Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Morning in Auckland

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  • Sacha,

    his puerile giggling about a name

    It wasn't just that (as so many media stories have portrayed), it was his remark about the name being appropriate because she was Indian that I imagine would have aroused that culture's ire.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I do feel a considerable amount of pity - as I did for Tony Veitch - but ultimately his dismissal - as Tony Veitch's was - will be a really good thing for NZ society.

    This made me ponder the irony of comparing the two. Veitch lost his job for something that he did that didn't relate to his work at all. Henry is currently holding his job for repeated abuse of his position at work.

    Media careers really are strange.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Compare the BBC's response to - off air - behaviour by similarly recalcitrant racist Carol Thatcher (yes, the one with the infamous mum). Apparently not every state-owned media organisation has trouble understanding what to do.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    Yeah - good on the BBC - but also look at all the anti-BBC and pro-Thatcher comments that follow the story.

    Their similar wording makes me feel like the comments were part of a concerted attempt by a group of like-minded people to spam the story, but then again - I used to be English and I know from experience what a lot of racists there are in that country.

    Talking of racists - I went looking in the Paul Henry Facebook groups to see if anyone had tipped anyone else off about the Herald poll and whether the dramatic turnaround in percentages in the poll was also due to a concerted spamming effort.

    Didn't find anything in the places that I looked but OMG the biggest Paul Henry Facebook group comments are UNBELIEVABLE. And APPALLING. And SHAMEFUL. Capitals required to describe this level of bigotry, racism and general low-lifeness. Not going to link. They don't deserve the google points.

    Makes me feel ashamed to be a citizen of the same country as some of those commenting on that particular forum.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones,

    Speaking of Facebook, I'm pretty sure at the start of all this business when I looked at his page, he had around 30,000 friends. It was up to 50,000 after a couple of days and is now hitting 65,000. That's more depressing than the comments.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Compare the BBC's response to - off air - behaviour by similarly recalcitrant racist Carol Thatcher (yes, the one with the infamous mum). Apparently not every state-owned media organisation has trouble understanding what to do.

    Well, except when it comes to Chris Moyles -- if you're a top rating breakfast DJ on BBC Radio One you can talk any smack you like about women, immigrants (apparently the only thing Polish women are good for is cleaning toilets and turning tricks), Jews (Auschwitz -- where Jews go on their way to Boca), queers and so on. That's just Chris' "irreverent style", move along, nothing to see here. Sounds awfully Henry-esque to me...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Chapman,

    It wasn't just that (as so many media stories have portrayed), it was his remark about the name being appropriate because she was Indian that I imagine would have aroused that culture's ire.

    Possibly true, though it seems to be me that in general Indians take insults very seriously and they are quite protective of people in seniority, so laughing at a chief minster's name could come close to being a national insult in itself.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • anth,

    TV3 is reporting that Paul Henry has resigned.

    Since Nov 2006 • 77 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    he's gooooonnnnnneeeeeeee

    Hooray!

    Statement from Rick Ellis, TVNZ CEO (via Russell's Twitter feed which I happened to be glancing at the second it came through)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    And still Henry can't muster a real apology.

    "I again apologise to all those who were genuinely hurt by what I said"

    - as opposed to all those people who were just faking it.

    I walk the finest of lines and accept that I have inadvertently crossed it from time to time.

    Anyone who believes this prick's behaviour was accidental is more stupid than he is. Cowardly lack of responsiblity to the end.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    ...he had around 30,000 friends. It was up to 50,000 after a couple of days and is now hitting 65,000.

    That's why I'm not laying any bets that he'll be sacked. The number of people who believe their own right to be entertained trumps all other's rights - and all other rights - is astonishing. But I suppose I shouldn't blame them: they've been engineered that way. (*sigh* Just finished watching part 4 of The Beebs' excellent "Century of the Self" documentary, which certainly goes toward explaining some - if not most - of the social engineering of the 20th Century. Fascinating stuff).

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    Possibly true, though it seems to be me that in general Indians take insults very seriously and they are quite protective of people in seniority, so laughing at a chief minster's name could come close to being a national insult in itself.

    My own interpretation was that he insulted all Indians by implying that they were shit. Y'know, like shit on your shoe. Dikshit, shit - so appropriate because she's Indian.



    Oh! He's resigned, eh. That's a good tactic, well managed with the "genuinely" and "inadvertently" and stuff. I see a new anti-PC hero in our midst. Now I'm thinking that he will be back, just not on Monday week.

    Unless economic pressure has been wielded by India in trade talks, maybe?.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    Good riddance to the objectionable moron.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Haere ra Paul Henry - the news of your resignation has made a wet cold day here in Big O suddenly glow. Do not pass go, do not collect $500. Maybe pursue your obnoxious ways somewhere else? Antarctica pehea?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Paul Holmes is hosting 'This is your life' in place of Paul Henry who was lined up to do it. The subject is that supposed working class hero, friend of Helen Clark, champion of rugby league etc - the Mad Butcher. So who is lined up as his long lost best friend? Someone who really needs another chance to smile and joke on prime time after that little blip on Breakfast last Monday - the PM. How media managed can you get?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    No, I can't say I understand why the PM was there. But on the whole, I thought that the programme was quite moving. He's done a lot for alot of people.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Jackie, not complaining about Peter Leitch being the subject, if we do have to have such a programme. Was it Sonia Davies who rmentioned how embarrassing it all was to be the subject of TIYL? Many of the good and generous really dislike the spotlight.

    I liked the way that stroppy young disabled woman, who with her brother had been brought in to fill the narrative of the 'poor tragic sufferers' raised up by the beneficience of the subject, refused to pay the role, telling PH that they didn't have a disease and weren't contagious, and how embarrassed she was the handsome sportsman had been made to kiss her.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Lhaws joins the apology roadshow - note increasingly creative vocabulary being deployed by these muppets to avoid responsibility for their ongoing rude, hurtful actions and intent.

    I reserve the right to be controversial and outspoken.

    But my off-air comments, in particular, crossed the line from puckish to insulting, and although that was not my intent, it was still inappropriate.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    How is "fat slug" anything other than insulting?

    Puckish? Give me a break! It's no more puckish and no less insulting than me saying something like "Laws just talks shit all the time because he has a mouth that looks like puckered arsehole". Which, funnily enough, is what I actually think.

    I'm not apologising for it either - I said it just like Cheryl West would, so it's Kiwi as.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    ONe News should be interesting.
    Top story? "Thousands of outraged Paul Henry fans".

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    How is "fat slug" anything other than insulting?

    Puckish? Give me a break! It's no more puckish and no less insulting than me saying something like "Laws just talks shit all the time because he has a mouth that looks like puckered arsehole". Which, funnily enough, is what I actually think.

    I'm not apologising for it either - I said it just like Cheryl West would, so it's Kiwi as.

    Where's the fb equivalent "like" function Russell?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Lhaws joins the apology roadshow

    Lhaws' desperate "what about me?!" sideshow has been a cause of genuine mirth throughout this whole thing.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Puckish? Give me a break!

    Heh. AngeW just caled him a puckwit.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    ONe News should be interesting.
    Top story? "Thousands of outraged Paul Henry fans".

    Sorry; total fizzer.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

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