Kamahl threatens to sue 'Hey Hey'

09 October 2009 | 08:03:34 AM | Source: AAP/Daily Telegraph

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Kamahl was at the centre of a joke during the now condemned Jackson Jive sketch. (Getty Images)

Former ‘Hey, Hey It's Saturday’ regular Kamahl has threatened legal action after he was drawn into the Red Faces skit which sparked a world racism debate.

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Kamahl told The Daily Telegraph he had endured years of racist remarks at his expense on the show but had enough after again being the butt of a joke during the now condemned Jackson Jive sketch.

The clumsy performance, aired during the Red Faces "talent" segment, consisted of a frontman in whiteface impersonating Michael Jackson, backed by dancers in blackface and wigs.

American singer and guest judge Harry Connick Jr took offence, giving them zero.

He said if the act had appeared on US television, the broadcast would have been terminated. Host Daryl Somers was forced to apologise, and the performers followed suit yesterday.

Foreign media condemn skit

International media and commentators, especially in the United States, were quick to condemn the skit, with many labelling Australia backward and racist.

"Shame on the host and the other judges for trying to act like this performance was acceptable in any part of the world. I'm too disgusted to write any more," a Chicago Now blogger wrote.

Blackface shows were common in the US from the 19th century, with white performers playing black characters with exaggerated, demeaning characteristics.

The Guardian newspaper in the UK described the skit as "mind-boggling". In Australia, TV expert Vincent O'Donnell, from RMIT, said it was thoughtless, given audiences had changed.

"For me, it is just tasteless TV, perhaps sensation seeking, and not well thought through," Dr O'Donnell told AAP.

He added that Jackson was beyond satire in the US, while he wasn't in Australia.

Thousands of viewers and commentators took to online social networking site Twitter to give their opinions.

"Thank you Hey Hey It's Saturday for making the world think we are even more rascist (sic)... eh take note dont try and revamp an out of date show," one wrote.

Sydney-based anti-discrimination campaigner Gary Burns said he has lodged a complaint against Nine under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act because of the skit's "racist connotations".

Critics 'too politically correct'

But others stood up for the segment, accusing critics of being too politically correct.

"Poor old Hey Hey It's Saturday - no harm was meant!" another twitterer posted. Attorney-General Robert McClelland weighed in, saying Connick had every right to feel offended but commending the way the issue was handled.

"It's one of those events we've seen in the presentation of humour where the wrong note is struck, but all those involved seemed to have acted appropriately to address it," he told reporters in Melbourne.

It didn't take long before Connick was accused of hypocrisy after footage of him impersonating a black preacher 13 years ago resurfaced.

Channel Nine issues apology

Nine released a statement apologising, while Somers went on the defensive, describing it as a "storm in a teacup".

"I think it's blown up a bit out of proportion over here," he told Sky News.

"I think it was just a cultural diversity of America and Australia."

While he again apologised to anyone offended, Somers said he preferred to focus on the ratings, which showed the program was watched by an impressive 2.3 million viewers across the five major cities.

Nine is yet to make a decision on whether the program will be brought back permanently, but a Nine spokesman said the incident will have "nil bearing on what happens next".

Nine is set to repeat both reunion specials on Saturday night on digital station GO! A Nine spokesman said it was likely the controversial skit would be edited out for the repeats.

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13 Oct 2009 19:49 AEST

Bob Netizen

From: Australia

Now let me see...

the let me sees say enough about what the people in the u.s are like. i have just finished watching some movie about americans called wrong turn. with a) americans like this running around b) senseless violence c) denegration of human life in every way possible d) media abuse ime not too worried about hey hey. i think Micks comments above are on the money. I think he would of said "or are..." not racist motivated at all in comedy.

Agree (1 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

13 Oct 2009 11:02 AEST

MickaTheMan

From: Australia

What Rubbish

I as an australian are deeply offended by americans and their response. all my family future generations and freinds will stick to this. Because of america's reaction only prooves how racist and unbalanced they are. The more they raise contraversy over this the more you can see they are actually racist horrid people themselves. i have seen enough of americas rubbish. you us push your violence crap through media and tv forcefully on us for years. AMERICA I AM OFFENDED. WE ARE NOT americans or are

Agree (1 people agree)
Disagree (1 people disagree)
 

12 Oct 2009 22:13 AEST

BlueFace

From: Australia

Ban Apu

Kahmal was paid to portray Indigenous alongside a blackfaced white actor in a movie was he not? Do we need to ban the term blackfella, would offend those in the Northern Hemisphere. Seems all they think about, race, like some African souvenir they put in a trophy case. Whose got the best one! They are people just like us and if we should not offend then it should be uniform and include offensive characters like Apu. Not a case of who is trendy this week.

Agree (1 people agree)
Disagree (2 people disagree)
 

10 Oct 2009 18:51 AEST

Ray

From: Sydney

We are very wrong !!!!!

Grow Up Kamahl ???? ...I..would say ....GROW UP "aussies".!!!!!!!!......

Agree (8 people agree)
Disagree (2 people disagree)
 

10 Oct 2009 16:36 AEST

Andy

From: Perth

Who'll stand up for short people?

As a person of diminished stature, my heart sinks whenever someone makes fun of Darryl Sommers' or Grant Denyer's height. I am deeply, deeply offended by the jokes made at their expense and I imagine they too harbour deep-seated resentment but remain silent for the sake of the entertainment. Unfortunately, their silence adds to my pain as I endure the ongoing ridicule by people who think we don't meet the "normal" height standards. It's time to stand up against heightism in the media!!!!!!

Agree (3 people agree)
Disagree (3 people disagree)
 

10 Oct 2009 14:25 AEST

D.

From: somewhere

harry connick jr

I completely agree with Harry Connick Jr. What happened was a disgrace, and all you bogans who jump up and say that it was "just a joke" are just as bad. You look like real idiots, the types of people who go overseas and say "AUSTRALIA IS THE BEST!!!" when all you've done is gone to Rome and eaten spag bol. We ARE racist, and we just reckon that we're the best country in the world. Well we're not, nor America. I'm not going to sit here and be put here in the same basket as racist bogans. I'm off

Agree (7 people agree)
Disagree (6 people disagree)
 

10 Oct 2009 11:33 AEST

Tony

From: st peters sydney

nine fumbling

The Channel Nine corporation is a sad and washed up shadow of it's former self reinforced by this example . It is typical of these media giants to try and resurrect an old popular program as a 'sure thing' for ratings and while any publicity might be considered good publicity, their error in judgement is clear here by the extinct hunour value of the sketch. A larger concern is Channel Nine's irresponsible, persistent, prevalent pro-nationalistic mandate limiting it's viewers world understanding.

Agree (2 people agree)
Disagree (3 people disagree)
 

09 Oct 2009 22:09 AEST

John

From: Melbourne

Geez!

Wow! ok so in the act, there faces wernt even black! Kamahl think hes top notch, he doesent like people having a joke? then why doesent he return to his own country? OK so let me get this strait, its ok for a black person to make a mean remark about a white man, BUT when a white man says something about a black man it makes world news! America and other countrys, keep your nose out of Australias buisness and stop trying to take more of our troops to get back at a country you have a problem with!

Agree (2 people agree)
Disagree (6 people disagree)
 

09 Oct 2009 13:41 AEST

Joe

From: Newcastle. Australia

Who cares what other countries think !!!

Who cares what other countries think is my message to them all !!! We are no ones puppets and I'm sure the majority of viewers found it quite amusing and funny like I did. If Americans got offended well TOO BAD !!!! Build a bridge and get over it !!! Same goes for Kamahl or are broke and looking for a way to make some money !!!!

Agree (18 people agree)
Disagree (19 people disagree)
 

09 Oct 2009 12:34 AEST

Marvin Suggs

From: south korea

get back in the hole

Hey hey it's saturday should have stayed buried. It's embarrassing to see this kind of thing as a representation of Australia.

Agree (21 people agree)
Disagree (23 people disagree)
 
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