BBC presenter apologises for insulting Saints fans on TV (From Daily Echo)
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Football Focus presenter Dan Walker apologises for insulting Saints fans on live TV
10:07am Thursday 29th November 2012 in Saints News
By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter
Dan Walker on Football Focus
A BBC presenter has apologised for unjustifiably “humiliating” two Saints fans on live TV by joking that they looked overweight.
Dan Walker compared the pair, who were in the stands at St Mary's Stadium ahead of Nigel Adkins' side's final game of last season against Coventry, to Brazilian ex-player Ronaldo, who has significantly put on weight since retiring.
As the camera focused on the two supporters immediately after a pre-recorded interview with the former Barcelona and Real Madrid star, the Football Focus presenter said: “Looks like those two fellows are on the Ronaldo diet.”
The comment prompted a complaint for a viewer who believed Mr Walker had insulted both them and Ronaldo, arguing the comment was “a form of bullying and was disrespectful”.
Although BBC editorial chiefs rejected his objection, the viewer appealed to the BBC Trust, which has announced it has upheld the complaint.
Football Focus' editor said no offence had been meant by the off-the-cuff remark, and the trust's report revealed Mr Walker had emailed the complainant to personally apologise for the comment, which he admitted had been “ill-judged”.
The panel accepted Mr Walker had only known what pictures were about to be used a few seconds before going live and, having overheard an off-air discussion between the programme's editor and director, thought his comment would provide a light-hearted link from the interview.
But in its report upholding the complaint the trust said: “The committee did not consider that in isolation an off-the-cuff remark which implied Ronaldo was overweight would have been in itself offensive given he is a public figure and his weight and level of fitness as a former player were of interest.
“However, the committee felt that the comment referring to the two identifiable fans who are not public figures was humiliating, and did not meet generally acceptable standards in that it caused unjustifiable offence.”
Comments(41)
Linesman
says...
10:12am Thu 29 Nov 12
Over the Edge
says...
10:16am Thu 29 Nov 12
Ted Rogers
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10:18am Thu 29 Nov 12
Although should be mentioned that Ronaldo's weight gain is down to a medical condition - perhaps a sports journalist should know that.
HorndeanSaint
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10:25am Thu 29 Nov 12
Lockssmart
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10:27am Thu 29 Nov 12
St.DaveH
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10:43am Thu 29 Nov 12
tomw1234
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10:47am Thu 29 Nov 12
sarfhamton
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11:15am Thu 29 Nov 12
Over the Edge
says...
11:22am Thu 29 Nov 12
sarfhamton wrote:Would have been a tad cold for salad last evening,,,,maybe Arthur Boruc should be served salad
I am a fat Saints fan, don't knock the BBC, start serving salads at the ground
saintjak
says...
11:30am Thu 29 Nov 12
Fatties should be allowed their freedom to be fat, take up 2 seats in public places, swet even when using a lift and make a noise when they are just breathing.
Also in case you didn't know its not their fault its the fast food companies that didn't tell them it would make them fat.
And last of all dan, these chubby little funsters deserve our support. After all who else supply such comedy gold when they are spilling out of their leggins or can't get up after they have fell over.
For all you do-gooders watching what you eat and exercising shame on you, you're making the fatties of the world feel selfconcious.
As for the BBC, well, I think its about time you apologised at the end of every programme just in cast you have offended some liberal PC numpty who has a panic attack ever time they open their front door and face the world.
If I have insulted any slim people in writing this, get over it...
mack chinnon
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11:31am Thu 29 Nov 12
Puddletown Saint
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11:32am Thu 29 Nov 12
Well done last night Saints - a match we would have lost a month ago. Roll on saturday - can see a draw.
On a negative note though - surely Maka should have replaced Punch and Jay for Rickie as subs - Just my humble opinion.............
........
Strasbourg Saint
says...
12:07pm Thu 29 Nov 12
mack chinnon wrote:Actually, Dan Walker didn't say it. It was a comment made by Guly.
I blame Gazza.
So, I feel really sorry for him - the ugly, brain-dead, upstart yuppy with no sense of fashion. (Sorry, I only had a few seconds to look at his picture above, so I might be misjudging him).
Walter K
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12:19pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Linesman
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12:21pm Thu 29 Nov 12
mack chinnon wrote:Sure you don't mean 'Guzzle'?
I blame Gazza.
7saint7
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12:29pm Thu 29 Nov 12
so get over it ...
coyr
bigfella777
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12:51pm Thu 29 Nov 12
littlekoala72
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1:24pm Thu 29 Nov 12
saintbobby
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1:24pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Some people are SO touchy.
Weell said also, 7saint7 and bigfella 777.
CB FRY LIVES
says...
1:36pm Thu 29 Nov 12
In the world of children's literature and comic book heroes we also had BILLY BUNTER the greyfriars tuck raiding champion for many a year in the MAGNET comic.
The youth of today have to put up with the feckless Harry Potter no wonder we are producing a generation of no hopers and under achievers.
saintshorse101
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1:47pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Over the Edge wrote:i think you will find it was when itv had the highlights, and i know the fella you are talking about. now you may not know that he has been on the jeremy kyle show. he has a compulsive eating disorder and was told that he is killing himself! he has taken so much abuse from people over the years because of his weight, and i know it does hurt him.
I remember the MOTD opening titles when SFC were last in the Premier League,,,,showing the rather large fellow in the front row at SMS cheering on his,,,,made him a bit of a celebrity around away ground,,,he is a big chap and he took vast amount of stick all over the country but I didn't seen or hear of him complaining to the BBC
you will not find a bigger (no pun) saints fan than him. the reason he never complained to itv is because they never made fun of his weight, like the bbc presenter did, he is also not the type of person to complain. do you really think that he wanted to be a `celebrity` and have fans at away games call him names? do you think its right for a bbc presenter to make fun of people for no other reason than their weight? people who were unable to defend themselves?
100%HANTSBOY
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1:52pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Block 34
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1:57pm Thu 29 Nov 12
George4th
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2:06pm Thu 29 Nov 12
saintjak wrote::-)
Dan you are out of order.
Fatties should be allowed their freedom to be fat, take up 2 seats in public places, swet even when using a lift and make a noise when they are just breathing.
Also in case you didn't know its not their fault its the fast food companies that didn't tell them it would make them fat.
And last of all dan, these chubby little funsters deserve our support. After all who else supply such comedy gold when they are spilling out of their leggins or can't get up after they have fell over.
For all you do-gooders watching what you eat and exercising shame on you, you're making the fatties of the world feel selfconcious.
As for the BBC, well, I think its about time you apologised at the end of every programme just in cast you have offended some liberal PC numpty who has a panic attack ever time they open their front door and face the world.
If I have insulted any slim people in writing this, get over it...
Just another reader
says...
2:18pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Shoong
says...
2:33pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Ted Rogers wrote:Is he a sports journo?
Another case of our desire to be outraged or offended.
Although should be mentioned that Ronaldo's weight gain is down to a medical condition - perhaps a sports journalist should know that.
A just one of these generic shiny presenters the BBc seems to have an endless stock of? He's only reading a tele printer.
andysaint
says...
4:16pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Seriously though - if those guys are fat then call them fat - hope theyre not black or jewish or gay (other colours, religious persuasions and sexual preferences are available) coz you aint allowed to say that either.
Folkestone Saint
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4:47pm Thu 29 Nov 12
kingnotail
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5:04pm Thu 29 Nov 12
andysaint wrote:Black, Jewish, gay - can't change that. Fat people can stop eating so much and lose weight = ok to take the p1ss.
On the plus side of course it dont matter where you are in the stadium your always sat next to them!! HAHA The old ones are the best.
Seriously though - if those guys are fat then call them fat - hope theyre not black or jewish or gay (other colours, religious persuasions and sexual preferences are available) coz you aint allowed to say that either.
skin2000
says...
5:52pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Over the Edge wrote:I Arthur Boruc.....want to complain about the last remark....I not played much lately...I have the same problem as Ronaldo.
sarfhamton wrote:Would have been a tad cold for salad last evening,,,,maybe Arthur Boruc should be served salad
I am a fat Saints fan, don't knock the BBC, start serving salads at the ground
More Glory
says...
6:44pm Thu 29 Nov 12
I know the BBC are on the back foot - but this. What a muppet. People are out of work, in debt, struggling to make ends meet - but this poor excuse for a human being felt the need to keep going to get an apology.
Well her punishment - should be to get invited down to your ground and have the worst pies in England (apparently from walsall) thrown at her till she breaks down and cries.
The Walsall pies apparently don't have "much heat or meat in the middle" - just like this idiot.
saintlysoul
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8:41pm Thu 29 Nov 12
TheJoiners
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1:55am Fri 30 Nov 12
dolomiteman
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3:03am Fri 30 Nov 12
OSPREYSAINT
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8:21am Fri 30 Nov 12
Normandy
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1:15pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Baybrit
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12:13am Sat 1 Dec 12
batesieboy
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1:48am Sat 1 Dec 12
saintjak wrote:Ha ha that was funny. Really people take themselves far too seriously, and this makes them even funnier!!
Dan you are out of order.
Fatties should be allowed their freedom to be fat, take up 2 seats in public places, swet even when using a lift and make a noise when they are just breathing.
Also in case you didn't know its not their fault its the fast food companies that didn't tell them it would make them fat.
And last of all dan, these chubby little funsters deserve our support. After all who else supply such comedy gold when they are spilling out of their leggins or can't get up after they have fell over.
For all you do-gooders watching what you eat and exercising shame on you, you're making the fatties of the world feel selfconcious.
As for the BBC, well, I think its about time you apologised at the end of every programme just in cast you have offended some liberal PC numpty who has a panic attack ever time they open their front door and face the world.
If I have insulted any slim people in writing this, get over it...
batesieboy
says...
1:50am Sat 1 Dec 12
bigfella777 wrote:Most human beings are overweight. Or if not they are underweight.
Most Saints fans are overweight.
SPIKEISLANDTRADER
says...
8:29am Sat 1 Dec 12
Over the Edge says...
10:12am Thu 29 Nov 12