Comic Relief's white heroes and heroines...

Ben6899

What's the collective thought on this?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47400300

rjsterry

Inevitably, British celebrities are going to be mostly white if they are reflective of the population as a whole. That seems like a bad reason to not get involved in Africa, but that's not to say that it shouldn't be done with some sensitivity to the point that Lammy makes.

surrey_commuter

showing a balanced view of Africa with an emphasis on the emerging middle classes will really tug at the heartstrings and get the donations flowing

bianchimoon

not sure about that, but the other crew that are doing Kilamanjaro for comic relief.. WTF that's a holiday not something worthy of sponsorship

mr_goo

bianchimoon wrote:

not sure about that, but the other crew that are doing Kilamanjaro for comic relief.. WTF that's a holiday not something worthy of sponsorship

Agreed. Comic relief seems to be a jolly for a certain group of celebrities (whatever they are).
They might just as well host the show from Tree Tops, dressed in safari outfits and have 'locals' waiting on them hand and foot.

I also get cheesed off with Lenny Henry being wheeled out every year. He's not funny at all but I actually do like him as a serious actor.

rjsterry

Mr Goo wrote:

bianchimoon wrote:

not sure about that, but the other crew that are doing Kilamanjaro for comic relief.. WTF that's a holiday not something worthy of sponsorship

Agreed. Comic relief seems to be a jolly for a certain group of celebrities (whatever they are).
They might just as well host the show from Tree Tops, dressed in safari outfits and have 'locals' waiting on them hand and foot.

I also get cheesed off with Lenny Henry being wheeled out every year. He's not funny at all but I actually do like him as a serious actor.

TBF, he was one of the founders of CR, so difficult for him not to be involved.

Matthewfalle

none of the MFs actually care about the article but just want to say that if anyone dares say anything bad about the divine Dooley, soon to be the new Mrs F, they will track them down and beat them senseless with rusy bits of steel bicycle frames. Probably the sharp bits.

you have been warned.

bompington

Whatever the rights and wrongs - fwiw, I'm certainly more in favour of economic development than aid - I'm at least grateful that Our Stace didn't do the normal thing and issue a grovelling apology. Her reply was a nice mix of faux-naive trolling and genuine exasperation at the nonsense of it all.

ballysmate

Without Comic Relief (a misnomer, as they broadcast any old shite), Sports Relief and Children in Need, how else would minor celebrities pat themselves on the back and the viewing public salve their conscience?

rjsterry

Ballysmate wrote:

Without Comic Relief (a misnomer, as they broadcast any old shite), Sports Relief and Children in Need, how else would minor celebrities pat themselves on the back and the viewing public salve their conscience?

You know you were whinging about what Cakestop had become...

orraloon

Maybe Lammy could put his hand in his own pocket then. Oh wait, he's a politician... as you were

DeVlaeminck

If Lammy had said Western rather than white it'd perhaps have been less problematical.

That's not to say there isn't a discussion to be had about colour as well as the form charity takes but would it be acceptable if these sort of shows carried on if only black celebs were chosen to visit Africa - I would suggest not. It opens up a debate though which isn't a bad thing.

bikes`n`guns

Lammy is a racist, but that aside , we should have stopped handing money to african dictators to spend on jets and guns years ago.

rick_chasey

Lammy’s point, with all its relative nuance, is pretty much bang on.

Delivery, less so.

He was more nuanced on This Morning and made an excellent argument.

It’s great people do stuff for charity but the format needs revamping to avoid the overtones he’s correctly articulated.


If it isn’t obvious why, look at the historical context.

rjsterry

Rick Chasey wrote:

Lammy’s point, with all its relative nuance, is pretty much bang on.

Delivery, less so.

He was more nuanced on This Morning and made an excellent argument.

It’s great people do stuff for charity but the format needs revamping to avoid the overtones he’s correctly articulated.


If it isn’t obvious why, look at the historical context.

So mostly it's yet another row brought about by two public figures not being particularly careful about how they express themselves on Twitter. Is there a medium of communication less well suited to debating complex issues? Perhaps semaphore or sky-writing.

rick_chasey

rjsterry wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Lammy’s point, with all its relative nuance, is pretty much bang on.

Delivery, less so.

He was more nuanced on This Morning and made an excellent argument.

It’s great people do stuff for charity but the format needs revamping to avoid the overtones he’s correctly articulated.


If it isn’t obvious why, look at the historical context.

So mostly it's yet another row brought about by two public figures not being particularly careful about how they express themselves on Twitter. Is there a medium of communication less well suited to debating complex issues? Perhaps semaphore or sky-writing.

It’s an amazing shift in the public debate from where it was 10 years ago. My wife couldn’t believe that all that stuff I was banging on about when we first met was actually being discussed on national (daytime) tv.

I’m honestly glad it’s being discussed. Fantastic.

On other mediums he’s been pretty good at teasing out what and why it’s bad and why it’s something Dooley has “run into” figuratively rather than anything quite so personal.

ballysmate

I don't get the need for celebrities of whatever colour to be flown out there to make film clips. Surely CR or whoever's campaign it is can use local people and aid workers to make the films to get the message across. I don't get how using a celeb amplifies any message about suffering unless we have reached the sad state of affairs that people will only believe/will believe anything that a celebrity tells them.
As I said earlier, for the most part I think CR etc is a vehicle for celebs to pat themselves on the back and for the general public to salve their conscience.

rick_chasey

Omg Bally agrees with Lammy & me.

ballysmate

Rick Chasey wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Lammy’s point, with all its relative nuance, is pretty much bang on.

Delivery, less so.

He was more nuanced on This Morning and made an excellent argument.

It’s great people do stuff for charity but the format needs revamping to avoid the overtones he’s correctly articulated.


If it isn’t obvious why, look at the historical context.

So mostly it's yet another row brought about by two public figures not being particularly careful about how they express themselves on Twitter. Is there a medium of communication less well suited to debating complex issues? Perhaps semaphore or sky-writing.

It’s an amazing shift in the public debate from where it was 10 years ago. My wife couldn’t believe that all that stuff I was banging on about when we first met was actually being discussed on national (daytime) tv.

I’m honestly glad it’s being discussed. Fantastic.

On other mediums he’s been pretty good at teasing out what and why it’s bad and why it’s something Dooley has “run into” figuratively rather than anything quite so personal.

Rick, I bet that was a remarkable first date.

rick_chasey

Yeah not *literally* when we met

ballysmate

Rick Chasey wrote:

Omg Bally agrees with Lammy & me.

Perhaps I have converted you to my way of thinking. It's taken a while but I don't regard anyone as being beyond redemption, even you, Rick.

mr_goo

There's a chap in my town who runs a second hand record store. He's ex navy and has all his memorabilia on the walls. He gets extremely vexed and animated when he talks about TV charity, especially Live Aid and the honorary knighthood bestowed upon Geldoff. Mainly because of his experience of seeing the rotting and decayed grain sat in warehouses on the East African coast. This because rather than Live Aid purchase and provide the lorries to transport the much needed life saving food. In their infinite wisdom the money was given to the government to source their own equipment...... Probably still accruing a nice rate of return in Swiss bank accounts for the old corrupt officials that appropriated the dosh.

Ben6899

Ballysmate wrote:

I don't get the need for celebrities of whatever colour to be flown out there to make film clips. Surely CR or whoever's campaign it is can use local people and aid workers to make the films to get the message across. I don't get how using a celeb amplifies any message about suffering unless we have reached the sad state of affairs that people will only believe/will believe anything that a celebrity tells them.
As I said earlier, for the most part I think CR etc is a vehicle for celebs to pat themselves on the back and for the general public to salve their conscience.

I don't wholly disagree, Bally.

However it's the only way some people really understand the poverty and desperate situations that other people find themselves in. Whether it's drought and famine in Africa or homelessness over here, some people are simply blinkered to it and wouldn't dream of trying to make a difference.

If some sh1te "comedy" makes someone dig out a tenner, then I back it all the way.

(I still don't watch it)

Ben6899

Mr Goo wrote:

There's a chap in my town who runs a second hand record store. He's ex navy and has all his memorabilia on the walls. He gets extremely vexed and animated when he talks about TV charity, especially Live Aid and the honorary knighthood bestowed upon Geldoff. Mainly because of his experience of seeing the rotting and decayed grain sat in warehouses on the East African coast. This because rather than Live Aid purchase and provide the lorries to transport the much needed life saving food. In their infinite wisdom the money was given to the government to source their own equipment...... Probably still accruing a nice rate of return in Swiss bank accounts for the old corrupt officials that appropriated the dosh.

I think [second hand] record stores are making a bit of a comeback! Nice.

rick_chasey

Ben6899 wrote:

I don't wholly disagree, Bally.

However it's the only way some people really understand the poverty and desperate situations that other people find themselves in. L

You know that’s one of the main thrusts of his argument?

That a lot of people only really understand Africa through the lens of Europeans turning up, saying how awful it all is and only you, the European, has the power to save them.

That’s what he’d like to get away from.

orraloon

Rick Chasey wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

I don't wholly disagree, Bally.

However it's the only way some people really understand the poverty and desperate situations that other people find themselves in. L

You know that’s one of the main thrusts of his argument?

That a lot of people only really understand Africa through the lens of Europeans turning up, saying how awful it all is and only you, the European, has the power to save them.

That’s what he’d like to get away from.

What alternative approach has he proposed, an actual thought through one not a standard politico-speak wishy washy? Genuine q, not trolling, but cannot be arrised trawling through loads of back commentary.

rick_chasey

orraloon wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

I don't wholly disagree, Bally.

However it's the only way some people really understand the poverty and desperate situations that other people find themselves in. L

You know that’s one of the main thrusts of his argument?

That a lot of people only really understand Africa through the lens of Europeans turning up, saying how awful it all is and only you, the European, has the power to save them.

That’s what he’d like to get away from.

What alternative approach has he proposed, an actual thought through one not a standard politico-speak wishy washy? Genuine q, not trolling, but cannot be arrised trawling through loads of back commentary.

He has proposed a using any of the myriad of local African celebs, farmers, film producers etc and working with them on a more constructive, modern approach.

orraloon

Fair enough. Would that get as much dosh out of the UK resident TV watching population as current, or indeed a mix of the 2 approaches?

Ben6899

Rick Chasey wrote:

You know that’s one of the main thrusts of his argument?

That a lot of people only really understand Africa through the lens of Europeans turning up, saying how awful it all is and only you, the European, has the power to save them.

That’s what he’d like to get away from.

I understand this. But at the end of the day, the current method generates great financial aid.

orraloon wrote:

Fair enough. Would that get as much dosh out of the UK resident TV watching population as current, or indeed a mix of the 2 approaches?

It saddens me, but his proposals won't work as well as the status quo.

Alejandrosdog

Rick Chasey wrote:

orraloon wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

I don't wholly disagree, Bally.

However it's the only way some people really understand the poverty and desperate situations that other people find themselves in. L

You know that’s one of the main thrusts of his argument?

That a lot of people only really understand Africa through the lens of Europeans turning up, saying how awful it all is and only you, the European, has the power to save them.

That’s what he’d like to get away from.

What alternative approach has he proposed, an actual thought through one not a standard politico-speak wishy washy? Genuine q, not trolling, but cannot be arrised trawling through loads of back commentary.

He has proposed a using any of the myriad of local African celebs, farmers, film producers etc and working with them on a more constructive, modern approach.

No, David Lammy is a campaigning racist with dual standards. He and his party are quite happy to promote the Palestinian cause and pedal antisematic dogma. He’s playing the black card, saying black is different and yet.... demanding colourblind equality when it suits.

All the other arguments are undone by the reality behind them. And yet like all good Labour Party trots he’s been the recipient of the very best education and opportunity that the West offers.

DeVlaeminck

Alejandrosdog wrote:

No, David Lammy is a campaigning racist with dual standards. He and his party are quite happy to promote the Palestinian cause and pedal antisematic dogma.

Is that the new Pinarello, maybe Sky are getting one for Moscon to ride ?