Racism on the BBC and in general

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Back in the Village

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Although not a very "metal" thing to do and hard for me to admit but (to appease my wife) I sit down on a Saturday night to watch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. For those of you in the US it is pretty much the same show as Dancing With The Stars.

A little bit of controversy has arisen due to one of the professional dancers Anton Du Beke making "racist" comments toward his dance partner Laila Rouass, who's father is Indian and mother Moroccan. Before the first live show was to be screened, Laila had a fake tan spray and when Du Beke saw her he apparently joked to her that she looked like a "paki". I'm not sure if this is a derogatary term used in other countries but it is certainly frowned upon in the UK. There has been calls from various people for Du Beke to be sacked from the show and he is being labelled a disgrace and a racist.

But is he? Before I go on let me point out that I believe racism should not be tolerated. True racists have no place in our society and any hatred towards other groups should be punished accordingly.

However I believe the label "racist" is used far too easily nowadays in an ever increasing PC world. Is Anton Du Beke a racist for using the term "paki" to a girl of ethnic descent?

Firstly the comment was made between two people who have formed a relationship whilst training for the show together where there is a lot of banter between them
. Whilst Du Beke's comment was not apprpriate he meant no offence and was quick to apologise when he realised she had taken offence. Was it more a case of him overstepping the boundaries and making a comment that was indeed inappropriate. To me a racist is someone who has a deep founded hatred of people from different ethnic backgrounds. If this were the case Du Beke may have refused to dance with Rouass in the first place if he had a dislike/hatred of black  people (not that that would have been acceptable by the way)

Rouass accepted DuBeke's apology and they have been dancing on the show together now for three weeks. I accept that the term"paki" is likely to cause offence but it doesnt necessarily mean the person using the term is a racist. I have a friend of Asian descent and we have swapped insults back and forth as friends do. I'm from MAnchester originally and he often refers to me as a " fat Manc prick". Whilst this would be a comment that could offence to some fellow Mancunians (especially as my friend is from Liverpool) it is not something I find offensive. Likewise I have called him a "scouse paki" which is equally unoffensive to him. That said I would never dream of calling anyone else that word or indeed referring to them in that way because I know it would cause offence but between two friends having banter I see no harm, providing it is not in earshot of anyone that may find it offensive.

As for Du Beke I believe his comments were inappropriate but I do not believe it is right to label him a racist because of this.
 
I agree with the "friendly banter" thing. I occasionally crack jokes at the expense of Iranian and French friends of mine, and you only have to dig a little to see what kinds of exchanges I've had with that bloody Canuck here.

However, it is different if you do it in the media, particularly on TV. I don't know if that thing was said on air or if it happened behind the scenes. But in any case, there is a different code of conduct in public space than in private space. And racist remarks in public space, especially on TV, is simply a no-go. It is likely to be picked up by viewers to be socially acceptable, even when it isn't. I know there are Pakistanis out there who wouldn't take offense to it, but there are many who do. And I know there are people who use that word among themselves, but still take offense when an outsider uses it. It's a word that shouldn't have been introduced in the first place. You don't say "wanker" or certain four-letter words on TV either (or at least you shouldn't).
 
The comment was made before the live shows so hasnt appeared on television. The BBC have a midweek "behind the scenes" show and they have not made any reference to the incident .
I believe the comment was overheard by one or two of the other professional dancers and a couple of the runners on the show and has since been "leaked out" to the general public.
The debate I want from this is to discuss whether Du Beke is a racist for making the comment (I dont believe he is). Should he be sacked from the show? And do we believe that "racism" is fast becoming a bandwagon to jump on whenever someone makes an inappropriate remark?
 
Hmm, I don't know Du Beke, but the fact that he's dancing with a half-Indian half-Moroccan woman doesn't seem very racist to me. If it happened behind the scenes and was never intended for the public, it's not the public's business anyway. Plus, it reeks of a Sun headline to me, so I'd reject the racist notion out of principle already.
 
Perun said:
I agree with the "friendly banter" thing. I occasionally crack jokes at the expense of Iranian and French friends of mine, and you only have to dig a little to see what kinds of exchanges I've had with that bloody Canuck here.
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Stupid Kraut bastard.
 
I think culture and race are confused for eachother far too often these days. I was called a racist in school because I said I would move if Norway turned into Saudi Arabia. I've also spoken against Islam several times, and I have likewise been called racist by people. This never happened when I critisize any other religion...
 
Reumeren said:
I was called a racist in school because I said I would move if Norway turned into Saudi Arabia.
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This is definitely not racist, yet the reaction of your school shows in what a nice country* you live  :)

*recently voted as the #1 country to live in quality
 
Bit of a sensationalist thread title, seeing as it didn't appear on the BBC and was an entirely private incident.  :down:
 
I read somewhere that the reason Thatcher got sacked was because she refused to apologise - Brucie jnr* Du Beke did.

Personally, I don't think he was racist, but it's not a term I would use - even in jest.
 
So the female dancer of mixed heritage sprayed herself with a lotion to look more tanned?  Had she sprayed herself with something and looked paler, and someone were to comment in private to her, as a joke, "you look like a white girl", would we still raise a fuss?  I don't think so.  But it raises a serious question.  I do agree with BitV when he says that the race card is used too frequently to curb socially inappropriate behaviour.

When I was in high school, I had plenty of friends from Pakistan.  They'd always joke with each other and call each other "pakis".  At one point, I asked one of them, why they do it and the answer was "it is funny" and it is OK because they were both Pakistani.  Yet, when I asked if a non-Pakistani were to use the word would it be OK.  He answered "of course, not", but his demeanor was not that serious. 

I agree with Perun.  If it is a private thing between friends, the public should stay out of it.  Seeing how this was "leaked" and not made public intentionally by the so-called racist, it is not the public's business.  Besides he apologized to the female dancer, so clearly the intention was not to hurt.
 
Ardius said:
Bit of a sensationalist thread title, seeing as it didn't appear on the BBC and was an entirely private incident.  :down:
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Altho it hasnt aired on TV, it was during rehearsals for a BBC show and the BBC are now being scrutinized as they sacked Carol Thatcher for her "golli-wog" remark. I apologise if you feel my title was sensational.
 
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