Harry Connick Jr. Blasts Blacked-Up Jackson 5 Tribute
- Posted on Oct 9th 2009 7:34AM by Stephen Dowling
- Comments (155)
Harry Connick Jr. could have been forgiven for thinking appearing on the talent section of Australian TV show 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' would be a harmless affair -- perhaps a little teeth-grinding over some off-key singing, but nothing more serious than that.Connick Jr., however, then had to sit through a performance by Jackson 5 tribute Jackson Jive, featuring a quintet of Aussie blokes wearing afro wigs and a Michael Jackson impersonator too -- and blacked up to complete the look.
The singer and actor couldn't hide his distaste. When fellow judge Red Symons banged the Red Faces slot's gong -- signal for hapless performers to stop -- the American musician left the performers in no doubt as to how he felt, after giving them zero out of 10.
He told the Channel 9's show host Daryl Somers: "Man, if they turned up looking like that in the United States then hey hey, there's no more show."
After an ad break, Somers chatted with Connick Jr., apologising if the show had caused any offence.
Connick Jr. said: "We have spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see stuff like that we take it really to heart."
He added: "If I knew that was going to be a part of the show... I definitely wouldn't have done it."
Dr Anand Deva, the plastic surgeon who played Michael Jackson in the skit, said the group hadn't meant to cause any offence and that Connick Jr. had taken it the wrong way.
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Reader Comments(1 of 8)
R Dupuisat 10-09-2009
Harry
Why don't you just stay in the good old US of A and don't ever come back to Australia, we don't want you here. I used to love you however you have insulted us and I am quite offended by your "racist comments" and the fall out of your fellow country men/womens comments about us in the land of Oz. Hope you never return here as we do not need people like you - negative person
Angellis1at 10-09-2009
YOUR offended by the Racist comments? (Comments that were well and truly justified )
Are you even on the same page!
Jim Braidat 10-09-2009
This is just good humour, if black guys came on a show whited up nothing would be said, racism is Ok as long as it isnt directed at blacks,its Ok if its the other way round though,I have lived in 'black' countries for many years and suffered discrimination for being white, if I complained I was told I could be deported !,These Aussie guys were funny, if anyone thinks different they should get a life.
George Taylorat 10-09-2009
"Racist Comments" What "Racist Comments" were said about australian people by harry.." NONE " you must have been watching another show. Who would want to come to a country where idiots like you live. It's people like you that keep decent people away from Australia.Get a life and stop being a Prat..
Gdubsat 10-09-2009
You are one of few countries in the world tha was established to rid 'proper' society of its undesireable element. I used to feel sorry for you, fot the hundreds of men and women whom I ASSUMED were roughly treated and undeserving of such malice.
I WAS WRONG. I am an African, and at every turn your nation has proved itself deserving of whatever dark thoughts are ascribed to it. You turn away a ship load of African children who only want food and water, anbd send troops to an Arab country to murder civilians, you push the Aborigin nation into concerntration camps, and systematically dehumanise them- even Hitler was stopped after a time. You don't even have the decency to be ashamed. You are what you are.
And then you wonder why the world feels there is no place for you in it?! Even the rednecks of America voted Obama in.
You cannot, in this day and age, still ascribe to the arrogant misconception that the colour of your skin, which you call white but is actually pink, makes you closer to God, and therefore right in everything you do. See that's how slavery was justified, your kind were saving mine from the darkness of the devil in us,for surely that is why our skin is so dark.
Do you hear how ludicrous that sounds? Are you offended? Good. Perhaps it's time to use the brain God gave you to think, acually weigh the evidence, look at it honestly and understand- IT WILL NEVER BE 'OKAY' FOR A WHITE PERSON TO BLACK UP, BLACK DOWN OR BLACK DOWN, IT WILL ALWAYS BE RACIST WHEN YOU SHOW YOUR ASS AND CALL IT FUNNY, WE HAVE FOUR HUNDRED YEARS THAT TELL US EXACTLY WHERE SUCH THINKING COMES FROM, PRETENDING IT NEVER HAPPENED, DOESN'T CHANGE A THING.A GERMAN CAN NEVER JUSTIFY THE ACTS OF THE NAZIS TO THE JEWS, A 'WHITE' PERSON CAN NEVER JUSTIFY SLAVERY TO AN AFRICAN, NO MATTER THE YEARS OFF THE CONTINENT. YOU THINK LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN TAUGHT TO THINK LIKE THAT. YOU'RE AN ADULT, LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THAT IS DEEMED DECENT IN OUR RACE- YES RACE WE'RE ALL HUMAN- GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ANCESTORS BOTTOM- AND THINK!
jokerat 10-09-2009
Are you having a laugh? - australia already has a reputation of being racist - don't make yourself look any more dumber than usual - that just makes you a sad little person with no brain - you're giving the rest of the australians a bad name!
darren the pom!at 10-10-2009
ignore the yank!!! its not racist its funny, they were portrayed as baffons becuse they were~~!! their music was shit and the youngest was probably a kiddly fiddler, not becuase of the colour of their skin!!!
elaineat 10-09-2009
Wow you guys are so backward.It is now the 21st century and we do not make jokes like that anymore or haven't you heard?? No one finds those jokes funny anymore.
So enlighten me about Australia .. do you guys string black people up in trees too?? You know like they used to do back in the day? Gonna do a skit about that too... and have your audience laugh at it???
Ian WSat 10-09-2009
As intelligent as you may appear to be...you just don't get this racism thing. Just because it may be funny in Australia, doesn't mean it will be appreciated elsewhere. It is quite easy to work out...why don't the new Jackson 5, take a walk in downtown LA, or a black neighbourhood and see how their act may be interpreted outside the bubble..
ANDYat 10-09-2009
I have to agree with the above comment. This world is full of people who have to play a racist card and loose their sight in what is just good humour. Linking this with politics is a dangerous thing. Lighten up Harry Con...or you will find yourself talking your way out of other countries.
Angellis1at 10-09-2009
If Australia is full of people with a lousy Racist attitude such as you have displayed then we shouldn't think that Harry or indeed any other descent human being would want to be there in the first place.
elaineat 10-09-2009
And exactly what is so funny about it Andy??? Shoe polish on the face and an afro wig??? I don't find it funny!! Those sort of jokes used to be popular back in the day when blacks never had any rights to complain about anything and if they did would most likely get arrested.
Things have changed now Andy...There is a black President of the United States for God's sake.Don't tell me IF BARACK OBAMA WERE TO VISIT YOUR COUNTRY... IS THIS THE SORT OF ENTERTAINMENT YOU WOULD HAVE TO OFFER HIM.BEST HE STAY AWAY THEN .......HE IS MUCH TOO SOPHISTICATED FOR YOU LOT.
YOU SURE CANNOT TAKE THE CONVICT ATTITUDE OUT OF THE AUSTRALIAN...THIS IS CERTAINLY GOOD ADVERTISEMENT FOR AUSTRALIA!!!!!IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR THE WRONG REASONS.
charlesat 10-10-2009
Having worked with Australians and been witness to their attitude towards the rightful owners of the land that they inhabited uninvited ,namely the "Abos" as white Aussies refer to them it does not surprise me that they would think that something repugnant to the rest of the intelligent and informed world ,is ok for them .Countries with white settlers in them always have a skewed view of decency .I would never visit Australia for it is a repugnant nation .God Bless and protect the Aborigines .
dubsat 10-09-2009
typical australian attitude !!!!
i have worked with australian in the national health service and this performance just reflect what i have known before, arragant and post collonial attitude !!!!
same mentality as apparthied white south african.
lack of sensitivity!!!!
sorry but this is my opinion.
mama xat 10-09-2009
i totally agree with you. Who the hell do these apartheid fools think they are? Outrageous and a disgrace to their nation!!!!!
Men , we are in the 21st century that even babies' sensitivity is taken into account ,let alone a whole race.
SHAME ON AUSTRALIA , THE BROADCASTER AND ALL ITS PARTICIPANT.
WISH THE WILD FIRE SPECIFICALLY SEEK THE PARTICIPANTS OUT AND BURN THEM OFF THE FACE OF PLANET EARTH.
Its people like these we really dont need on this earth.
SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
Blakeat 10-09-2009
I'm a black englishman and i didn't feel that it was racist! I apologised and so should be forgiven. Why are the americans being soo hurt by it? Micheal Jackson was a legend and they were just trying to imitate him! Nothing more!! Harry was just being pathetic, hes white not black.. why should he be affended?!? He should grow up! does that mean no1 is allowed to do a micheal jackson tribute no more??
Grow up! All of you
david butcherat 10-09-2009
dubs
are you english or american , because back in the sixtys here in england we had the black and white minstrels show blacks dressed as whites and vicky versa, no one complained then , so why now, its only the blacks that have brought this race thing in, they have mobos if we had music of white origin what do you think would happen and your comment sounds good on paper but its from some where else i think you plagerised it
Gerryat 10-09-2009
Connick Jr was right it is dated and offensive .It is
light humour unfortunately it gives racists something
to feed on .If black lads dressed up as white rock stars and took the piss to a white audience .White people would be offended and not find it funny.In a balanced society it would work, however we dont live in one.
jamie bat 10-09-2009
Ever see the fil White chicks? I res tmy case
jamie bat 10-09-2009
ok lets try that again..!
Ever see the film 'White Chicks"? I rest my case