Harry Connick Jr. Offended By Racially Insensitive Australian TV Skit
While appearing on a reunion special of Australian TV show Hey Hey It's Saturday, Harry Connick Jr. became offended by a skit of men performing in blackface (above).
The skit, which was a parody of the Jackson 5, called themselves the Jackson Jive, which was performed 20 years earlier on the show.
Harry, who was judging the performance, gave them a score of 0 out of 10.
Later, the shows host Daryl Somers could tell that the singer was offended and apologized. After the apology Connick, Jr. said:
“Thanks Daryl, and 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. Thank you for the opportunity, I’ve got to give it up because [I spoke to] Daryl at the break, and he said ‘Man, you need to speak up as an American – not as a white American or a black American, but as an American’. [I felt] I needed to say that, so thanks for giving me the opportunity, I appreciate it. You’re a good man for letting me do that.”
The skit was distasteful, tacky and too soon to be doing that kind of Jackson 5 "tribute".
Martha Stewart Sued!
Americans need 2 relax!! It's was a joke. MJ wasn't god just a talented muso. who really cares
For christ sake, the skit was NOT intended to be racist, it WASN'T poking fun at anyone, they weren't MOCKING the jackson 5 by painting their faces black. It was simply an entertaining act for a TV show. Harry Connick is just another uptight American with no sense of humour!! It seems just about everything these days is offensive. I'm offended by the direction that our sense of humour (or lack thereof) is heading. Get over it!!
OMG relax this was not racist no one ment it that way. .they were playing the jackson 5 who were black thats not racist. . it was just a bit of fun they werent making fun of anyone
Re: Fuggit – your taking the hole thing to a new level now fuggit no one is actually talking about what coutry is funnier. its about alll your countries calling australia raciest over this skit with "blackface" never had the problem here in australia and dont wantit but because of a few fellas getting dressed up where having a repeat of 40 years ago.. and on the hole aussies dont have funny comedians. sure u guys have pleanty u are sh!t loads bigger then us with loads more people but we have hundreds of comedians that do festivals every year. we love our comedy paul hogan seriously the only aussie comedian u know that i see as living under a rock.
Re: *MJ4life – u wanna blow up australia? hahaha thats screwed up. people like u need to get a life and realise there is racism every where even in your "sweet haven" UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. most the people on here are saying racisim is alive and unfortunaly it is. its sad but it is. but untill now it was behind darkness. every country is as screwed up as the next none of us a perfect! australias econmy is low, and im pretty sure iv read urs is worse, u guys have people on ur border having a DRUG WAR. lets get away from a stupid skit, that is NOT THE FIRST TIME DONE (FACE PAINT WAS JUST LIGHTER) and move the Fck on! its perez its about GOSS NOT BAGGIN THE SH!T OUT OF EVERYONES COUNTRIES. ITS MENT TO BE BAGGING THE SH!T OUT OF CELEBRITIES!!!!!!!!
thsi si so freakin rude
HELLO IM SORRY BUT EVERY ONE SAYING "WHITE AUSTRALIAN" IS REALLY SH!TING ME! THATS RACISM IN IT SELF WAKE UP UR JUST TYPYING ….IM A RACIST IM A RACIST… EVERY TIME U TYPE "WHITE AUSTRALIAN" ITS THE YEAR 2009… THINGS SERIOUSLY ARE GETTING ALL WAY OUT OF CONTROL!
Re: Makerofadevil09 – umm if you have read my previous comments you would know that I already said there's racism everywhere ! i live in this hell hole US . so dont tell me about racism i see the shit every damn day .
I really didn't wanna blow up Australia I forgot it was there honestly . I just did that to piss off people and hear them bitch at me about saying that .
I used to like Harry Connick Jnr's music - but lets face it, he's a HAS BEEN who humped the publicity trail by making such a to-do over this.
You know what would have actually *been* offensive - if the group had actually portrayed Michael Jackson as the kiddy fiddler that he was. Now THAT would have been in poor taste and offensive. Instead, the Jackson 5 tribute made the headlines because some wanker of a yank decides he needs to make the headlines.
You know what though, as an Australian - I will fully admit that there is some racisim here - it's not a huge issue, but its there the same as in any country. Perhaps if the immigrants actually GOT FUCKING JOBS INSTEAD OF relying on handouts there wouldn't be racism here. So yeah - that's a racist comment, MJ Tribute was not.
im australian and although it was suppose to be funny it wasnt.
not all australians are "very openly racist people" dont judge 22million other people on the acts of 6.
pereztheblognazi needs to calm down…dude relax. i just wanna say that everyone needs to chill..you cant call australia racist because of what 6 people did, just call those 6 people racist. its an over exaggeration, dont call us racist if you have never been to our country and dont call us racist if you have never made an asian or african american joke yourself.
all these people that are saying auusies are racist are rediculous i think you forget that rednecks dont come from australia… and by the way common sense people if someone asked you to dress up as the jackson five with five of your mates how would you do it??? they are imitating the video clip and clothes and heir of the era and the people that sang the song!!! as a man if some one asked you to dress as perez and you wore a pink bow in your hair a pink jacket and pink pants like he did at his party would you be called a homophobe????
i strongly urge people who are offended by this to hire little britan live and watch the special features. the cast of little britan do a skit involving a retired kids programmer invited a young male on stage and proceeded to play "find the sausage" and someone wrote in a letter saying they found it offensive they vey appropriatly replied that someone is going to be offended no matter what you do or how you do it i am from austrailia and think it's more offensive that you are calling us racisits than acually looking at the video clip and seeing that it's dress up imitationg the video clip on can you feel it…don't be silly poeple come on now. if 5 australian DOCTORS some of whom are NOT caucasion but all australian can do it i think you guys need to calm down!
yeah.. i dont see how this was racist, disgusting or tasteless. it was just a bunch of guys having some fun, and showing they're respect to the jacksons. Harry Connick Jr. is just a nobody trying to make a name for himself.
i think if anyone thinks this is "racist" then they have a very medieval sense of humor and should pull they're head out of they'r ass!!
i dont see white Americans complaining about that movie "white chicks" which is a movie bout 2 black men pretending to be white girls??? hmm….. anyone see the injustice here??
and Australia is not a very openly racist place. we are one of the most multicultural countries in the WORLD!! so get your facts straight before posting it.
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!!
Re: *MJ4life – well be here long before amerisca is u dont blow urselves up the terrorists will!!!..lmao
Re: lilmissannie – OI OI OI
Too soon? they did the EXACT same thing 20 years ago, and nobody had a problem with it then. They weren't making fun of michael jackson, or of black people. Your country has become so damned politically correct that we can't say anything! And how can any of you americans call us racist. You are the ones with the history of black opression and segregation.
Re: GoodnightGoldie – Tropic thunder? you know that was an american movie right. That was your idea, not ours. stop calling us racist when your own country is totally screwed.
HAHA, please, your going to drop an atomic bomb on Australia like you did Japan. You have serious issues. get over yourself, its people like you that fuck up the world.
I still adore America, I think the skit was NOT racist and I think it is insane how blown out of proportion it is, I disagree with HCJ although I am not going to hold a grudge against all of america because of a few people.I am such a proud Australian!!!
PEACE X
racism actually entails the implication that one race is inferior/superior than another. this skit does not do such a thing. it basically points out the fact (a fact that MANY americans have pointed out countless times) the brothers were black and michael was white - no shocker there. when did we all become so precious? did anyone mention the fact the guy with the white face paint is actually from indian heritage? and this has nothing to do with Aborigines. Australia does have issues with reconciling with indigenous people but that does not make us racist. Just as America is trying to close the economic/social gap – so are we. and i find it funny that black (not just USA) comedians can make fun of white people as much as they like. i do not find this offensive. pointing out differences between ourselves in a comedic way is NOT racist - implying we are superior is. If you find this offensive then as a women I should find men dressed up at the spice girls demeaning – same concept. it may not be a funny skit - but its not racist.
I am Australian and I am so sick of everyone in this country being condemned for the actions of a handful of idiots on an idiotic TV show. Has it actually occurred to anyone who has posted comments like, "doesn't surprise me, I've heard Australians are racist" that they themselves are practicing ignorance, generalisations and hatemongering? EXACTLY as racist people do?! Think about what you're saying people.
Re: Ins0mniac – Thank you for saying that. We don't share the history. I didn't see this skit as offensive at all. To me it was just a couple of blokes on tv dressed up in character doing a skit. The skit was shit anyway haha but I can't believe how blown out of proportion it has become.
And for those people saying Australia is a racist country, take a look at yourselves and your own culture before you go making such claims. You have nooooo idea how things have changed and are changing here.
As someone that's not totally "White" living in Australia, and despite the fact I was born here and my family have been here for nearly 40 years I can straight up tell you, that AUSTRALIA IS A RACIST COUNTRY.
This is proof. These fuckheads actually LAUGHED and it's on film.
This country is clean, nice to live in, pretty, uncrowded but it is racist.
Re: Feathers –
And I bet you stand out like a sore thumb by wearing a turbon on your head and refuse to fit in don't you? You don't like it - get the fuck out.
God this thread is ugly. Doesn't help that it seems that the most ignorant people in Australia are lending their voice as the veiw of Australia. Don't know anyone that watched the stupid show recently or the original series. To all of you ppl trading insults- you make both countries look just as bad as each other. Racism isn't about colours, its discriminating against cultures. And both sides seem to be doing that just fine. Love, Not So Proud Aussie xxx
Re: Freaku – You are a vile human being.
Why should someone try to "fit in" to another nation's culture just because they live there. That is what I loved about living in the US and what I love about the UK. You can go to different areas and experience completely new cultures and foods. I would hate it if the US wasn't that way… where would you get wonderful Mexican food? What about the UK? There would be no curries if every single foreigner came here and automatically decided to abandon their culture. You're an ignorant person if you want to only experience your own way of life.
Please stop embarrassing the human race with your comments.
Re: mienkie – hell yea those darn terrorist are after us ! lol
Re: millieisobel – blah blah blah , SHUT UP !
Okay well I'm English so that helps me see both sides and not get drawn into the name calling, which is ridiculous btw
why drag this into a US Vs Australia debate, thats obviously going to piss people off and cause an unnecessary arguement.
SURELY most decent, intelligent human beings know not to generalise countries with sweeping statements like "All Australians are racist", or "All Americans are stupid" because that just makes you look ignorant, at the end of the day it seems like all the English speaking countries are similar in the respect of all having a significant fraction of the population that are sexist, racist and homophobic, and we can't do anything about that because ignorance breeds ignorance so all we can do is hope they all go out in a lightening storm with an umbrella firmly pointed up into the sky (fingers crossed!!! eh)
Cont'd . . .
Basically the way i saw it is that unwittingly these guys preformed the skit not realising that it can be seen as offensive given that Oz don't have that same history and aren't obliged to automatically just know this history, BUT the awareness and an apology was right to be given because they performed it in front of an American who knew that past and if he wasn't seen to question it then it would have reflected badly on him, and it obviously did offend some people, not just Americans but some Australians too!
Saying its just humour doesn't excuse it, like for example if you said the N word but didn't realise its offensive given the context it used to be used as (and still used by some) can be forgiven, but now its been made aware to the people who didn't know the history behind "blackface" i don't think you should defend it, nor should you personally apologise for it either, just accept it can be deemed as offense and racist taking into account the past precent from it.
Re: Feathers – we laughed coz we were having a good time. bopping to the music all that. None of us looked at the colour of the makeup for a laugh. it was great music and we laughed coz it was great. we were happy. you should all get the fuck over it. seriously. there was a young 13yo kid on the week before who covered his body in vegemite. Do you know what colour vegemite is??? It's black. why don't you go and call him racist too?!!
Re: *MJ4life – question for you. if they had've turned out without make up or without anything resembling that the jackson 5 were black…..would you have been offended??????
Re: cuteislandchild – excuse fucking me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do you all accuse us of being racist towards our natives. What the hell did you do with the africans??? Sell them for Slave????? thats what I was taught in school. and what about the Ku Klux Klan??? What the hell do you know???? It doesn't matter what country you go to there will be racism. Someone tell me different. And its shocking. But you guys need to understand that this skit was NOT meant to be racist (pardon our ignorance). it was harmless. No offence intended. But everyone (thanks to the worlds media) doesn't want to hear any different. FOR FUCKS SAKE NOT ALL OF US AUSSIES ARE RACIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and fuck you all for saying so. you don't know me or my friends so who are you to say so. Our show apologised. What more do you fucking want. We can't undo it. Harry found it offensive and he said so (which he had the right to do) and we apologised. You are all calling our whole nation racist. Don't judge a country you know nothing about. UP YOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are offending me by juding the whole of australia racist.
Re: lovinglife – no i wouldnt be offended . but since they did turn out black and tried to resemble the jackson 5 i am . question answered . get over it .
Re: lovinglife – and this obviously wouldn't have been news if they did nothing pertaining to the jackson's . case closed .
Hahaha. Americans need to lighten up.
Australia has a tense history with coloured people as well (granted it was nowhere near as disgusting as what happened in America. Aussies aren't ignorant animals), and it shows how far Australia has come if they're able to have a skit like this on a comedy show.
Australians are very well educated and if any Americans want to know what the rest of the world thinks of them, take a look at any 'Chasers War on Everything' videos on youtube.
You'll get the picture fairly quickly.
Re: Serena!!!COLON!!! You Twats –
That's not what I said moron. What I suggested was fitting in, NOT refusing to eat your countries dishes. Food has nothing to do with it. Who's ignorant?
No seriously - you adopt a country, you adopt their ways. If I was to move to a muslim country, as a woman I would be expected to cover up like a muslim woman. You move to a western country - u leave that crap behind as you should also learn to speak the language. Don't understand how they get in if they can't even communicate.
Furthermore, your username contains the word twat - who's emabarressing themsleves?
Wow, I am so surprised by you Americans.
"We all know Australians are bluntly racist"
Excuse me?
Have you ever BEEN to Australia? Like, at all?
And if you have, show me your evidence as to why we are racist.
We have history with the Aborigines, but if we want to talk HISTORY, lets talk about the treatment of Blacks in America this past century, hmm?
How hypocritical that you should even compare us to you hicks. And the SOUTH? You guys are still as bloody racist as you were 100 years ago.
I hate racism, but I saw this skit, and was like
"Hey it's wrong, but whatever"
Get over it, this is the reason we are Australians and you arent, you're uptight and ignorant, not all of you, but the ones who think of Australians like that are.
Ok! I would like to say I do not see the racial insensitivity in this video. This skit was performed 20 years ago and was a hit, so it was only natural that this would be performed on the REUNION show. I have asked the black people I know personally, and they aren't offended by it at all, nor are their families.
Now, I only think this has kicked up such a stink because the world is in such a tiz about being "politically correct". I think it's complete crap that America is getting so uptight about an AUSTRALIAN skit about the Jackson Five, when SNL & MadTV are doing skits and parodies of black people & latins.
ALSO! How dare any of you call Australia uneducated and racially intolerant. As an Australian, who is currently undertaking teritary education, I find this racially intolerant. I would love to see your facts and statistics on how we are all uneducated and racially intolerant. Do not bring up the Cronulla Riots, or how the aboriginals were unfairly treated, because as I remember you also had black treatment issues in the past. The entire world has had racial issues, and some countries still are.
So before any of you comment on this video and what Australia is currently producing, look at what America is producing for the world at the moment. I mean you've got talk show hosts talking their mistresses on family holidays and the divorce of two people who obviously couldn't give a shit about their plus eight.
And the only reason Harry Connick Jr. said anything is because he hasn't had any real work in the longest time. He needed something to project him into the headlines once again.
imsoregistered - I couldn't have said it better.. double standards here.. Aussies are not racist - we have one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, sure, people have made mistakes in the past by the ill treatment of other races and different beliefs but i hope to think it is way past everyone now, FYI, those people dressed up happen to be from different cultures and one being a doctor from India. and as for HCJ a bit hippocritical dont you think? those of you who dont know what Im talking about you should not comment. and oh yes Orator - I dont recall seeing any murder or slavery in this clip as is the sad past of america and other countries, this is not a TV show that is on all the time and i happen to not watch it but im sure this was not intentional and will never happen again. people are very sensitive these days as everything is seen as an act of racism
oh my god i am sooo angry!! america needs to GET A LIFE! it had NOTHING to do with u, it was a few guys dressing up and singin and dancing. gee, that's SOOOOOO racist. last time i heard, the jackson 5 WERE black, they were just trying to look like them, like someone trying to look like someone when they dressup for a dressup party or something. harry conick whatever is the biggest douch bag EVER and should learn to keep his big fat mouth shut about something that was NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM OR AMERICA!! i bet his cd sales will be way down over here (if he even actually even sold any here!) and hopefully he wont be welcome in this country again. if he hadnt have felt the need to open his stupid mouth this wouldnt have even been an issue!
Re: Serena!!!COLON!!! You Twats – Did you mean to reply to me with that post???? I said nothing about MJ.
Re: Freaku – Yes, I think it's disgusting that you want people to abandon their culture when they move to your country. I wasn't talking simply about the food, you ignorant fool, I was trying to explain how wonderful a culturally diverse nation is and food is just one way to experience that culture.
I've lived in a Muslim country and no one expected me to cover up. They knew I was a westerner and was not Muslim. They didn't care.
You cannot expect a Sikh man to abandon his turban just because he's moved to another country. The turban has nothing to do with where he lives!! He wears it for his religion. Do you expect Muslim women to remove their head scarves when they enter your country? What about Jews? Do you expect them to not wear their yarmulkas in your presence?
How dare you call me a moron, you little uneducated bitch. Try being accepting to others. Not all people want to live in a little bubble of ignorance like you.
Omg! For one, this is a group who had done this before…years ago! It wasn't a problem then.
Two, what is racist about it? Absolutely nothing! They were putting on black make-up because the band is in face BLACK!
Three, why is it not alright for white guys to dress up as black guys, but it's fine for black guys to dress up as white guys as make fun about it i.e. White Chicks?
Get over it.
omg you americans are one of the most racist people on this earth, australia being the most multicultural country on the plant.
get over yourselves. harry connick juniour had no right to diss australian people.
you guys think you are so precious. clearly the rest of the world despise you, so get over it and chill out
I love Australia soo much!
I love how we are one of the most multicultural countries!
I love we are far away from everything!
I love that we have free health care!
I love that we have barely been effected by the economic crisis!
I love that we stick together!
I love that we do not discriminate and we can understand that to dress up as someone who is black is hardly racist it is quite the opposite!
I love that the people I know are NOT racist
I love that we are so carefree
Americans are honestly dumb…….how about you guys pick up a book and then you would know about the rest of the world
How would you know Australia is an openly racist place…..easydoesit is stupid
Re: anonymous31 – Actually, America is the most multi-cultural nation on earth.
Re: Serena!!!COLON!!! You Twats –
actually Canada is the number two most multiculturally diverse nation… we all know that Canada is better than the USA and Americans are always trying to claim them as part of the USA but really, they're an individual nation… Australia is third in the stakes
but claiming number one is India…
so, actually, America isn't 'the most multicultural country on earth' Serena, you twat!
Re: kateo – Wow, where did that rant come from? I never said Canada was part of America, and I have never met an American who tried to claim Canada as their own. I'm Scottish and did the research from a non-biased point of view. Yes, Australia is one of the most culturally diverse nations, but America has people of more nationalities and cultural backgrounds within its borders. Sorry, having lived in and having done extensive research in India, I can tell you that you have no idea what you're talking about.
Im from australia myself.. and it offends me that so many people think australia is a racist country.
i do agree that the skit was bad taste, but i had absolutely no idea (just as many of my friends were) about the history of "blackface" and i think/hope that the performers were just ignorant, and not racist.
IM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN WHERE AT LEAST I KNOW IM FREE ! lol
that's my song ! Yea it's funny how people talk shit about America and Americans so bad but yea you motherfuckers keep coming here ! stay where you are you idiots !
Us… look in the mirror we didnt treat them like shit we didnt shoot the person that stood up for them we arnt racist we treat eachother with repsect it was a tribute to pay respect for him they did the same skit 20 years ago and it wasnt offenive but now it is!!
This was the same skit they performed 20 years ago.
It wasn't offensive then!
These guys are just performing the same act.
They were medical students at the time too…
Oh and by the way, Australia is not racist!
I take offense to that.
Just saying that this act was done years ago when Hey Hey was originally on and they guys were called up to re-do the act on the Hey Hey reunion. I don't think they at all meant to intentionally cause any dramas.
Easydoesit "Not surprised. Australia is a very openly racist place", are you serious?!? Make big accusations about a country and you better be able to back them up… lets hear it then.