Neil Francis

M three · 24-07-2021 12:47am #1

So Neil makes extremely dumb and rascist remarks about Marcus Smith on an Irish Independent linked podcast hosted by Luke Fitzgerald and is only fired after the un-edited version is made public.

https://www.the42.ie/neil-francis-comments-marcus-smith-5504172-Jul2021/

Surely this raises major questions about Luke Fitzgerald also, who saw nothing wrong with the comments at the time. Going by one of Luke's tweets he seems to think some sports people are there for his "enjoyment"

https://twitter.com/lukefitz11/status/1416430220450598914

24-07-2021 12:56am

does beg the question who released the unedited version and why

seems more stupid than racist I would say and that Francis didn't know of Smith's ethnicity

also seems like the Indo weren't trying too hard to keep Francis tbh - maybe wanted shut of him anyways.

lawred2 · 24-07-2021 1:13am

Going by one of Luke's tweets he seems to think some sports people are there for his "enjoyment"

Jaysus.

Teferi · 24-07-2021 1:23am

People dragging Fitzgerald into this situation by trying to pin Franno's comments on him because they seem to have a personal axe to grind with Luke are something else. The only worse take I've seen than this is the lad who actually believes Fitzgerald personally edits the podcast and should have edited it out.

Larbre34 · 24-07-2021 1:28am

Fitzgerald's useless punditry should take him out of the game ordinarily, but as the old saying goes, 'a podcast never refuses bullshyt'.

24-07-2021 2:17am

it has made the bbc

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/57946171

Ugo Moyne weighs in the prick!

He should be more worried that tomorrow brings back memories when he single-handedly butchered the first test and effectively the 2009 series

24-07-2021 7:53am

Francis was having a cut off pretty boy types rather than being racist. Loads piled in delighted to be seen as woke.

It's a shame, we'll end up with a very prescribed, sanitised language, dare I say it, devoid of colour.

AND, as for the OP taking umbrage at the word 'enjoyment'. Jesus wept!

SqueakyKneecap · 24-07-2021 7:57am

This is what happens when people share articles they disagree with or publicly vent their disgust in modern life. It gives gutter rags like the Indo more clicks and a situation like this was always going to end badly for a wind up merchant like Franno.

The Indo are getting no blame for leaving that comment in initially which is either careless or intentional. Either of which they hung him out to dry.

ebbsy · 24-07-2021 8:21am

I would know Neil well, the Mrs is asian and knows him also.

We both think he is not a racist.

Too many people at home during the virus with nothing else to do.

Darc19 · 24-07-2021 8:30am

The Indo has been trying to get rid of some of their highly paid columnists.

Instead of paying a severance for curtailment of their contract, they just wait until the slightest controversial comments even if they are out of context

24-07-2021 9:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117654851#Comment_117654851

That's ok then.

24-07-2021 10:02am

Francis doesn't really deserve the benefit of the doubt at this stage and I certainly won't miss him.

As for the tweet in the first post - WTF is that supposed to demonstrate?

The Nal · 24-07-2021 10:04am

Going by one of Luke's tweets he seems to think some sports people are there for his "enjoyment"

What is this supposed to mean?!

24-07-2021 10:10am

More PC/wokeness gone amuck. In the context of the conversation, he was talking about pretty boys more interested in image than in the physical attrition that no doubt is going to play a part in deciding the tests. If it was Beckham he probably would have referred to his hairstyles and tattoos skin, in this case it was his hairstyle and tan. Just shows how easy it is to offend, if the Lions players/staff are upset about this, God help them.

in relation to his articles in the Indo, I liked it because it wasn’t PC, he calls it as he sees it.

Shelflife · 24-07-2021 10:11am

Heres my opinion.

Based on the podcast its not a racist comment, its a comment born out of ignorance , lack of knowledge of his subject matter and his lack of research.

I believe that he simply didnt know that Smith was Filipino and he thought that he was another flash outhalf who loved the tanning bed.

Im not defending him, I think hes a fool who thinks hes edgy in his thoughts.

I cant for the life of me understand why hes employed as a pundit on the last word or the Indo, his knowledge of the game outside of Leinster is appalling, he doesnt even know players names half the time and im pretty sure he was in the LW giving his opinion on Connacht and admitted that he hadnt seen them play yet (half way through the season)

He should have been sacked for not knowing his subject matter and not bothering to even do some basic and I mean basic research.

His comments in the past on Irelands project players left a lot to be desired and his opinion on Gays in pro sport were cavemanlike.

Whoever booked NF on the podcast knew this and knew what they were getting and they too should face sanctions for their lazy attitude towards standards. (im aware of the irony of expecting standards from the Indo)

Hes no loss to journalism or to media in general, I never respected his opinion and his lack of work ethic was never called out.

Loafing Oaf · 24-07-2021 10:14am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117654866#Comment_117654866

Maybe Franno and Eoghan Harris could team up with a podcast of their own as the Irish Richard Keys & Andy Gray

Ash.J.Williams · 24-07-2021 10:43am

I didn’t know Filipinos were people of colour , every day is a learning day .

what about the Spanish?

Faugheen · 24-07-2021 10:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655122#Comment_117655122

Mocking someone because of their skin colour is ‘PC/wokeness’ gone amuck.

He didn’t bother his arse looking into Marcus Smith and decided to mock his skin colour. If you’re going to do that then you better be sure of what you’re doing. He didn’t, made a stupid remark (on top of many other stupid remarks he’s made in the past) and he has rightly got what he deserved.

You play with fire, you’re going to get burned.

Ash.J.Williams · 24-07-2021 10:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655126#Comment_117655126

every line of text he’s ever written is to stir ****

ClanofLams · 24-07-2021 11:08am

It’s a really poor reflection on the Indo. Luke Fitzgerald and two of their main rugby journalists sitting there listening to it and nobody had the cop on to say ah we better cut that.

I would think it was ignorance more than anything else from Francis but he’s been an ass**le for a long time so who cares.

I see it caused Ewan Mackenna, the simpleton, to have an absolute meltdown on twitter slating Paul Kimmage, Alan English, etc

24-07-2021 11:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655221#Comment_117655221

He wasn’t talking about his skin colour though, he was talking about his haircut and tan, the ignorance as I see it, is that some cannot see the difference between a racist comment and one about image, they do not have to be mutually exclusive. Is it wrong to comment on a sallow skinned person who laps up the sun to get a tan, just because it might be construed as a racist comment? No it should not be, so yes, PC shite gone amuck.

Clegg · 24-07-2021 12:07pm

I see the free speech warriors have made it here.

RamonD3 · 24-07-2021 12:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117654866#Comment_117654866

Looks like a bit of a setup to me, would be shocked if he knew about Smith's heritage or indeed commented based on that.

stephen_n · 24-07-2021 12:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655299#Comment_117655299

The Indo live in that territory, constantly on the edge or just over it clickbait. They are perfectly happy to publish or produce this stuff. They will sacrifice a contributor (wouldn’t call Francis a journalist), because they will hire someone similar to replace him. Why would they care what it comes out like, look how much interest they have gained in their sh1tty media now.

expectationlost · 24-07-2021 12:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655467#Comment_117655467

a setup? all he had to do was not make comments on peoples look and concentrate on discussing sport.

Loafing Oaf · 24-07-2021 12:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655467#Comment_117655467

So Fitzgerald must have been in on the plot, laying a trap for Franno by bringing up Smith in the confident expectation yer man would start on about Oompa Loompas?

Beechwoodspark · 24-07-2021 12:28pm

I’ve been in the company of Frano in a handful of occassions

a pure unadulterated gent.

Not a racist or mean bone in his body. I enjoy his punditry. He tells it like it is. I’d take him over lukey fitz any day.

I hope this all blows over and Frano stays on.

24-07-2021 12:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655519#Comment_117655519

The Indo have sacked him so probably won't be doing a u-turn on that.

Faugheen · 24-07-2021 12:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655519#Comment_117655519

Well except for the time he referred to the colour of a mixed race man as an ‘Oompa Loompa tan’.

If you’re going to slag off someone’s skin colour you better make sure you know what you’re talking about, otherwise you deserve everything you get.

stephen_n · 24-07-2021 1:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655519#Comment_117655519

Nope those xenophobic and homophobic comments he made weren’t intended in a mean way at all. He’s just a poor misunderstood gent.

24-07-2021 1:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655579#Comment_117655579

The ignorance of it. If he slagged David Beecham, or the permanent-tanned Ronaldo for their tan, would it be xenophobic/homophobic/racist? No it wouldn’t, it would just be slagging him for being so image conscious. It’s only the PC/woke brigade that are making an issue of this, unfortunately the Indo caved to this rubbish.

Neil Francis

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