TomTom
2007-08-21 06:35:00 UTC
TalkSport rapped for homophobia
Ben Dowell
Monday August 20, 2007
MediaGuardian.co.uk
Garry Bushell
"Gospel of perversion": Garry Bushell is one of two TalkSport hosts
criticised for making offensive remarks about gay people
Ofcom today censured commercial radio station TalkSport after one
presenter linked paedophilia with homosexuality and another, former Sun
journalist Garry Bushell, called gay rights a "gospel of perversion".
In the first incident, Mike Mendoza, who presents the live phone-in
programme The Mike Mendoza Show, was suspended for one week for
offensive comments about gay people, an Ofcom complaints bulletin
published today revealed.
In a discussion about footballers "jumping on the bandwagon" of news
stories in apparent bids to boost their image, Mr Mendoza cited pleas
from figures including former England captain David Beckham to help
find missing toddler Madeleine McCann, saying: "Now you tell me,
paedophiles in general are the type of people that surely would not
follow football...not many gay people to the best of my knowledge are
great football fans."
After a complaint to Ofcom, the station apologised and said that Mr
Mendoza had been wrong to make his comments, which aired in the early
hours of May 12. The broadcaster then suspended Mr Mendoza for a week
to underline what it called the "seriousness of his mistake".
Today Ofcom upheld the complaint against Mr Mendoza's remarks, which it
said breached rule 2.3, which compels broadcasters to ensure that
"material which may cause offence is justified by the context".
"We note the broadcaster's immediate and appropriate action in
suspending Mr Mendoza," the regulator said. "We nevertheless are very
concerned that the presenter chose to make such a remark. To connect
homosexuality to paedophilia is highly offensive."
The regulator also noted another breach of rule 2.3 after former Sun
television columnist Garry Bushell on the Football First show on June 3
referred to homosexuality as "a perversion".
The presenter, who was plugging his eponymous Sunday night show, joined
in a discussion about an English club potentially playing in next
year's European Cup final, which will be held in Moscow.
Referring to the gay rights demonstrations recently held in Moscow
where anti-gay protestors assaulted demonstrators including campaigner
Peter Tatchell, Mr Bushell said: "I would not go to another country and
try and impose my views on them, it's up to them what they do. I think
there are a lot of things to put right in this country before you go
around preaching the gospel of perversion."
In its response to Ofcom, the broadcaster acknowledged that the
presenter was "wrong to use the words that he did" and had been spoken
to about his remarks, which he "regretted".
Ofcom noted TalkSport had breached rule 2.3 twice. "We therefore remind
the broadcaster that, given these programmes are broadcast live, it is
particularly important that its presenters are fully briefed in advance
about the potential for certain topics and types of remarks to cause
offence to the audience."
TalkSport today issued a statement which reiterated its apology and
said that all its staff had been "made aware" that what the two
presenters had said was "unacceptable."
Ben Dowell
Monday August 20, 2007
MediaGuardian.co.uk
Garry Bushell
"Gospel of perversion": Garry Bushell is one of two TalkSport hosts
criticised for making offensive remarks about gay people
Ofcom today censured commercial radio station TalkSport after one
presenter linked paedophilia with homosexuality and another, former Sun
journalist Garry Bushell, called gay rights a "gospel of perversion".
In the first incident, Mike Mendoza, who presents the live phone-in
programme The Mike Mendoza Show, was suspended for one week for
offensive comments about gay people, an Ofcom complaints bulletin
published today revealed.
In a discussion about footballers "jumping on the bandwagon" of news
stories in apparent bids to boost their image, Mr Mendoza cited pleas
from figures including former England captain David Beckham to help
find missing toddler Madeleine McCann, saying: "Now you tell me,
paedophiles in general are the type of people that surely would not
follow football...not many gay people to the best of my knowledge are
great football fans."
After a complaint to Ofcom, the station apologised and said that Mr
Mendoza had been wrong to make his comments, which aired in the early
hours of May 12. The broadcaster then suspended Mr Mendoza for a week
to underline what it called the "seriousness of his mistake".
Today Ofcom upheld the complaint against Mr Mendoza's remarks, which it
said breached rule 2.3, which compels broadcasters to ensure that
"material which may cause offence is justified by the context".
"We note the broadcaster's immediate and appropriate action in
suspending Mr Mendoza," the regulator said. "We nevertheless are very
concerned that the presenter chose to make such a remark. To connect
homosexuality to paedophilia is highly offensive."
The regulator also noted another breach of rule 2.3 after former Sun
television columnist Garry Bushell on the Football First show on June 3
referred to homosexuality as "a perversion".
The presenter, who was plugging his eponymous Sunday night show, joined
in a discussion about an English club potentially playing in next
year's European Cup final, which will be held in Moscow.
Referring to the gay rights demonstrations recently held in Moscow
where anti-gay protestors assaulted demonstrators including campaigner
Peter Tatchell, Mr Bushell said: "I would not go to another country and
try and impose my views on them, it's up to them what they do. I think
there are a lot of things to put right in this country before you go
around preaching the gospel of perversion."
In its response to Ofcom, the broadcaster acknowledged that the
presenter was "wrong to use the words that he did" and had been spoken
to about his remarks, which he "regretted".
Ofcom noted TalkSport had breached rule 2.3 twice. "We therefore remind
the broadcaster that, given these programmes are broadcast live, it is
particularly important that its presenters are fully briefed in advance
about the potential for certain topics and types of remarks to cause
offence to the audience."
TalkSport today issued a statement which reiterated its apology and
said that all its staff had been "made aware" that what the two
presenters had said was "unacceptable."