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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:59 pm Post subject: Russell Brand Is In the Clear |
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Complaints about comedian Russell Brand's controversial hosting of the Brit Awards on ITV1 this year have been rejected by Ofcom.
The media regulator received 262 complaints about the ITV1 broadcast in February - which started at 8pm, before the watershed - in which Brand made a series of risqué jokes about "intimate parts of the human body", drugs, Iraq, the Queen and Robbie Williams.
It was the first time the event had been broadcast live - albeit with a 30-second delay - since 1989.
Ofcom asked ITV for a statement with specific regard to two of Brand's jokes involving drugs and "intimate parts of the human body" in relation to the broadcasting code regarding the protection of children and the glamorising of illegal drugs.
Ofcom quoted Brand as saying: "What about the rumours David Cameron smoked drugs as a schoolboy? What worries me most is that he dressed up as a schoolboy to do it, the pervert.
"Though, perhaps let's not condemn him regardless. Who among us didn't smoke just a little bit of weed at school, just to take the edge off those irksome crack come-downs?
"Actually, as it turns out, it's about as good an anti-drugs campaign as you're going to get, don't take drugs or you might end up leader of the Tories with a face like a little painted egg."
Ofcom also singled out a statement in which Brand said it was "... time to find out who has pierced the hymen of awareness to ejaculate success into the uterus of popular culture".
The watchdog said it did not consider any of Brand's other comments to be worthy of investigation, saying they were "justified in the context of what was a rock and pop event aimed at a primarily youth audience".
ITV defended Brand, saying he was a popular comedian and presenter "known for his flamboyant persona", although it admitted the decision to broadcast the programme live at 8pm presented a "challenge to ensure rigorous compliance procedures".
The broadcaster said Brand's "hyperbolic" comments did not glamorise, condone or encourage drug abuse.
ITV added that the reference to crack was "clearly ironic" and "did not seriously suggest that children take drugs at school".
The hymen comment was "clearly a reference to sexual activity, it believed it was appropriately and sufficiently limited and inexplicit", according to the broadcaster.
ITV said the description was "essentially abstract, and employed anatomical rather than colloquial terms in an elaborate comic metaphor which many younger viewers would not have understood".
Ofcom concluded that the two statements by Brand it had singled out were "on the margins of suitability".
But Ofcom ruled that they were "acceptable in the context of an established music awards ceremony where a certain amount of controversy was likely to be expected by the audience".
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2095126,00.html |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 4861 Location: Here, There, Everywhere.
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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I though he was quite funny on the brits. _________________ His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west..... |
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Rachel Guest
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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Comedian?.... |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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I bet Ofcom had a laugh at how he dresses? |
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Cherskiy
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 3701 Location: near Amble, Northumberland
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Rachel wrote: | Comedian?.... |
Another contravention of advertising standards, methinks.... _________________ Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited) |
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