Channel 4’s expulsion of “Big Brother” contestant Emily Parr, for the use of racist language directed at a fellow housemate, strikes me as something of an excessive response! Emily was with Charley and Nicky in the garden of the Big Brother House, at approximately 8.30pm the night before last, when she was heard to say “Are you pushing it out you nigger?” to Charley. I believe they were dancing together at the time. There are no excuses, of course, but there may be all sorts of reasons why Ms Parr said it. She’s nineteen and the young aren’t particularly careful with their use of language, although she does aspire to be an actress and has already participated in productions of quality writing so, one might assume from this angle, she should know better! She may have had too much to drink? She may have assumed the language acceptable as the offending word can be found on every other rap record, ironically often performed by black “artistes”, with which she’s no doubt familiar from nights spent clubbing! For Emily to even think that what she said was ok, though, is a little naïve considering the “Celebrity Big Brother” incident earlier this year!!
And, it’s in comparing the rapid response to Emily’s faux pas with the tortured debate that followed the Shilpa Shetty skirmish that one is left wondering about double standards. Why weren’t the three offending women from the earlier confrontation also immediately ejected? Could they have been allowed to remain in the programme because they’re pampered “celebrities”, using the loosest sense of that word, or have Channel 4 genuinely reviewed their policy subsequently, regarding the use of language, for fear of losing, sorry offending, viewers? What would the television company do if everyone decided to use the same word for the hell of it?! If they are worried about causing offence in this way, I trust that all programmes will be edited accordingly and that there will no longer be any swearing on television! Similarly, there was an incident recently in which several female housemates chased Ziggy with the intention of removing his swimming shorts. While he may have enjoyed the attention, had it been the other way round, and several men chasing a young female with the intention of removing her bikini bottom, I suspect a charge of indecent assault would’ve followed! Different strokes for different folks, anyone?!!
5 comments:
I think after what happened in celebrity big brother and the row they got into over it they had no choice but to take it seriously. I personally think that Emily is just a silly little girl who said something she has heard others say as a joke on films and in music. She thought she was being funny in order to fit in.
I in no way condone it and I do think that if she is as intelligent as she says she is she must know the affect saying something like that can have regardless of how she meant it.
Hmm. Tricky. I think C$ over reacted but the incident did need to be punished. I think C4 have had their fingers burnt after the Shilpa-gate incident and Emily has been punished for the previous debacle as well as her own little faux pas... which is unfair.
Mmmm. I was just saying over on Steve's blog that I think C4 overreacted in the way they dealt with it. I don't condone what Emily said but as Steve mentioned, they could have inflicted a less harsh punishment for what was said. I think C4 are panicking now and obviously are prepared to clamp down on anything seen as racist.
And I take your point about the double standards thing!
If the offending word is not acceptable for Emily to say, why is it acceptable in films and music? Does one rule govern "artistes", with precious little talent that they have nothing else to contribute, while the rest of us must toe the line?!!
The Paris Hilton jailing-issue would seem to support the argument that there is one law for the financially well-off while those who struggle to make ends meet can be thrown to the wolves!
Peer pressure is an interesting issue. The world has indeed become ass-over-tip when an ignorant, unintelligent, white girl calls an ignorant, unintelligent, black girl a nigger in order to forge a friendship! It's no wonder wars are so easily started!!
"The world has indeed become ass-over-tip when an ignorant, unintelligent, white girl calls an ignorant, unintelligent, black girl a nigger in order to forge a friendship!"
Now that just about sums up the whole shebang!
Post a Comment