Channel Nine faces claims of homophobia again
Channel Nine is facing a flurry of complaints over its coverage of the Winter Olympics, following a series of homophobic comments made by Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy.
Commentating on the figure skating performance given by three-time US champion Johnny Weir, McGuire and Molloy began to poke fun of the Lady Gaga-inspired routine.
Joking that Weir “left nothing in the closet”, and making references to Brokeback Mountain, the pair’s jocular routine continued.
Irate Twitter users instantly started filling the site with complaints about the duo’s comic styling.
Sydney Star Observer began fielding its own barrage of complaints this morning.
Channel Nine has been contacted for further comment about how many official complaints were received and whether any action will be taken by management over the issue.
Johnny Weir is a class act, he really articulated his feelings and he teaches tolerance in the wake of ignorance. These poor old bludgers, Molley and McGuire, live in the 1950’s, wake up the new generation is far more tolerant of Gay’s get some new material your old jokes are irrelevant. Peace and love to every one! Especially ,Molley and Mcguire.xxxx
I am not male, or gay, or Jewish, or a white anglo saxon protestant. The comments made against the skater demonstrate a lack of confidence in the masculinity of the announcers. I sincerely doubt people CHOOSE to be gay, oh my yes, who would choose it initially- family can be ugly, obviously the public can too, I sincerely believe people who are gay are because they just ARE- like someone is male, or female, or brown haired or green eyed or whatever. BUT. I can be proud of my brown hair, or being female, or being GAY if that is who I am. The comments made by Lee Ethridge were totally inappropriate. Grow a backbone Lee, discover that ALL people deserve respect. I doubt you have the physical attributes required to do what he does on the ice, nor do the announcers, so lets make fun of it….like the 6th graders make fun of the class brain, or the 2nd graders call folks “retards” or the bigots call people of another race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or orientation all the nasty, ugly things they can think of. GROW UP. Hitler was a racist. He killed not only Jews, but those who were “mentally inferior” by his standards, gay, disabled, or just “not right”. Hundreds were sterilized during the era of Eugenics right here in the USA (Hitler modeled himself after the Eugenics folks) because they were poor, had epilepsy, were “backward (whatever that means), or were of another race (the US sterilized Native Americans up until the 70’s) just because they were “detrimental to society” for how they were born or the families they were born into. Continuing to make jokes about anyone for inherent qualities is racist, and wrong.
All I’d say is that Elise makes a FANTASTIC point in defense of what was stated by Ash. But at the end of the day, Johnny Weir himself handled these two commentators with grace and dignity, because he is comfortable in his own skin.
I’d venture to guess that all those posting comments in support of the commentators or lessening the impact of their words, must not know that feeling. When one attacks someone, unprovoked, it is generally accepted that it is rooted far more in their own insecurities than the issue itself.
Lastly, the quote attributed to Martin Luther King is in fact correct. Maybe if some of you would study him and Edmund Burke a little more you’d better your relation to those in this world who’s confidence threatens you.
Not sure I get your point there Andy, as it was me who quoted MLK, not Elise. If it was meant to correct my quote, I appreciate the editing, but as it is possible for 2 people to make similar statements to each other or even quote one another, I’m going to take that as a confirmation, not correction. Good to see both MLK and Edmund Burke agree with you and I on that point. I look forward to your answer to the other points I raised.