have you even read the thread ? The vast majority are saying it wasnt intended as racist ,It was daft though

I don't think anyone on here has said she intended to make a racist/what could be percieved as racist comment at all.

Yes I have, but have you read your reply properly?

sORRY A TYPO I changed it ,I to that all the time with negaitves ,Yikes

See the problem I have with this is that, where I come from I have thankfully never heard any black person be refered to as a monkey either endearingly (its a term generally reserved for children) or in a derogatory mannor. So, for me, where I live the word monkey has no racist connotations. I understand that it may have a number of years ago and that it is entirely unnacceptable to descriminate against anyone because of their race but if something is not intended in a racist way, or in my case, where mobjey has no racist connotations, why can't i use this term if i wanted to descrive a person of any race, including black, as a little monkey? I would be completely and utterly mortified if someone thought i was infering race if i used this term and i suspect i'm not in the minority. There are such things as decent people who don't see colour when they look at a person.

Additionally, in order to erradicate racism is it not important to infer a new meaning on words like these? I.e. little monkey meaning little scamp rather than anything derogatory?



Sorry if there are any mistakes, typing on a tiny phone!

I'm guilty of making typos all the time.

The thing with Carol Thatcher though is that she said what she said with very deliberate negative connotations.

Yikes ,Thank you

The thread isn't pathetic at all.
I think it's fair to say at the very least that it was a very awkward moment.

To say that the sight of a black man reminds you of a monkey and then to do monkey arm movements at the same time. That's about as awkward as it gets.

Well the 'term' monkey DOES have racist connotations ... whether you ( or Rosemary ) were aware of it or not

That's why this thread has rapidly grown ... most of us are aware

You do not use 'monkey' as a describing word when refering to a black person

We have, thankfully, progressed beyond that

I didn't hear her say little

to me she said "like an almost monkey" and impersonated his muscular gait ... a lot of muscular men walk like monkeys regardless of what colour/race they are and I sense that is what she was referring to

rosemary needs to think before she speaks

she is far to fond of the sound of her own voice and thinks her opinion is the only valid one

I cringed when I heard her say it, I dont think she ment anything by it but she should just shut up and think next time

Still waiting for your apology

If someone calls me an albino monkey should I get upset

Just because you're oblivious to the connotations out there doesn't mean the rest of the world is.

What do you think about those reports from occasional football matches when the minority do monkey 'ooh ooh' noises when a black player from the opposing team is on the ball? Or when they actually throw bananas onto the pitch?

This isn't just something from a bygone age it's in the here and now.

True, which is why I was surprised and had to rewind to listen again.
Like a poster has said on the show thread, rosemarys like a small child whose had too many sweets....she failed to engage her brain before speaking. I'm positive she meant no offense, she obviously likes David & wouldn't wish to upset him.

Exactly , she was like a child who ate too many Smarties tonight !

Well you better hunker down, because you'll have a long wait

It's Rosemary who owes an apology ... at the very least for her ignorance and insensitivity

I know many rugby players of all colours that walk like apes simply because they are so muscular they can't put there arms close to their sides, or even walk like normal folks do. Now am I a racist if I say any of them walk like monkeys? Nope, I am just stating a visual fact regardless of what colour they are.

Having worked with many doormen and security men I can assure you that they all walk like that, there was no racism intended in any way.

Think that was me .,Infact her barging ahead and shouting at Hugo and not engaging her brain may have lost her the game .

....& I have a niece and nephew who are Filipino/white British. When playing with them I have called them little monkeys, as I do with my kids. Is it not the context & intent that's the issue?

Like they're carrying rolled up carpets under their arms

Very interesting and enlightening opinions in this thread. I didn't see Rosemary's interview, but how people can be absolutely certain of what she was thinking?

She wasn't thinking that's the problem. When on national TV, even ITV2, you have to be very savvy about what you say & how you say it.