Comic Relief

[Sugar Ape]

What do we think about David Lammy and the ‘white saviours’ comment then?

 

Comic Relief co-founder Lenny Henry weighs in on David Lammy’s claims of ‘white saviour’ Stacey Dooley

 

Sir Lenny Henry has said he is proud of the work of Comic Relief, after the charity came under fire for a 'white saviour' narrative

 

Comic Relief co-founder Sir Lenny Henry has said he is proud of the charity’s work, after criticism from Labour MP David Lammy.

 

The MP for Tottenham had hit out at Comic Relief for sending British TV presenter Stacey Dooley to make a film in Uganda, accusing the charity of perpetuating a “white saviour” narrative.

 

The politician faced a backlash after calling on Comic Relief to champion African voices to tell their own stories, instead of sending celebrities to make TV appeals.

 

Sir Lenny Henry, who co-founded the charity in 1985 in response to famine in Ethiopia, referenced the controversy at a Comic Relief stand-up event on Thursday (28 February) at London’s SSE Arena.

The comedian told the audience he was proud of his work with the charity, and quipped in a reference to Mr Lammy: “Screw you, white people!”

 

The co-founder’s comments come despite controversy over Comic Relief’s handling of the row with Mr Lammy.

 

In an initial response to Mr Lammy’s criticism, Comic Relief had put out a statement that claimed: “We have previously asked David Lammy if he would like to work with us to make a film in Africa and he has not responded.”

 

The MP said the claim that he had “not responded” to outreach from Comic Relief was untrue, clarifying that he had two meetings with charity representatives but declined offers to make a film in Africa because he does not live there.

 

He said: “Flying me, a British politician, out to speak for citizens of a continent I have never lived on is more of the same patronising fluff.

 

“Please invite an African filmmaker, celebrity, farmer, teacher or businessperson to make a film in my place.”

 

Comic Relief later clarified that two meetings with Mr Lammy had happened.

 

Mr Lammy explained: “My problem with British celebrities being flown out by Comic Relief to make these films is that it sends a distorted image of Africa which perpetuates an old idea from the colonial era.

 

“Comic Relief has a huge platform and privilege and it is the first and major way children learn about Africa.

 

“If they only show Africans as helpless victims to be pitied, children miss the broader picture of huge progress in Africa.”

 

He continued: “Comic Relief should be helping to establish an image of African people as equals to be respected rather than helpless victims to be pitied. It would therefore be better for people who actually live there to speak about the continent they know.

 

“Many black Brits feel deeply uncomfortable with Comic Relief’s poverty porn. It’s my job to represent their views however uncomfortable. They want their children to have rounded views about Africa and these types of campaign woefully fail to do that.”

 

In 2018, Comic Relief had said it would halt the use of celebrities in “poverty tourism” appeals, saying the charity had taken its “first steps” towards change.

 

 

[sir roger]

Agree with Lammy to some extent generally but think he has picked the wrong target in Dooley. I am not a massive fan of her journalistic style but her heart seems to be in the right place and she tries to shine a light on subjects around the world that our mainstream journalists don’t seem to be bothered with. Her only crime here seems to be that she is white.

[Karl_b]

Given the number of mouth breathers Dooley seems to have upset, I'm inclined to think she's ok, despite knowing barely anything about her, or this. Surely the greater good of Comic Relief outweighs the white saviour issue? 

 

To be honest, who cares anymore. Everyone is so polarised, so aggressive, so offended and, often, stupid that I've become numb to it. Just seems like people trying to do some honest good for others in need.

[Bobby Hundreds]

It's bullshit. Everything is bullshit. Everyone is offended all the time that even things I should be deeply offended by I just think fuck off leave me alone. I'm not sorry for shit that happened in the past that has fuck all to do with me, I don't care if you hate your dick or identify yourself as a panda, that's your shit fuck off. Life is too short to give a fuck that ginger people shouldn't be allowed dreadlocks because they are a symbol of black defiance I don't give a fuck, it's hair if the ginger bastard wants too look like a complete bell end that's his call and if some celebrity wants to raise their own profile whilst highlighting real issues then fair fucks to them or fuck off, I don't even watch those bits anyway, actually I don't watch any of it because it's shit.  The constant outrage is desensitising me. Even politics now I just think fuck it what is the point the media don't discuss policy just bollocks. Fuck politicians, fuck the media, fuck history, fuck the present and the future, fuck me, go fuck yourselves.

 

CMON RED MEN!

 

 

 

 

[cloggypop]

I always call red headed rastas the ginger dread man. 

[Chip Butty]

It's when issues like this surface, I look to the words of Michael Jackson for inspiration.

 

 

 

 

[Captain Turdseye]

I like Dooley, her stuff is watchable and she’s lovely. I also like this shit song from a ginger dread man. 

 

 

 

 

There. I said it. 

[Captain Turdseye]

Comic Relief tonight. Apparently it’s Lenny Henry’s last one. 
 

My youngest is moving up to secondary school in September so hopefully it’s my last one as well. 
 

We always donate a tenner when it first starts and then get annoyed later on when they offer a prize of car or a holiday or something for a £10 donation and I’ve already done it. 
 

Won’t be making that mistake tonight. 

[manwiththestick]

Lenny Henry in my mind is truly worthy of the knighthood for all he has done over the last 40 years with Comic Relief and he seems a genuinely sound human being.

 

That said, I really don't find him funny in the slightest.

[Section_31]

Comic relief lost its usp when celebrity reality TV started. It used to be a novelty watching a weatherman doing singing in the rain or whatnot, now that kind of stuff is on telly every week.

[Captain Turdseye]

This used to be about kids in Africa, now it’s about “Multi-Banks” in Wigan. 
 

Multi-Banks. Food banks that have expanded into everything else. 2024, for fuck sake. 

[Creator Supreme]

10 minutes ago, Captain Turdseye said:

This used to be about kids in Africa, now it’s about “Multi-Banks” in Wigan. 
 

Multi-Banks. Food banks that have expanded into everything else. 2024, for fuck sake. 

Thank you Tories!

[Chip Butty]

56 minutes ago, manwiththestick said:

Lenny Henry in my mind is truly worthy of the knighthood for all he has done over the last 40 years with Comic Relief and he seems a genuinely sound human being.

 

That said, I really don't find him funny in the slightest.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooKkkkkkkkkkkklkkkkkkklkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkklkkkkkk

[Strontium]

Wigan voted 64-36 for Brexit. So fuck them. I'll only donate money to them if it's to detonate a nuke in Wigan High Street. 

[Creator Supreme]

1 minute ago, Strontium said:

Wigan voted 64-36 for Brexit. So fuck them. I'll only donate money to them if it's to detonate a nuke in Wigan High Street. 

Bit close to home chief, the fallout would fuck us all.

[Strontium]

9 minutes ago, Creator Supreme said:

Bit close to home chief, the fallout would fuck us all.

 

It's a risk I'm willing to take.

 

This is the problem with Comic Relief these days. It was great when all the money was going to little African kids whose eyes were getting eaten by maggots. Now loads of the money goes to British people, the same cunts I spend my entire life trying to avoid.

[Captain Turdseye]

To be fair, Wigan’s the only place in the world where you can buy a smack barm, pea wet.

[Section_31]

Africa's probably decent these days. Goldmines, people running marathons and shit.

[Bjornebye]

The Congo > Wigan 

[Creator Supreme]

22 minutes ago, Bjornebye said:

The Congo > Wigan 

Marianas Trench > Wigan

[littletedwest]

15 hours ago, manwiththestick said:

Lenny Henry in my mind is truly worthy of the knighthood for all he has done over the last 40 years with Comic Relief and he seems a genuinely sound human being.

 

That said, I really don't find him funny in the slightest.

[Captain Turdseye]

I’m in the hat for the Aston Martin. 
 

It would be great for me to sit in it once or twice before selling the bastard.