Sarah Kennedy’s latest colour problem
Sarah Kennedy has run into more trouble after her latest gaffe in the Radio 2 early morning show. BBC bosses have dealt with dozens of complaints after Sarah Kennedy praised right-wing politician Enoch Powell during her show last Wednesday. Kennedy, who alleges her age as 59, described Powell as ‘the best prime minister this country never had’.
For our younger readers – Enoch Powell was sacked from the British shadow cabinet by Ted Heath in 1968 after his ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech about mass immigration. The speech was deliberately provocative in its views and language – with the use of the word ‘picaninnies’, a 19th century slang term used in the southern states of America to describe the children of black slaves, causing particular offence. Powell was accused of inflaming racial hatred.
The BBC said that 25 complaints had been received by Friday and that the presenter had been ‘spoken to’ about the remark. The spokesperson said: ‘It was inappropriate for Sarah to offer an off-the-cuff political opinion and we have spoken to her and made that clear.’
This is not the first time Kennedy has run into trouble over comments made on her show:
In 1999, she called a clergyman an ‘old prune’ (that remark is a bit close to home now), described fellow DJ Ken Bruce as an ‘old fool’ and accused a newsreader of soiling her underwear. She then took a week off work, citing exhaustion.
In 2007 she ran into a race row after she said she had almost run over a black pedestrian because his dark clothes made him ‘invisible’ at night. She said: ‘It’s lucky he opened his mouth to yawn or do something and I saw him.’
Also in 2007 she prompted a flood of complaints after slurring her way through her show, mispronouncing words and offering to send ‘panties’ to soldiers in Afghanistan. [ecu]656[/ecu]
How many times will the BBC allow Sarah Kennedy to embarrass them before they sack her? Compare her situation to Carol Thatcher, who was sacked from The One Show after being reported for making an offensive remark off-air. The daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher referred to a tennis player as a “golliwog” while she was in the Green Room backstage at the BBC. Both women’s behaviour is objectionable but Ms Kennedy is broadcasting her racist rants to millions of listeners, five days a week.
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