Harry Connick Jr. Shocked By Blackface Skit On Live Australian TV
Poor Harry Connick, Jr. After performing on a live reunion special for the long-running Australian TV show Hey Hey It’s Saturday last night, the cro0ner (and former frequent guest) politely agreed to judge the show’s goofy talent competition, Red Faces. Too bad no one told him that one of the acts would be the “Jackson Jive”—six dancing men in blackface that were apparently quite popular on the show 20 years ago. Understandably, Connick was less than amused, giving them a zero out of ten and noting that the show would be yanked from the air in America. Really, we’d like to think it wouldn’t have made the air in 1989 either.
Host Daryl Somers apologized later in the show, noting “I know that to your countrymen, that’s an insult to have a blackface routine like that on the show.” Connick responded, “I just wanted to say on behalf of my country, I know it was done humorously, but we’ve spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons, that when we see something like that, we take it really to heart. I know it was in good fun, and the last thing I want to do is take this show to a down level—because you know how much I love this show and this country—but I feel like I’m at home here, and if I knew that was going to be part of the show, I probably—I definitely wouldn’t have done it.”
Sadly, it looks like Australian viewers don’t get what the fuss was about, with blog commenters and twitterers debating whether Connick was “too politically correct.” Watch the clip after the jump, if you can stomach it.
Seriously, this happened in October of 2009. Yesterday. Thanks for speaking up, Harry.
[Photos: Getty Images/Daily Telegraph]
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October 8th, 2009 at 3:24 am
So if they were Black people and they wanted to play one of the many white boy bands and painted there faces white would anybody care NO! they would not and if they did then they are bloomin idiots!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:56 am
The fact is they wanted to copy the Jackson 5 and the Jackson 5 are black skined people!
The could hardly play them with white skin! No one would of understood what the were taking off! Aussie’s are friendly mostly non racist people. America is the violent racist country thats why Harry over reactted like he did. Even though Harry said he wants to come back and knows the skit was done with good intent. The Jackson Jive donated the money the recieved to charity!
October 8th, 2009 at 4:24 am
hey connicks a sheila take him home to momy and send our troops home you poof
October 8th, 2009 at 4:46 am
I dont get it we are in the 21st century! I should not offend because it was not being done to poke fun at black people. It was done just to demostrate that the were the Jackson 5!
Personally i couldnt care if i was Black, Asian or anyother race. We are all people and generally the same. Its time to think of us as the people of the world not the different races of the continents!
October 8th, 2009 at 4:53 am
The part I find funny is that at least one of the participants is referred to by himself and others as being incapable of being racist because he is of Indian origin. That means, I +(^!&_+%^%@`+#* ume, that Indians, Africans, or any other one group of people, is incapable of racism? That in itself is racism .. the meaning of which is that an +(^!&_+%^%@`+#* umption is made that because of the colour of someone’s skin, or their ancestry, they are automatically all the same (usually bad). Of course Indian doctors could be racists - whether or not they meant to be years ago, I’d have thought they’d have learned something since “Hey hey” used to be on. Although given the low intelligence level of anyone who puts up with Somers, I suppose you can understand why they may not have learned anything.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:56 am
And for anyone wondering why there is a strange lapse into gibberish in my post above, it appears that this software cannot cope with the word that means donkey in Bristisha nd Australian English, the one that starts with a and ends with ss. In USA-speak it means a person’s rear end which I imagine is the problem. Good grief!
October 8th, 2009 at 6:25 am
wow..i couldnt even watch the whole thing..totally back Harry Connick Jr on his feelings towards this, 100%. That was inappropriate on many levels-not only was the whole blackface thing wrong, but lets see; uh, Michael Jackson just died a few months ago, and it seems to rip on him a bit here. I think he got insulted and made fun of enough when he was alive i believe its time to stop it.The whole thing in general was tacky, inappropriate, and just plain stupid. i dont see where anyone found that humorous.btw, “the truth says’, black people, to my knowledge have never done that, so far have never considered doing it, so it must make them a lot smarter then some white people. this skit was just plain inappropriate, which as Mr Connick more or less stated, made black people look like buffoons. it really did. besides that, i failed to any talent, or humor in this skit-it was just weird.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:55 am
What’s the differnce between this and the movie “White Chicks” a few years ago? It’s just blatent double standards.
In Australia no one takes anything too seriously. That’s why this ISN’T offencive to us.
It’s offencive to Americans because they turned it into somthing racest..
October 8th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Theres nothing racist about this? It was in humour. The guy there has his face apinted white? Big woop!!! just cause someone paints there face doesnt mean there friken racist lol. Americans need to relax!! Serriously!!
October 8th, 2009 at 7:42 am
No your wrong. this isnt how we see african americans!! it was not inteded to be racist!! African americans, Aboriginals in australia dont find this racist either. We are one country and everyone in it know this.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Hey Hey and Somers are Ssooo behind the times.
There are countless other things that can be made fun of without opening the wounds of the past. What the dominant group and those aspiring to be just like them don’t get (with their glib +)+#~#($+*&)%%~ ertions about everyone being the “same” or “equal”) is that it is racism PLUS the power to harm/ oppress that is at the core of objections.
Good on Connick Jnr for standing up! It’s courageous (white) people like him, (who have the guts to take a stand, esp. when not in their personal interest) that represent the hope for the future of true understanding and trust amongst all of us. I wasn’t a fan but I am now.
Harry, you’re a REAL star mate!
October 8th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I doubt they were aware it was so controversial and meant to cause any offense. I guess they won’t do that again.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
That skit is absurd! How can anyone not think that’s racist? Maybe they didn’t have minstrel shows in Australia, where white people would put on blackface and perfom negative stereotypes of black people, but still. If they drew slant eyes and spoke like a fake Asian person, would they think that’s offensive?
October 8th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Yeah thanks for speaking up Harry. What about Harry on Mad TV pretending to be a black preacher, admittedly ten years ago but still quite hypocritical.
And what about Robert Downey Jr playing a Black Man with Face/Body paint in Tropic Thunder just last year. Think of your own political backyard and ask yourself why your country turns a blind eye to their problems but feels the need to comment on everyone elses.
And all this hypocrisy just as America was starting to show some less meddling attitude and appear more as a global friend. Woops it was all a charade the hypocrisy is back again.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
So my last name is Brown. Should I feel offended when people cal me Browny? Sounds like Im a turd??? My nick name is browndog, is that offensive to dogs? I think not. i dont get offended when called a nick name. I do get ofended when a mindless Yank (HCjR) tells us we are racist etc. I live in the best country on earth, as it has been untouched for the past 65 years by the Americans!! So to all the Hollywood Heroues, Whoopi etc, fix your own race problems first. Give the Original indians (traditional land owners) Manhattan Island back, Or pay them rent!! the way the American indians are treated is not good. Im now boycotting any American product, movie, tv show etc. Ive had a gut ful of the Yanks telling the rest of the world how they should act etc. I also remeber a few months back when an American news channel labelled our Prime minister, kevin RUDD a serial killer, now that was very offensvie, and you yanks sucked it up. Destro your own cuture, but leave ours alone, we arehappy and live in harmonty with all races. You started a war in the Middle east, and we have taken in all the refugees, housed them fed them, given them jobs or social security. And we do it wilfully. How many refugees (boat people) do you turn back to Cuba etc??? We have a saying here in OZ, “Pot, this is Kettle” All Aussies on this blog will get it, but the first yank who gets it, I’ll be surprised!!!
October 9th, 2009 at 12:38 am
So Australia has to put up with American racism now? Grow up you stupid people. Australia has no problem with the blackface of performers as we never did what you Americans did 80 years ago. Will you stop eating beef because it offends Hindus? Of course you wouldn’t, because you are in America and it’s ok to eat beef. But for some reason you want to tell Australians what they can and cannot do. You can be offended if you want, that’s entirely up to you. The fact remains, Blackfacing of a white performer is racist in America because of what Americans did in the past. It has nothing to do with Australia or Australians. That’s why we don’t feel guilty about it. All you have achieved is brought up Americas’ racist past yet again.
October 9th, 2009 at 3:43 am
The TV show “hey hey its Saturday” was a popular show and ran for over 20years. it was removed from television back in the late 90’s due to declining viewer numbers. The show on wednesday was a reunion show with the “jackson jive” skit a revival from the original back in 1985. So yeah it was outa date to start with but the only reason this has blown way out of proportion is because the American guest was “offended” and it gained undue attention from the worlds media and the “political correctness police”. This show was never intended for you guys to watch as you would never understand…………..
Especially the American media and people who have no idea about Australian humour or how we think!
Get over yourselves America your such hypocrites….
October 9th, 2009 at 3:56 am
hey H I think you need to be corrected about Mel Gibson. That anti-semite was sent home where he originally came from…..The good ol’ USA!!
Oh and whats a leper colony cause we don’t have those down here………..
October 9th, 2009 at 4:39 am
Apparently Americans are offended because the act revived images of the insulting black-face depiction of black people (am I allowed to say black people?) half a century or more ago.
But what if you’re not aware of “black-face” history?
What if you’ve never seen or heard of the black and white minstrels? (I’d say that would apply to 80-90% of the Aussie population). Then it becomes about as insulting as a black person wearing white face paint. I certainly would not find that offensive. Australians do not see race through the American prism of guilt and shame.
What counts is the INTENTION behind the act. The group members are all Michael Jackson FANS and were making a satirical tribute to him. If you want to satire someone with dark skin, isn’t it completely logical to wear black makeup and on a goon-type show, go completely over the top with it?
Once they realised it may have caused offence to the sensitive/PC/guilt-ridden Mr Connick, they made a sincere apology. What more do people want?
Now if someone like, oh I dont know, TED DANSON, was to wear black-face, that certainlly could be construed as racist since he’s an American and hence presumably aware of American blackface history and sentimentality.
Would it be fair to state that Ted’s behaviour was proof that all Americans are racist?
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/08/harry-connick-jr-slams-au_n_313613.html
October 9th, 2009 at 6:03 am
The Australians defending this are seriously from another era. It’s like you’re 20 years behind the rest of the world when it comes to cultural sensitivity. You really aren’t doing your country any favors by trying to defend this nonsense. The biggest racial stereotype in the world is this: ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE RACIST. Like all stereotypes, it isn’t true, and has it’s origins in ignorance, fear and hatred, but those of you ranting on here about the U.S. “not getting the joke” are truly walking stereotypes.
You should be ashamed.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:08 am
@David G Re: TED DANSON
He was taken to task for that, and that scenario played out nearly 20 years ago. You guys are living in bloody time warp. Just shut up and be embarrassed, Australia! Defending this only makes you look stupid.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Yes if they wanted to be the Jackson 5 then why could they not have used an image of the members of the Jacson 5 and worn them as masks. It is 2009 not 1989 times have changed and anything that is done on tv anywhere in the world can be put on the internet instantly.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Im a foreigner raised in Australia. Although I do believe there is some racism in Australia, I firmly believe that it doesn’t compare to the racial problems in America. Racism is all around the world. Although I didn’t love nor hate the ‘blackface’ skit, I didn’t get offended because here in Australia, we can and do often laugh at ourselves. The show was intended for an Australian audience who understand Australian humour and can make a joke or poke fun at differences because we tolerate it well and are used to it. Americans on the other hand , obviously have a problem laughing at themselves because they have a problem with racism . Just because you now have a black President it doesn’t make you politically correct people when you still have a huge racial problem in your country. Sure you are trying to change but that doesn’t give you the right to judge us and call us a Racist country because of one silly skit. If we saw this sort of thing on our tv every day or every other day, then sure, make a fuss but don’t judge the whole country on one incident. For your information, the men impersonating the Jacksons were foreigners themselves and the MJ impersonator is of Indian descent himself. If Harry Connick Jr hadn’t made his comment then this racial rift wouldn’t have happened. The &+!@@)^%+&^+(~% anese aired something similar on tv recently but nothing was said about that.
Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4QB7cHdVfs
October 10th, 2009 at 3:48 am
“Red faces” has long been known in Australia as part of the show “hey hey it’s Saturday” that celebrated amateur bad taste talent. Put in correct context, this group -by choosing to make fun of someone who’d recently died, and by being unclear in what it was trying to target comically hit it’s mark. It was in poor taste, and insensitive. (What tipped it into “racism” was the onstaff comic who drew “where’s kamahl” which was clearly a reference to race.)
I believe Harry Connick jr. was put in a terrible position, and applaud his right to express his personal opinion. The problem comes in when he speaks on behalf of his entire country. Australians have a long memory and remember the unwanted interference of America in our politics. The fact that this is triggering so much anti American sentiment from Australia is not surprising. The Bush govt foreign policies are ones that Australia and the rest of the world will not so easily forget. America (black, white and pink with purple spots offended much of the world.)
While racism is in the spotlight, perhaps it’s time for Australians to reflect on it’s views and policies, and for Americans to cease preaching and begin by honoring it’s treaties to the native american people. (When are you going to stop using Native American imagery and cartoons as mascots for your sports teams?)
Back to the skit: The red faces segment is akin to American shows like The man show, The gong show, Howard Stern, Jerry Springer show, and any number of bad taste television shows that have offended world wide audiences.
The comment above that “Australian viewers don’t get what the fuss was about” is incorrect. Not all Australians feel that way. (A clear media bait to inflame debate which is also offensive, insensitive and in poor taste on behalf of the American media here.)
The skit performed choked. That’s all it amounts to really. It underlines the need for producers to take more care, and to hire more experienced comedy writers and producers who are better able to ensure what goes on air is funny. The skit was not funny.
It died. It choked.
Which brings me to my last point, I would like to make my complaint about the blue man group who wear blue body make up and blue face paint, clearly making fun of people who have died of asphyxiation…….or who choked………..
October 10th, 2009 at 4:45 am
This skit was taken totally out of context as the performers were not having a go at African Americans or any other race per se and now they the performers and Australia have been branded racist by the over sensitive, self righteous and often hypocritical individuals portraying themselves on the moral high ground - I could stand in a garage, tell everyone that I met that I am a car, make all sorts of car noises however it doesn’t make me a car - Americans may have ousted the blackface as a routine and may have elected Obama as their president however that doesn’t truly mean that they have taken any true steps forward to address their inherit culture of racism.
In any society or nationality there is unfortunately an element of racism and that is why humans have independent thoughts, opinions and differences and luckily we are not clones, however Australians as a general rule are far less racist as a populace than America and some other nations.
America as a nation and culture are dysfunctional and bigotry, always trying to inflict their own twisted sense of morals on others - America you should be tried in The Hague for your continued practice of cultural genocide.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:51 am
No Jackson family member has BLACK skin! No human has BLACK skin! The Jackson family have BROWN skin.
October 11th, 2009 at 6:45 am
i think it was much more offensive for harry to say they have tried so hard to make black people not look like buffoons, who said black people were buffoons? only you harry. Go home
October 11th, 2009 at 6:48 am
its really obvious that Americans just think they have solved racism, when in fact all they have done is hidden it under eggshells. Its like they walk around with a chip on their shoulder, always watching what they say in case “someone” gets offended.
Us Aussies just get on with being nice and having a laugh
Connick wouldve been a lot smarter to just not say anything. If he was offended, fair enough, but its not up to him to go dictating morals in another country.
.
October 11th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
You know I’m disappointed in Harry connick jr. Our country has been doing impersonations on actors, singers and so on for years. He goes to another country and has the nerve to criticize them for doing the exact same thing we do here. I’m a huge michael Jackson fan
I grew up listening to him and his brothers. With the way are world is today we seriously need to lighten up. It’s reason like these that our countries are at war because we can not except each other and the things we do.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I cannot believe that you all are so closed minded. So I guess you all don’t have internet and that thing called slavery never happened. To me the fact that some of the BLACK PEOPLE that live there don’t even go by black lol….and u know who u are…. is crazy in itself. No one cares if u ever support anything american again especially michael jackson! Why celebrate something AMERICAN when ur too stupid to even have common sense to be sensitive towards a very sensitive subject. Please believe your country will be the last place I visit due to ur ignorance and lack of humor in my opinion. Find a new hobby and make fun of ur own BLACK PEOPLE….oh I forgot u don’t call them black do u?
October 16th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Re Aussie and Syd…. Think about it dumbies….who is more stupid? U look like idiots defending this and your stupid show is the one who asked the so called stupid american on! Do us americans a favor…. the next tim u want to display ur dry humor make sure only the STUPID LOCALS are around to take the ignorance in…..because ur right about 1 thing… we americans definetly don’t understand that at all. When u do something in the public light other people and countriies tend to see but again u stupid people must of forgot this. I am a Black person and to be truthful the fact that u all are defending this calling us stupid for not liking it is more on an insult than ur reject show! How dare all of u! It was racist and if u don’t like that we feel this was stay where ur at and we will stay here but next time don’t invite an american to see ur AUSSIE TENDENCIES!
October 18th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
that was racist, no matter what country your from!
November 8th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
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