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

Jordan Berbatov · 05-03-2010 03:32AM

m@cc@ wrote: »

****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.

When Simon Cowell put them on TV:pac:

sesna · 05-03-2010 03:40AM

Doc wrote: »

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.

Very scientific definition of what freak means - "markedly unusual or irregular".

Bynre had some pathetic piece in the Herald trying to explain herself along the same lines, and finished her article by saying -
"I would respectfully suggest that they ought to take greater offence at the music bosses who continue to run a vulnerable woman through the mill and have compromised her mental health as a result ".

The only problem is Byrne obvious meant her use of the world freak in a derogatory sense as evidenced from what she said in full - "she annoys me. I cant listen to her or watch her. She does my head in. The whole thing, she's a freak show, shes a freak... shes not right in the head...it's because she's a freak that she's up there " - Yes Claire, you're obviously very empathetic toward Boyle and concerned about her mental health.

Minstrel27 · 05-03-2010 03:40AM

Claire Byrne is the reason why I refuse to listen to Newstalk in the mornings. Opinionated twit.

Is it good for presenters on a news program to air their views? Of course it's not. For an example, look at FOX News and their opinion giving bull****.

IrishManSaipan · 05-03-2010 03:47AM

m@cc@ wrote: »

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.

I wouldnt call her a lesser person just because she is not the sharpest knive in the drawer or particularly good looking. I consider myself relatively good looking and of average intelligence, but I have no talent that would make me stand out from the crowd. Unlike Boyle, who has an unbelievable singing voice.

What talent has Byrne that would compare with Boyles singing voice?

m@cc@ · 05-03-2010 03:48AM

IrishManSaipan wrote: »

What talent has Byrne that would compare with Boyles singing voice?

She is a bit of a roide. :pac:

ballsymchugh · 05-03-2010 03:54AM

m@cc@ wrote: »

She obviously has some level of mental retardation (and that's not a jibe), you can tell from hearing her speak.

some scottish accents aren't that bad!!

as regards the original question, no, no one in the media should be able to say something personal like that without the subjected person having the right to reply. susan boyle is hardly going to find out about claire byrne at all.

and as we saw recently, when the reply comes in, the person who had the original opinion usually ends up being shown up. i'm pretty sure kevin myers didn't expect ronan o'gara to write in complaining about his piece on the rugby team. myers subsequent reply was pathetic.

IrishManSaipan · 05-03-2010 03:57AM

m@cc@ wrote: »

She is a bit of a roide. :pac:

Shes caked in Mac make up.

sesna · 05-03-2010 03:58AM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

and as we saw recently, when the reply comes in, the person who had the original opinion usually ends up being shown up. i'm pretty sure kevin myers didn't expect ronan o'gara to write in complaining about his piece on the rugby team. myers subsequent reply was pathetic.

I think O'Gara just highlighted that Myers article had stung him by writing in such a reply, especially considering Myers deliberately provolks people to get such a reaction. O'Gara probably still sore about this article also, and should stick to rugby and gambling.

OutlawPete · 05-03-2010 04:04AM

The only Byrne I listen to on the Radio, is Gay Byrne .. good to have him back, if only for the odd hour.

Hearing his voice on the radio reminds me of being in bed as a Teen while doing a Ferris Bueller :cool:

'Excira and Delira' I was to be on the bounce.

IrishManSaipan · 05-03-2010 04:13AM

sesna wrote: »

I think O'Gara just highlighted that Myers article had stung him by writing in such a reply, especially considering Myers deliberately provolks people to get such a reaction. O'Gara probably still sore about this article also, and should stick to rugby and gambling.

Heres why O'Gara did what he did.

Now, men, Sinn Fein have had all the sport up to the present, and we are going to have the sport now. The police are not in sufficient strength to do anything to hold their barracks. This is not enough for as long as we remain on the defensive, so long will Sinn Fein have the whip hand. We must take the offensive and beat Sinn Fein at its own tactics...If a police barracks is burned or if the barracks already occupied is not suitable, then the best house in the locality is to be commandeered, the occupants thrown into the gutter. Let them die there—the more the merrier. Should the order ("Hands Up") not be immediately obeyed, shoot and shoot with effect. If the persons approaching (a patrol) carry their hands in their pockets, or are in any way suspicious-looking, shoot them down. You may make mistakes occasionally and innocent persons may be shot, but that cannot be helped, and you are bound to get the right parties some time. The more you shoot, the better I will like you, and I assure you no policeman will get into trouble for shooting any man.

Col. Smith- 1920.

He was plugged a month later.

happyfriday · 05-03-2010 11:53AM

Would someone have a link to that Kevin and Ronan stuff?

stovelid · 05-03-2010 12:02PM

It shouldn't be censored imo.

That's not to say that it's a nice thing to say on air about somebody though.

walshb · 05-03-2010 12:06PM

Osu wrote: »

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

Hey, a simple "I don't find her attractive" would have sufficed. Why the need to be so forceful and malicious with your comments? Just wondering!

moonpurple · 05-03-2010 12:06PM

I agree with complainent
wrong to call the lady a freak

her version of wild horses which you might find on youtube... remarkable

claire the presenter grumpy from early morning schedule

walshb · 05-03-2010 12:11PM

stovelid wrote: »

It shouldn't be censored imo.

That's not to say that it's a nice thing to say on air about somebody though.

I am not pro censorship, but in radio and tv, there does have to be some standards, rules and guidelines. I think Byrne was out of order on this one. Maybe Gerry Ryan needs a little of what Byrne got.

It's not good enough to simply use the argument, "If you don't like it, don't listen or look or read."

mike65 · 05-03-2010 12:12PM

Had Clair Byrne been born in a previous time and place she'd have aspired to being a Mad Men style Hamptons "party girl", and like such women she has an opinion on everything that no one wants to hear really.

AttackThePoster · 05-03-2010 12:16PM

Claire Byrne rules.

Thank this post if you agree, which I'm sure you will.

genericguy · 05-03-2010 12:21PM

IrishManSaipan wrote: »

Claire Byrne is an avid supporter of mass immigration and has labeled any dissenters as racists.

yes, but she's a ride, so i personally would forgive her any transgressions, and then I would give her my pole.

Dudess · 05-03-2010 12:31PM

She meant Susan Boyle is famous in the first place because she was a bit of a laughing stock, and she was exploited by Britain's Got Talent (anyone good-looking or even average-looking would have been given the make-up treatment and non dowdy clothes) - those were the real nasty ones, not Claire Byrne. Her comment was not meant as an insult, say, along the lines of:

Osu wrote: »

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

Her voice is good, but it's not utterly ASTOUNDING. I think it's hilarious how people who jeered at her suddenly felt sorry when they heard her voice... because of course it would have been ok to jeer at her if her voice wasn't good.

geeky · 05-03-2010 01:00PM

Dudess wrote: »

She meant Susan Boyle is famous in the first place because she was a bit of a laughing stock, and she was exploited by Britain's Got Talent (anyone good-looking or even average-looking would have been given the make-up treatment and non dowdy clothes) - those were the real nasty ones, not Claire Byrne. Her comment was not meant as an insult, say, along the lines of:

You're right in saying that they're the genuinely evil/exploitative ones. Claire Byrne is just witless.

Byrne she only took the moral high ground about her exploitation, though, after her nasty little original comment came back to bite her. I'm normally against censorship, but the idea that she should just slag someone off as a 'freak' without anyone saying boo would be depressing.

Claire Byrne is a limited journalist/presenter who has had a platform for way too long. As a result, she's become convinced that her frequently inane views are somehow worth more than anyone else's. I call it the Sindo Syndrome.

kelle · 05-03-2010 01:06PM

Susan Boyle never did anything to Claire Byrne, I hope she gets severely reprimanded for this. My daughter was recently diagnosed with Aspergers, and to hear remarks made like that about somebody with a mental condition by a supposed professional is very upsetting.

hinault · 05-03-2010 01:09PM

geeky wrote: »

You're right in saying that they're the genuinely evil/exploitative ones. Claire Byrne is just witless.

Byrne she only took the moral high ground about her exploitation, though, after her nasty little original comment came back to bite her. I'm normally against censorship, but the idea that she should just slag someone off as a 'freak' without anyone saying boo would be depressing.

Claire Byrne is a limited journalist/presenter who has had a platform for way too long. As a result, she's become convinced that her frequently inane views are somehow worth more than anyone else's. I call it the Sindo Syndrome.

Agreed.

bonerm · 05-03-2010 01:09PM

AttackThePoster wrote: »

Claire Byrne rules.

Thank this post if you agree, which I'm sure you will.

No way! Susan Boyle rules. I bought her CD and it's so good! I'm listening to it right now in fact. Great voice.

extra-ordinary_ · 05-03-2010 01:09PM

Kelle 2 wrote: »

Susan Boyle never did anything to Claire Byrne, I hope she gets severely reprimanded for this. My daughter was recently diagnosed with Aspergers, and to hear remarks made like that about somebody with a mental condition by a supposed professional is very upsetting.

I think it can be fairly interpreted that her anger was being directed at Susan Boyle's exploitation rather than at Susan Boyle herself.

HalloweenJack · 05-03-2010 01:17PM

I'm guessing the BA saw it as a slur on people who are "slow" and that's why they took their course of action.

From the sounds of it, they misunderstood the context.

hinault · 05-03-2010 01:19PM

If you heard the context of the comment, it was clear that Byrne called Boyle a freak.

And it is wholly proper and correct that Byrne be reprimanded.

HalloweenJack · 05-03-2010 01:23PM

hinault wrote: »

If you heard the context of the comment, it was clear that Byrne called Boyle a freak.

Obviously, she called her a freak. I'm not denying it. What I'm arguing about is the context.

Did she call her a freak because her success is unprecedented? Or did she call her a freak because of how she looks and her learning difficulties?

walshb · 05-03-2010 01:29PM

She called the lady a freak; noting to do with it being a freak occurrence.

She meant that the lady was a freak, and if you were trying to clear Byrne, you may use the whole "freak show" defence, but that would be weak.

"It's because she's a freak that she is up there"...that is pretty straight forward to me

Add in "She's not right in the head," and it seals it

sexdwarf · 05-03-2010 01:33PM

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?

Hmm big difference though, Podge & Rodge aren't supposed to be professional journalists. I would say a personal derogatory statement like 'freak' aimed at someone who's known to be a vulnerable person on what's supposed to be a straight news programme is probably out of line.

IvySlayer · 05-03-2010 01:34PM

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?

It was Britains Got Talent actually. Get it together Pete. :pac:

You can't call someone a freak on the air.

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

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