Jim Rosenthal's 'spear-chucker' gaffe forces ITV apology to 'good friend' Tessa Sanderson
An ITV spokesman has been forced to issue an apology on behalf of Jim Rosenthal after the presenter referred to black athlete Tessa Sanderson as a "spear chucker" live on air. Rosenthal, 60, was hosting Danny Williams' boxing match on Friday night when he used the term after a link from a short film about charity work by 1984 Olympic gold medallist Sanderson, 52, to help troubled inner city youths. When the camera returned to Rosenthal, he said: “Tessa Sanderson there, she was a great spear chucker.” Rosenthal's comment prompted a flurry of complaints from ITV viewers, one of whom wrote: “The term is highly racist to black people. The only more offensive thing he could have said was what we shall leave as ‘the N word’.” A spokesman for ITV4 said: “Jim was referring to Tessa’s achievements as a javelin thrower and there was absolutely no intention to offend on his part. “However, in hindsight, Jim accepts that it was a poor choice of phrase and will be apologising to Tessa, who is a good friend of his.” The controversy is not without precedent in this country. Maori New Zealander John Witanga won £11,000 in a race discrimination case in 2003 after being called a spear chucker by boss Colin Lusted in his first week at catering firm Rail Gourmet, of Edinburgh.
“The term is highly racist to black people. The only more offensive thing he could have said was what we shall leave as ‘the N word’.”
L31mr0d wrote: » she's a freakin javelin thrower!!! Her profession was chucking spears??? HOW IS THAT RASCIST!!!
Nodin wrote: » He probably didn't mean it that way
Addyson Large Nursery wrote: » Still funny though.
m@cc@ wrote: » He was obviously using the term 'spear chucker' in reference to her being a javelin and nothing to do her being black. Outrage at this is a form of in itself to make the link between black people and 'spear chuckers'. Things like this just enchance prejudice.
Fratton Fred wrote: » they'll be trying to ban Black and Tan ice cream next
Turd Ferguson wrote: » Wouldnt surprise me. Do they even sell Golliwogs anymore?
Indie18 wrote: » yeah but there not allowed to be called golliwogs anymore i forget what they are called now. but its now racist to call them golliwogs. why don't the pc brigade just f**k off and die serously.
MarkR wrote: » Ever hear the javelin throwers in the olympics being called a spear chucker? It's a common derogatory term for black people. I agree the words themselves have no specific racists tones, but for someone in the media to use that term, when there is the much more simple commonly used term of javelin thrower makes you wonder was he being a bit tongue in cheek?
m@cc@ wrote: » It's funny you should mention Golliwogs. Here in the Netherlands, they celebrate the arrival of 'Sinterklass'. He also has helpers called 'Zwarte Pieten' which basicially involves 'blackening up' to represent the African slave imported by Saint Nicolas (these days they try to say it's due to being down the chimneys). Can you imagine how far this would get in the UK and Ireland?!
Nodin wrote: » Dear Baby Jesus......
