of comedy, which played on racial stereotypes and was often denounced as racist.
The regulator cleared ITV of breaching broadcasting guidelines, ruling that "any offence that may have been caused was justified by the context".
During the June 24 edition of News Knight, less than a week after Manning's death aged 76, Sir Trevor introduced an item as "Racist and Dead".
"This week, it's the turn of corpulent, narrow-minded northerner Bernard Manning," he said. "Personally, I never thought of Bernard Manning as a racist comic... just a fat, white *******...".
In its ruling, Ofcom pointed out that News Knight was broadcast at 10pm, a full hour after the 9pm watershed and that it was clearly "an edgy, satirical look at the week's news".
"In the case of this programme, Sir Trevor McDonald obviously, and intentionally, drew on Bernard Manning's own style of humour, which frequently played on the real or apparent prejudices of his audience.
"The comments were clearly intended to parody Manning's own comedy, where he claimed he was not himself racist, but simply made 'jokes' based on racial stereotypes," Ofcom said.
"It was in such a context that Sir Trevor McDonald could therefore state that he did not consider Manning to be a racist but then went on to say that he was '...a fat white *******'".
Justice was done then?
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The whole point of the matter is that Bernard Manning wasnt racist. He was a parody of the style of 'innocent' humour that existed purely as banter between blacks and whites in the 70s - when he became popular.
In an interview with Trevor Phillips who was out and out to portray Bernard as a racist, Bernard pointed out to him 'I'm not racist, if a black man lived next door to me I'd end up cutting his lawn!' Bernard was never involved in right wing politics or 'white power'. He ended up as a pardoy of himself.
In an interview with Trevor Phillips who was out and out to portray Bernard as a racist, Bernard pointed out to him 'I'm not racist, if a black man lived next door to me I'd end up cutting his lawn!' Bernard was never involved in right wing politics or 'white power'. He ended up as a pardoy of himself.
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WaldoMcFrog - what a horrible person you are. Why do you think I'm someone else. You can see my birth certificate if you like. I assume that being a 'greenie' means I am new to this forum. Well, that would be correct. Presumably you were a 'greenie' once and I hope you had a better reception than you've given me.
Lucy welcome to the "World According to WaldoMcFroog". Basically if you do not agree with him, you are an idiot or a fool, or better still make him chuckle for some unfathomable reason.
Further, he will start repeating whole paragraphs of what you have said, and then pretend he knows your name and address.
He really is quite a character. But also a rather stupid little man. Either way, whatever you say to him or about him, it will simply be water off a ducks back. People like him, fail to see criticism or indeed argument.
Further, he will start repeating whole paragraphs of what you have said, and then pretend he knows your name and address.
He really is quite a character. But also a rather stupid little man. Either way, whatever you say to him or about him, it will simply be water off a ducks back. People like him, fail to see criticism or indeed argument.
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I'm sure Trevor McDonut took into consideration the family of Bernard Manning who could've been watching that show and may not themselves agree with Bernards style of comedy but nonetheless be greiving over him. Of course a knighted man billed 'Britains Top Newsreader' would be professional enough to realise this. Only Lenny Henry and Eddie Murphy are allowed to make a fortune out of exploiting black stereotypes.
Booldawg
You wrote:
Only Lenny Henry and Eddie Murphy are allowed to make a fortune out of exploiting black stereotypes.
What fuel does your time machine use, and what's the weather like over there in 1984?
Ever heard of Chris Rock? Dave Chappelle?
Also, Bernard Manning was a racist. He said so himself on The Mrs Merton Show in 1994.
I've not seen a black comedian exploit stereotypes for YEARS! Honest...can you remember the last time any black comedian donned a leopard skin?
However, there's a new breed of 'ethnic' comedian who exploit ignorance, like say, Shazia Mirza - I've seen her live, and she's superb.
You wrote:
Only Lenny Henry and Eddie Murphy are allowed to make a fortune out of exploiting black stereotypes.
What fuel does your time machine use, and what's the weather like over there in 1984?
Ever heard of Chris Rock? Dave Chappelle?
Also, Bernard Manning was a racist. He said so himself on The Mrs Merton Show in 1994.
I've not seen a black comedian exploit stereotypes for YEARS! Honest...can you remember the last time any black comedian donned a leopard skin?
However, there's a new breed of 'ethnic' comedian who exploit ignorance, like say, Shazia Mirza - I've seen her live, and she's superb.
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