Blog with The Big Couch
Hey Hey It's Racism
The Big Couch 8 October, 2009 - 9:02 AM
The second Hey Hey It's Saturday reunion has made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
As part of their Red Faces segment, a group of performers danced in Blackface as the 'Jackson Jive'. The troupe were rehashing a similar routine they performed 20 years prior on the show.
While the skit was done was apparently in fun, American musician Harry Connick Jr took great offence to the performance.
As a New Orleans native and a prominent Jazz musician Harry has collaborated with some of the greatest-ever African-American performers.
After realising the gaffe, Daryl Somers quickly apologised to Harry.
Is this a complete embarrassment for Australia? Or is this another beat-up?
(45)
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Johnno says
It's probably a cultural misunderstanding more than anything
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 9:03 AM -
Gerdie says
Yep it's in bad taste
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 9:04 AM -
John says
Harry harry harry, weren't these guys depicting jacksons life as it was, not in any instance was it racist, jackson was black and changed to white, this was exactly what these guys showed last night.............. Grow up
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 10:17 AM -
Michelle says
I thought it was fine. Being a Yank, I think Harry had an over reaction to the Aussie sense of humour. The guys didnt make fun of the Jacksons, just parodied them.
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 10:32 AM -
steve says
timing probably not great with jacksons recent passing, but it was all in good fun, yes harry you did over react..........
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 10:43 AM -
Leonie says
Hey Hey it's Racism. Well whether it was intentional or whether it was by accident. It came over on the night as a "oops" moment and an appology was given. Harry did the right thing, if he hadn't defended the US view he would have been cruisified in the American tabloids etc. And well, wasn't it fortuitious for the Hey Hey show to have International publicity -- exactly what a publicist would have wished for!!!
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 11:58 AM -
Marie says
Take it for what it was - a joke!!! Waaaaaay too sensitive Harry - no sense of humour at all!!!
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 12:05 PM -
Carol says
did anyone get upset 20 years ago when performed for the first time ? how times have changed and methinks not for the better in this case. Definite overreaction - HKJ get over it!!
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 12:08 PM -
Karen Campbell says
Red Faces committed something far worse than racisim the sin of not being funny
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 12:14 PM -
Justin Jordan says
I think this is a pathetic case of political correctness again. People need to get a sense of humour, like it or not the Jackson five are BLACK (were with one in particular). I have a fancy dress shop and if we were to follow this current trend of stupidity we would not be able to hire costumes out as it may offend - nuns,priests, superheros, gangsters, pimps etc. Grow up Australia and get some humour. This country used to have balls and I also believe we are still a free country with freedom of speach or should we now make more crazy laws restricting what people can say or think.
Posted Thursday 8 October, 2009 12:19 PM
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