BBC apologizes for anti-Pinay comedy sketch
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/16/2008 2:13 AM
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has issued an apology for airing a comedy sketch that portrayed a Filipino woman in a very demeaning manner.
“Firstly, we're sorry if you were in any way offended by the program as this wasn't our intention,” the BBC’s Complaints Division stated.
The complaints division of the network described 'Harry & Paul' as a “post-watershed comedy sketch show well-known for its exaggerated humour and absurd characters.”
“It in no way represents real people and was never intended to offend or demean any viewer,” it added.
An official complaint was emailed to the network following the airing of the show on September 26. The show outraged many Filipinos, women’s groups and even lawmakers prompting the Philippine government to direct the foreign affairs department to act on the issue.
“We recognize that you were personally offended by the sketch and would like to assure you that your complaint has been registered on our audience log,” the complaints division stated.
It said that audience feedback also reaches BBC’s executive board, channel controllers, senior managers and staff.
The letter explained that the offending sketch is from a series known as “Northern Monkey” which is “featured strongly in both series of the program over the last two years.”
RP maid not relevant to comedy
In the show, Harry Enfield played Roger while Paul Whitehouse was his “pet” northerner named “Clive” whom he wanted to “breed”. The maid was given instructions to elicit response from Clive.
“The fact that the maid is from the Philippines isn't relevant to the comedy,” it stated.
The latest to add its voice to the mounting call for an apology from BBC was the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW).
“This appalling portrayal of Filipino women in television is deplorable and an insult to millions of women migrants around the world who are making valuable contributions to the progress of the countries they work for,” the NCRFW said.
Earlier this month, Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas condemned the show.
He also said the Philippine embassy in London had already written to the United Kingdom's media regulatory agency as well as to the mayor of London, the secretary of state for women, and the television network to complain about the said show.
'Gutter humor'
Philippine Ambassador to the UK Edgardo Espiritu criticized the skit as "gutter humor." He said the show counters the advocacy of the British government to observe equality for all and respect for human rights.
Female lawmakers and other organizations followed suit in asking BBC to issue a public apology for presenting a racist, humiliating and disgusting depiction of a Filipina domestic worker.
Filipinos in the UK also condemned the show and mapped out protest actions including an online petition called “Dignity and Respect for the Filipino Worker Campaign”. -- Report from Danny Buenafe, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau chief
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