BBC3’s ‘Most Annoying People’ offensive to lesbians
January 6th, 2009
The BBC has been branded homophobic and sexist following a programme which attacked celebrity couple Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson and the lesbian community in general.
The BBC 3 programme ‘Most Annoying People: 2008’ counted Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson at number 43, where the primary ‘crime’ of the couple appeared to be to dare to reject men, and to not immediately declare their relationship to the world’s media.
“Let the munters and mingers get each other,” said BBC radio presenter Spoony, referring to lesbians. “That’s cool. Nobody wants them. But when they’re hot and fit - hollywood superstars - they should be saved for guys like… well not me, but, you know, other guys.”
Ageing porn star Ron Jeremy also spoke at length and in graphic detail of his experiences in threesomes, despite it having nothing to do with Lindsay and Sam’s relationship.
Gay rights campaign Peter Tatchell has branded Spoony and Jeremy’s comments “gratuitously sexist and homophobic”, and has called for a public apology from the BBC.
“DJ Spoony should be suspended by the BBC and be allowed to resume presenting his Radio 5 programme only after he has apologised on air and promised not to repeat his homophobic garbage,” says Tatchell.
‘Most Annoying People: 2008’ is repeated on BBC3 tomorrow (7 January) and is currently available on the BBC iPlayer.
Complaints about the programme can be submitted online here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaints_stage1.shtml
I’d like to see the media make a big of deal with this as they done with Russell Brand.
Rachel ∼ January 6th, 2009 7:28 pmNot to mention Thomas Beattie being placed at no 5 or 6 with half a dozen transphobic comments from the rentamouths - already complained about it, but got the usual brush-off.
Catherine ∼ January 6th, 2009 8:15 pmNot defending this rubbish, but I really did find Thomas Beattie’s media circus incredibly irritating.
Nutmeg ∼ January 6th, 2009 8:40 pmDear whingers, a) the Thomas Beattie thing was terribly annoying. Not only was he not the first transman to have a kid, but he chose to go public and make money. If he honestly expected no criticism at all then he’s deluded.
b) I’m a lesbian, I wasn’t offended about the BBC programme. You know what I am offended about? Peter Tatchell thinking that he alone speaks for every lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered person in the entire UK.
He doesn’t. In fact I’d go as far as to say I’d do the exact opposite of him wherever possible.
The man is a rampaging, cartoonish caricature of a gay man, and needs to be stopped. Don’t forget it’s him that cops us all a load of flack every day by insisting that gays and lesbians be allowed to have sex with 14 year olds, or that we’re “better” or more “special” than heterosexuals.
Get over it. It was a joke on a comedy show. Nothing more. No worse than some harpie on Loose Women or some daytime drivel saying 2Oooh all the good men are either gay or taken!”
Burtalson ∼ January 6th, 2009 8:57 pmWhat really, really pissed me off about this was the comments of Paul Flynn, editor of Grazia. Firstly he said that ‘The lesbian community must love those two because there are no hot, cool lesbians” and then “You can tell just by looking at them what goes on in the bedroom”. What? Ever heard the phrase “butch in the streets, femme in the sheets” Paul? Obviously not.
polly styrene ∼ January 8th, 2009 10:16 pmtotally agree polly - also what gives him the right to speak on behalf of the lesbian community? tosser…
Hella ∼ January 8th, 2009 11:31 pmWhilst I support Peter Tatchell on most things and think he’s a brilliant ambassador for gay rights (and a great challenger to homophobes and religious fantatics) I think he’s gone a bit over the top and this one and had a bit of a sense of humour bypass.
Dan ∼ January 15th, 2009 9:45 pmIt was all a bit of a joke and never intended to be offensive. I’d hardly regard DJ Spoony to be a rampent homophobe.
Tatchell usually is spot on on most things but here he comes across as a bit of a rent-a-quote who jumps at anything remotly “offensive” to get himself in the newspapers.
I was also dissapointed seeing him quoted in the Daily Mail, a newspaper which is as homophobic as they come!
But really, what’s funny about it? Isn’t it homophobic and isn’t that enough? I saw the first broadcast of this before anything was published on the net or Peter Tatchell complained. It just made me feel ill. I’ve never complained to the BBC before but I really had to. Then on the comments on the article in pink press:
“DJ Spooney has form.
Presenting the BBC 5Live 606 football phone-in a couple of years back he commented that gay footballers could expect crowd abuse, it was just one of those things, it was unrealistic to expect any different and they would just have to learn to put up with it.
Just like black footballers and racism eh Spooney?
Comment by Ivan — January 2, 2009 @ 21:16″
If that’s true then he’s been allowed to get away with it before.
A ∼ January 22nd, 2009 4:22 pmI can’t beleve the BBC had the cheek to broadcast this program hosted by some of the most annoying TV celebs on the TV. Also why on earth was Rusle Brand not on the list?
John ∼ December 29th, 2009 6:03 pmSpeaking on behalf of gay men everywhere may i just say that you dykes just really need to see the funny side of it. They weren’t gay bashing they just allowed a few poor taste jokes through the cracks. Personnaly i think you should all just change your tampons and stop getting your knickers in a twist! Not everyone is out to get us!!
George Gray ∼ December 31st, 2009 3:46 amI’m sorry, but most of the people interviewed were comedians for a start, and they were claimed to be annoying because they kept splitting up; not because they were lesbians. Honestly, stop taking things so seriously, I’m a lesbian, I was far from offended! :D
Henry ∼ January 8th, 2010 4:54 pmWho’s to say Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson wouldn’t have a threesome with a man? Certainly not Peter Tatchell.
Well Sam maybe not - but LiLo? Come on, who’d be that surprised to learn she’s tried that? It might even have been how she got into girls.
Anyone who thinks all the women Ron Jeremy has had sex with are straight is an ass.
Mr. Tatchell certainly does not speak for bisexual or pansexual queers. He hasn’t really got a clue.
Geri ∼ January 11th, 2010 3:34 pm