Irish radio presenter censured for calling Susan Boyle a 'freak'

OutlawPete · 05-03-2010 02:51AM #1

Newstalk presenter Claire Byrne has had a complaint upheld by the Irish Broadcasting Authority for calling Susan Boyle a "freak".

Is this a step too far in censorship?

I mean, she sound like a right b*itch for saying what she said, but censoring it and reprimanding her??

A COMPLAINT against Newstalk Breakfast Show presenter Claire Byrne for calling singer Susan Boyle a “freak” and “not right in the head” has been upheld by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

In a finding published yesterday the authority said Ms Byrne’s comments were “inherently offensive”, “disrespectful” and “not editorially justified”.

Ms Byrne made the remarks on-air when she was speaking to presenter Tom Dunne, who was doing the morning programme that followed on from the Breakfast Show .

While previewing his programme, Dunne and Ivan Yates, Byrne’s co-presenter, both said how good a singer Boyle was.

Byrne disagreed and said: “She annoys me. I can’t listen to her or watch her. She does my head in. The whole thing, she’s a freak show, she’s a freak . . . she’s not right in the head . . . it’s because she’s a freak that she’s up there.”

Newstalk claimed that Byrne’s use of the word “freak” was in relation to the Britain Got Talent show, which Boyle starred in, rather than to Boyle herself.

The BAI’s compliance committee disagreed. It stated that the language and manner of presentation was not appropriate, the other two presenters had done nothing to stop her and the comments were “likely to cause offence”.

Source

4zn76tysfajdxp · 05-03-2010 02:52AM

Yes.

Midnight_EG · 05-03-2010 02:52AM

Freak

Le King · 05-03-2010 02:57AM

She's not a freak. She's big boned. And Ugly. And wretched. And minging. And extremely ugly.

Jordan Berbatov · 05-03-2010 02:58AM

If she wasnt a good singer there would have been no problem calling her a freak

anyway she is a freak

hinault · 05-03-2010 02:59AM

Yes.

Incidentally having listened to that morning programme, Byrne and Yates delivery leave a lot to be desired.
Their frequent descent in to using slang words and expressions, smacks of unprofessionalism.

Two lightweights.

Le King · 05-03-2010 03:00AM

Subo's verdict

ballsymchugh · 05-03-2010 03:01AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

I mean, she sound like a right b*itch for saying what she said, but censoring it and reprimanding her??

she's a pain in the hole. she's always playing the moral authority on anyone that earns high wages or that has, as tiger woods put it, had transgressions. given her fine salary and her past she should really think before she speaks.

rossie1977 · 05-03-2010 03:02AM

claire byrne, i wondered where she went, she was nice

i should start a campaign to get her back on tv

Doc · 05-03-2010 03:02AM

Freak: A thing or occurrence that is markedly unusual or irregular

A 48 year old unknown unattractive woman who’s main experience of singing came from singing in her local Catholic Church choir, and in karaoke performances at pubs. Becomes the winner of a hugely popular television program and sells huge amounts of records world wide.

Freak seams like an accurate description to me.

hinault · 05-03-2010 03:03AM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

she's a pain in the hole. she's always playing the moral authority on anyone that earns high wages or that has, as tiger woods put it, had transgressions. given her fine salary and her past she should really think before she speaks.

She's a bloody lightweight.

Personally I prefer presenters who are professional and who refrain from expressing their own views/bias on air.
Crap programme anyhow.
Morning Ireland wins hands down.

OutlawPete · 05-03-2010 03:04AM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

she's a pain in the hole. she's always playing the moral authority on anyone that earns high wages or that has, as tiger woods put it, had transgressions. given her fine salary and her past she should really think before she speaks.

Yes, I agree everyone, but the thread is not about Susan Boyle if you like her music, whether you'd give her one or not or even whether you're a fan of X-Factor or not.

Do you think that the Broadcasting Authority were right to reprimand her for watch she said?

This sets a president now, is that right?

Does she have the right to her opinion without fear of the BAI?

fuelinjection · 05-03-2010 03:07AM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

given her fine salary and her past she should really think before she speaks.

hmmmm now I am curious and interested ... please post any photos or email me !

I read the transcript and I think she meant that Suan Boyle was a media attraction because she is different but used the wrong word 'freak' out of context.
Myself I think that Susan Boyle has been used and abused by the X-factor leeches and people that shed a tear buy her album.

hinault · 05-03-2010 03:08AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Yes, I agree everyone, but the thread is not about Susan Boyle if you like her music, whether you'd give her one or not or even whether you're a fan of X-Factor or not.

Do you think that the Broadcasting Authority were right to reprimand her for watch she said?

This sets a president now, is that right?

Does she have the right to her opinion without fear of the BAI?

If Byrne was professional, she wouldn't have expressed a favourable/unfavourable opinion.

If she was professional : she would interview and read the news without expressing her bias.

I'm glad that she was reprimanded.

Jordan Berbatov · 05-03-2010 03:09AM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

she's a pain in the hole. she's always playing the moral authority on anyone that earns high wages or that has, as tiger woods put it, had transgressions. given her fine salary and her past she should really think before she speaks.

is there a sex tape scandal?!

Please God, let there be a sex tape

OutlawPete · 05-03-2010 03:09AM

hinault wrote: »

If Byrne was professional, she wouldn't have expressed a favourable/unfavourable opinion.

If she was professional : she would interview and read the news without expressing her bias.

I'm glad that she was reprimanded.

I don't listen to the show at all, is she not supposed to give opinions on it then?

Jordan Berbatov · 05-03-2010 03:10AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

I don't listen to the show at all, is she not supposed to give opinions on it then?

no shes a woman of course not

Guy:Incognito · 05-03-2010 03:11AM

Osu wrote: »

She's not a freak. She's big boned. And Ugly. And wretched. And minging. And extremely ugly.

and freak like.

Osu wrote: »

Subo's verdict

Whats Noel Gallagher pointing got to do with this?

hinault · 05-03-2010 03:14AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

I don't listen to the show at all, is she not supposed to give opinions on it then?

I don't know.

I don't know if it is Newstalks policy to permit their "presenters" to give their opinions - instead of just reporting the news/current affairs.

That's why I have switched off form Newstalk : I don't want to have to listen to their opinions/views.

Rabies · 05-03-2010 03:16AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Newstalk presenter Claire Byrne has had a complaint upheld by the Irish Broadcasting Authority for calling Susan Boyle a "freak".

Is this a step too far in censorship?

I mean, she sound like a right b*itch for saying what she said, but censoring it and reprimanding her??

Source

You should check out the reported posts forum and see what the good people of AH kick up about and want censored.

OutlawPete · 05-03-2010 03:17AM

hinault wrote: »

I don't know.

Then why did you say she was unprofessional?

With that comment you had me thinking she spoke out of turn.

For instance, I have heard Ryan Tubridy slagging off people without getting reprimanded (sure he called Michael Jackson a freak one time - could be wrong).

Podge and Rodge do it all the time also.

What so different here?

Jordan Berbatov · 05-03-2010 03:19AM

Rabies wrote: »

You should check out the reported posts forum and see what the good people of AH kick up about and want censored.

excuse my ignorance, but where is this?

we'llallhavetea_old · 05-03-2010 03:19AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Then why did you say she was unprofessional?

With that comment you had me thinking she spoke out of turn.

For instance, I have heard Ryan Tubridy slagging off people without getting reprimanded (sure he called Michael Jackson a freak one time - could be wrong).

Podge and Rodge do it all the time also.

What so different here?

i don't see any difference anyway, think its ridiculous tbh. what she said is pretty mild.

hinault · 05-03-2010 03:20AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Then why did you say she was unprofessional?

With that comment you had me thinking she spoke out of turn.

For instance, I have heard Ryan Tubridy slagging off people without getting reprimanded (sure he called Michael Jackson a freak one time - could be wrong).

Podge and Rodge do it all the time also.

What so different here?

I think all presenters should desist from expressing their own views.

As a listener, I am interested in listening to the content instead of listening to the presenters view/opinion about the content.

If you see what I mean.

OutlawPete · 05-03-2010 03:20AM

Rabies wrote: »

You should check out the reported posts forum and see what the good people of AH kick up about and want censored.

Has anything I have ever said come up in said forum?

Or is there a Mod oath of silence you have taken

m@cc@ · 05-03-2010 03:23AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Has anything I have ever said come up in said forum?

Or is there a Mod oath of silence you have taken

Where's the reported posts forum? I'm intrugued.

sesna · 05-03-2010 03:23AM

I remember thinking it was unusual for her to air her views in
such an unprofessional manner when I heard that broadcast last November.

Not a fan of Byrne, she comes across as very self-opinionated . Alot of her interviews turn out to be damp squibs.

Last Friday, she really took the spokesperson for B&B Ireland to task when they admitted hotels do have the advantage of offering anonymity compared with B&B's, and continued commenting after the interview how she couldn't believe they would admit such a thing - scoop of the year there Claire.

Also when questioning Sister Marianne O'Connor, following the publication of the Ryan report, Byrnes killer question was "I am just wondering how you would see Jesus Christ reacting today, if he was walking the earth today, how would he deal with this, and would he deal with it the way you're dealing with it this morning? ". Cue six seconds of silence from Sr Marianne before sighing and saying "I dont know how to answer that really", which answered it perfectly.

OutlawPete · 05-03-2010 03:24AM

hinault wrote: »

If you see what I mean.

I do see and I agree.

I hate newspapers telling me what a monster someone is, or declaring a person EVIL, as if I can't decide for myself.

However, if someone is employed for their opinion like Vincent Browne for instance, then they are being professional by expressing it, are they not?

OutlawPete · 05-03-2010 03:25AM

m@cc@ wrote: »

Where's the reported posts forum? I'm intrugued.

Hidden from our meager eyes .. :cool:

IrishManSaipan · 05-03-2010 03:26AM

Claire Byrne is an avid supporter of mass immigration and has labeled any dissenters as racists. I hope she gets the bullet and is replaced by a Pole.

Whats good for the goose.....

m@cc@ · 05-03-2010 03:27AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Hidden from our meager eyes .. :cool:

****in' tease, I was looking forward to reading through that until 5. :mad:

As regards to Susan Boyle, I don't know why it is acceptable to call her this and that. She obviously has some level of mental retardation (and that's not a jibe), you can tell from hearing her speak. I just wonder when it became acceptable to label those who are less able than ourselves as a freak.

Irish radio presenter censured for calling Susan Boyle a 'freak'

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