Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington has made a formal complaint accusing the BBC of not being tough enough on a comedian who made a joke about her.
In a letter to the BBC Trust, the double gold medallist said she felt Frankie Boyle had been let off with a "slap on the wrist" after he made a jibe about her appearance.
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Boyle has remained unrepentant about his comments and has so far refused to apologise.
He has since quit Mock The Week and in an interview with Time Out he criticised the BBC for being dull and only showing cooking and property programmes.
He said: "If you look at the scheduling nowadays, it's all just celebrities meeting meerkats."
The gag was made on the BBC gameshow Mock The Week when Boyle said Miss Adlington resembled "someone looking at themselves in the back of a spoon".
All I can say is well done Frankie Boyle for standing up for freedom of speech and not caving into the BBC. It's just a shame he had to leave Mock the Week as he was the best thing about it.
Sadly there is a worrying belief developing in this country where people assume they have a right not to be offended.
This is nonsense and dangerous as it can only curtail freedom of speech. Ultimately if you don't like what someone has to say don't watch, listen or hang around with them. Then you won't be offended.
So in 'solidarity' with Frankie Boyle and freedom of speech I shall re-publish the content that got him in so much trouble. And remember if you don't wish to be offended don't watch it...
7 comments:
I'm glad I'm not alone.
As someone on my comments pointed out, if she didn't want to be in the public eye (or spoon), why the manager and PR firm?
I was offended that she was offended ... does that count? ;-)
Man, if she's this enraged about a crappy joke on TV then imagine how she feels about the bankster robbery and Lisbon Treaty. Sign her up now!!
Stan I have the feeling she may not be I complete agreement with us on that one.
Why choose this story to have a go at BBC censorship, why not the rather more appropriate "Chocolate Hob-Nob" incident?
PS: LPUK :: Blog Code of Practice
...people in glass houses...
All I can say is well done Frankie Boyle for standing up for freedom of speech and not caving into the BBC. It's just a shame he had to leave Mock the Week as he was the best thing about it.
I'm not certain the two are linked. I'd heard that he was leaving MTW a few months back. Possibly the Beeb would have done a Russell Brand number on him if they could, but if he'd already made up his mind to go anyway he'd have been pretty fireproof.
To be fair he made this comment several months ago. Not too long after the olympics.
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