Nine apologises for black faces

8 Oct 2009, 5:55 pm   -   Source: AAP
5 Comments
Share This
+ Comment
5
Channel Nine says it regrets any offence that the Red Faces Act caused (AAP)

Channel Nine says it regrets any offence that the Red Faces Act caused (AAP)

The Nine Network has issued an apology for a racially controversial skit on Hey Hey It’s Saturday that has outraged viewers. 

RELATED

The Nine Network has apologised for a black face skit on Hey Hey It's Saturday which has outraged viewers.

The skit on the show's Red Faces segment on Wednesday night showed one man with a white face, comically impersonating Michael Jackson, with back-up dancers in black face paint.
 
US singer Harry Connick Jr, a celebrity judge for the segment, took offence at the act and gave it a score of zero.
 
He said if the skit had appeared on television in the US the show's broadcast would have been terminated.
 
A spokesman for the Nine Network has issued a brief apology.
 
"It was never intended to offend and we regret any offence the Red Faces act caused," he said.
 
Performers apologise
 
The act's frontman, a Sydney-based plastic surgeon, has also apologised.
 
Dr Anand Deva said the Jackson Jive act was not meant to cause offence, but he admitted he would not have performed it in the US.
 
"Clearly, all of us want to apologise. I mean we have offended some people no doubt, particularly Harry Connick Jr," he told Fairfax Radio Network.
 
Harry Connick Jr has said he was surprised but not upset by the sketch.
 
"I had no idea I was going to be a part of it," he told Fairfax Radio Network in an interview to be broadcast in full tomorrow morning.
 
"I have absolutely no hard feelings and I'm not even upset, but I felt I had a responsibility to respond."
  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube

Your Comments

Just light entertainment. tribute to Jackson

Daniel - from Brisbane, 3 years ago

I can't understand what was offensive? People dress up as different genders, age groups and races all the time for light entertainment. It was a tribute!

what is this!

james - from perth, 3 years ago

look this is not racist....why dont you just say that vegemite is racist because its black....sorry i mean a non racially specific colour. thats stupid, take a joke any black people out there

Shocked

Grumpy Michael - from Perth, 3 years ago

I am shocked that the skit even got past the preliminary stage of consideration! And the fact that they do not sound sorry; "we have offended some people no doubt.." ..how about going all the way and admitting it's offensive!? A plastic surgeon really would be the only doctor to be involved with this sort of childish and shockingly dated shenanigans. Almost too shocked to laugh at how shocking this is.

NO APOLOGY NECESSARY

Phil - from Canberra, 3 years ago

No apology necessary. We don't hear complaints about other cover acts; all those Elvis', the ABBA cover bands etc. This is the small minded minority acting as the fun police at it again - and this is not the USA. Take the skit for what is was worth - taking off the Jackson Five. It should be seen as compliment to the J5. Next they'll be asking the Vegemite Kid to apologise for missusing vegemite on the first reunion show.

Not in good taste; don't take seriously

Gary - from Katanning WA, 3 years ago

Yes, we thought we had moved on from "The Black and White Minstrel show" and Gollywogs.
I wouldn't get too steamed up about it but I think there are far more intelligent ways to get a laugh these days and we really should be trying harder to make our comedy and parodies more sophisticated.
It is easy to see it as a subtle put down and we could very well do to avoid that.

Join the Discussion

Name
City / Suburb E.g. Artarmon, Sydney
Title
Comment
You have characters remaining.
Validation
What's this?
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.
All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.