The American public were so outraged over Robert Downey's recent blackface routine he was given an Academy award nomination. Fair dinkum the hypocrisy is pathetic!

I am an Aussie and love hey Hey its Saturday the thing you guys forgot to mention in your story was that these guys that did their skit on HHIS simply re-enacted the same skit that they did when they were first on the show which was 20 yrs ago. apologies to anyone who was upset by the skit yet it wasn't done to offend.

Timmy Edgar <-- Australian

You are actually wrong it wasn't after the break that the apology was given it was at the end of the show. There was nothing sinister in this SKIT. To Australian's who never did the kinds of racist things American's did to the African people(the people you treated as slaves!) A lot of Aussies know nothing about this 'blackfacing' to us, they were dressing up like the Jackson 5. Not dissing them for being black. If the Jackson 5 were orange they'd have gone out wearing orange faces. Don't bring your American guilt over to Australia!
If a black person painted there face white, would we care? No. Get over yourselves. If you want to let your guilt go, then go and help out your fellow (African)Americans, don't go treating the rest of the world harshly because you were/are racists.
It was singing and dancing, until Harry brought the race card into it, no-one was even thinking it.

Oh and by the way the "American judge" did NOT ground the show to a halt, who ever told you that was full of .... Watch something before you comment eh?

Harry Harry Harry.This is Australia and red faces is a skitt segment this was an impersonation not discrimination .You now have one less fan because of your mis reading of the situation.The week before a kid put vegemite all over himself was he pretending to be black also. Get a life Harold.

Harry should pull his head in

I can't believe this, it was a skit which wasn't attacking the Jackson Family, it was purely mimicking them. It wasn't about race at all. To mimic the Jackson Family, you have to present something which actually looks like what they were taking off.

Watch the whole show.

Personally, I'm surprised that the world isn't up in arms because they mentioned Khamal!

Hey World,
One thing you will have to learn about Australians...we call life like it is.

If the Jackson 5 were a famous band and they had blue skin, then so the viewer had a fair idea who the performance was about along with the necessary visual queues, then the group would have blue painted skin. It's not a judgment, a bias or a put down...it's what the human eye sees.

While Americans have tried to suppress word that people cannot use, they now what to suppress colours! Any sounds or tastes that offend you USA? Oh, we'll hide them away too. rolls eyes

America should stop worrying about closing down colours and words and start worrying about how it's easier to get a gun than it is to get decent free health care.

The land of the free?
What's free over there?
Words come with baggage, colours come with baggage, and the poor sleep in the streets with their baggage.

Harry Connick should be thankful SOMEONE gave him some exposure!

Harry is an American Southern Boy. This comes with baggage. I for one am happy to see that he is the type to have processed that baggage in such a way as to be grossed out by this, rather than finding it funny. it makes me remember that I thought he was v. attractive like 10 years ago.

Chalk it up to an innocent cultural difference that we can all learn from. Y'all.

Can all the Australian's who have simply found this via Google maybe, oh, shut the fuck up?

As an Australian who comes to this site everyday, you are embarrassing me.

To everyone else, this show is for a specific demographic. Harry Conick was too kind (if a bit condescending) in presenting this as though it were merely a case of cultural differences at work. The implication of that position is that all Australians are backward, tone deaf morons, as opposed to just the people on screen (and the mouth breathers posting in this thread).

The majority of people in my country will be horrified when they see this tomorrow morning on the news.

...Now I know how the French must feel about this Polanski thing.

Oh please Australians. Just as white Americans did terrible things to African slaves, you guys did horrific and unspeakable things to Aboriginals. No one comes out of this smelling like roses. And don't try to pretend like Harry is some sort of overly politically correct pansy. The real pansies are people like you who're too cowardly to admit that dark skin and black hair and non-Caucasian facial features are all things to be mocked in Australia. Remember you are the country that goes around attacking, beating and killing young Indian students who pay your universities good money.

Face it, Australians. You have contempt for dark skin and hair. You're the pansies. Not Harry Connick. It takes guts to speak up for what one believes even in a room full of people who disagree with you.

Ask an Aboriginal person if he or she found that skit funny. But that would be way too politically correct for you, wouldn't it?

I'm not sure what's more astounding--the actions depicted by the vile clowns in the video or the comments defending them.

I wonder if these ersatz protectors of "comedy" would be so outspoken in the case of, say, a skit that depicted an entire country as the descendants of prison rape.

Lets put this into perspective ok yes there is a racial issue in the states and yes some ppl to this day still discriminate against a person because of their creed or colour this also happens in Australia to this day as well. I think what the issue here is that HCJ felt obliged to say something which he did, and I respect that yet in saying that I also feel that HJC felt obliged to say something because a major part of his core fan base are jazz loving African Americans so if at the very least he is protecting his income. Good work Harry ya gronk

Timmy <-- Australian

Oh Metroville.

That cut deep, man.

How I wish we didn't deserve it.

Cries

And I on the other hand have a newfound respect for HC Jr. as an American and a "Black American". Yes, Australia, you too are guilty of racism -- not just White America! Do your research... http://www.antar.org.au/node/221 (one example).

@timmy the Australian:

There is "a racial issue" in Australia?

Have you talked to any of the Aboriginal people in Australia? Do you give a rat's ass about them? Does anybody in Australia acknowledge their pain and suffering? Or is that too politically correct and unmanly for you?

This goes way beyond "a racial issue".

Timmy,

I told you to shut the fuck up.

...I feel like I'm gonna be here all night.

PS. What is a gronk?

Interesting, Liz (an Aussie ) says " Australian's who never did the kinds of racist things American's did to the African people(the people you treated as slaves!).... Don't bring your American guilt over to Australia!"

The fact that for hundreds of years Aussies enslaved and murdered native (black) aborigines in that country has already been forgotten?

It is sad how all over the Western world (including the USA) cultures have so quickly rewritten their histories to conceal the fact that slavery, and ethnic cleansing in one form or another was a reality in all of Europe and the USA (if not within the countries themselves, then within the countries' colonies thought the world).

I suppose that Liz and other young people in Western countries will be even more shocked to know that slavery and ethnic abuses are not just a reality in their own nation's past, but are still going on today.

Here is a link with more info about slavery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafficking_in_human_beings

About ethnic cleansing:

http://infao5501.ag5.mpi-sb.mpg.de:8080/topx/archive?link=Wikipedia-Lip6-2/61098.xml&style

Educate yourselves!!

db

The guy is a dick, I am sure not all Americans will find that rude. Just HIM and the nutters.

Any way take a look at what Australia's only search engine is doing - http://www.bonush.com they have a Bring back Hey Hey it's Saturday Campaign.

did Harry Connick boycott the recent Hollywood blockbuster movie Tropic Thunder because Robert Downey Jnr painted his face black and talked in his best Uncle Tom accent to portray an African American..

OR DID HE GO ALONG TO THE PREMIERE AND LAUGH HIS ARSE OFF WITH EVERYONE ELSE

The hypocrisy is pathetic

The American public were so outraged over Robert Downey's recent blackface routine he was given an Academy award nomination.

I found that particular Act uncomfortable to watch because the man, Michael Jackson, has not that long ago, passed away :(. Yes I'm an Aussie, and yes I love Hey Hey, BUT how they let that one pass into the Show is beyond me - it's just not respectful, in my humble opinion. But, as in many walks of life, there are bound to be many things that make us cringe as individuals ... let's not turn this into a disrespectful low blows slanging match here, eh Guys? Peace ....

I think it's kind of hard to make a compelling argument for racial tolerance the second shoe-polish-as-stage-makeup makes its first appearance.

Oh, this is wicked fun.

I'm really surprised by how many people think this is ok, then use Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder to defend it. Do you also use movies when talking about other real life scenarios? Because movies are, you know...made up stories.

Blackface is insulting. That's it. No spin, no white guilt perspective, no angry black perspective. It's just wrong.

And even if you look at from just the humor perspective, the whole skit wasn't funny...blackface or not.

I think this skit was insensitive, and offensive. But I don't think it was racist per se. I don't think they intended to offend.

Tropic Thunder was satire. RDJ's character was poking fun at Hollywood actors and the length one may go to for an Oscar. (Think Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart playing a Bi-Racial woman) This was jut plain uncouth.

For all you nitwit Aussies defending this appalling display of nitwittery, please read this lovely wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface. Then STFU.

This controversy is silly. Fact is, their whole act was crap. Fuck 'em.

Australian Rules Raceball

I'm Aussie and the first thing I thought of watching this was blackface...
it was uncomfortable (though it probably wasn't done to offend, minstrel shows just don't have a history over here :P)
but still...

To compare black as tar faces and gigantic fro wigs to Downey in Tropic Thunder is like comparing Brϋno to Tom Hanks in Philadelphia. (well, almost)

SunnyDaze <-- American

Well, an American finds it racist, so of course everyone else must! God forbid!

Do you realise that two of the members are actually from Indian descent, with dark skin?

Hey Hey It's Saturday was a crap show....thank God it finished - 28 years on Aussie TV was FAR too long....why did they bring it back!??
As for the skit....well, black face or not, it was in really poor taste to do anything to do with Michael Jackson!

real racism on australian tv, from last month. why didn't this go round the world?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzkECOPp9Qs

I'm an Australian. We were taught about world history in high school. Including that of the US. Add to this a lifetime of media, the internet and US movies & TV shows all over our screens in Aus too. So, obviously there could be something wrong with airing this. The fact that it wasn't picked up on and aired wasn't racism. It was stupidity. Innocent stupidity.

Amusing is the irony of Harry Connick Jr playing an African American man in Tropic Thunder, though it was done in better taste, it probably got some beef too I imagine.

Pete

I'd like to see how many of you would be outraged if it were black people painting their faces white. Oh wait, none of you would be, because it's ok to be racist against whites.

Go and wring your PC hands a bit more wanker !

Great skit - Even funnier is the response from America. More face paint for all. GET A LIFE and stop living in the past!

It's so sad that when some fools look at a person, they see the color of their skin as something other than just the color of their skin.

Ben, who apparently comes to this site everyday (lucky bastard!), we haven't all used Google to find this, A Herald Sun article linked me to it, flog.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/world-covers-hey-hey-its-saturdays-red-face-over-blackface-jackson-jive-skit/story-e6frf96f-1225784091474

Just for the record, of the 6 performers, 2 were Indian and 1 was Lebanese. They are all in the medical profession. It was a skit that was not racist but merely poor judgement. Today's society wont tolerate this humour any more, even though it was rammed down my throat as comedy as I grew up. If it was meant to be racist they would have put primitive bones through there noses - see the difference.

I'm embarrassed as an Australian by the clip, by Darryl Somers' comment that 'overseas', 'some people' might find it offensive, and further embarassed (but not surprised) by the thin-skinned whining from other Australians suggesting that those offended should 'get over it'.

International readers please note - Australia is still recovering from 12 years popular rule by our most racist Prime Minister in history (John Howard) who set up a policy of locking up legitimate refugees (including children) in desert concentration camps, ostensibly as a deterrent to other refugees but more directly as a dog-whistle vote puller to get the most bigoted and conservative morons in this country to revote him back in during each election. Our longest lasting national magazine, The Bulletin, had AUSTRALIA FOR THE WHITE MAN emblazoned on its masthead until well into the 1960's. Recently our current Prime Minister and other politicians have dashed to India in damage control mode to retain a multi-billion dollar Indian student investment after the media there decided that repeated bashings of young Indian students by white gangs in this country might not be a good thing. A large number of Australians are bewildered by anything more culturally complex than Australian Rules football and reassuring TV commercials that play jingoistic jingles back at us over shots of happy white families smiling at the camera.

On top of all that, Australians dimly think that all the above is great, and that a bunch of talentless dudes prancing around in blackface in front of an American musician who had numerous African-American musical peers die in the waters of New Orleans is 'just a bit of fun'. All the Australians who think that Connick Jr overreacted should put together a fund to appear together with those dancing idiots from the clip onstage live at the Apollo and see how well it goes down with the audiences there.

Final note to international readers. If you want to really make some of the clueless Aussies here irate, post your detailed comments and then simply write the line AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE, OI OI OI! at the end of it. It's a national moron's sporting chant down here and its repeated use will surely and justifiably annoy Australian readers, hopefully reminding them what figures of mirth they are to readers elsewhere who have long since abandoned the notion of ocker crassness as something to be proud of.

The most offensive thing I can think of is to be called racist by an American. A few points:-
America contributed significantly to the black/white race issues by importing the Africans to be slaves
The Ku Klux Klan emanated from America and there are still white people in America running around with sheets over their heads
The White Australia policy was nothing compared to the segregationist policies of the U.S. As far as I know Australia has never had black only locations, simply because of colour. Yes, we have had black bars in the north but that has been based on the koorie intolerance to alcohol and the subsequent behaviour. I know I have never seen a coloured person asked to ride in the back of the bus.
I have yet to hear of a black Australian being killed simply because of his or her colour
America exported the 'blacking up' acts like the black and white minstrel shows all over the world. If they cringe because it is still seen then surely that is their cringe factor not anybody else's
America also exported the Jackson Five and Michael Jackson all over the world.
In both cases Americans made a lot of money from selling these acts to all other parts of the world, including Australia
This skit was never intended as a slur on any race, colour or creed. It was simply intended as a send up of an entertainment group that has been parodied the world over. The members of which continue, even after the death of their most famous member, to provide further fuel to continue being parodied with.

While Harry may well have found it offensive that is his interpretation and his alone. He needs to assess the act on its intentions not on his interpretations and experiences from his life in another world separate from ours.

I'm based in Melbourne and what Liz and Timmy above stated is absolutely true--nobody thought this skit would offend anyone.

The segment is called 'Red Faces' that had been part of "Hey Hey It's Saturday" for many years, similar to the type of acts appeared on "The Gong Show" in the US in the 1970s and early 80s, (with acts that were just as politically correct), Cate Blanchett got her start as a contestant on "Red Faces", a clip of her performance was shown before this act last night.

The second Harry mentioned he was offended was the second everyone realised that something like this could offend someone--we've never had racism in Australian television and probably the only other incident similar to this was with Bert Newton and Muhammad Ali on the 1979 Logie Awards (it's sure to be on YouTube) -- Bert Newton for years on live variety shows used to do commercials for KFC dressed as Col. Sanders and speaking like Foghorn Leghorn -- he'd always thank the host of the tonight show by saying "I like the boy!" It became one of his trademark sayings and he would use the 'I like the boy' line in general conversation, if someone said something complimentary about him.

On the night of the Logie Awards, Muhammad Ali said to Bert, who was hosting the show, that it was likely he was going to win the 'Gold Logie' and joking said that it when people know who's going to win that it would be a shock, meaning he had it in the bag.

Bert, knowing this said conspiratorily "Ahh, I like the boy...." -- and you don't say this to Muhammad Ali....and live....

"Wait a minute, did you say 'roy' or 'boy'? Who are you calling 'boy'?" Muhammad asked, with the audience, including guest Florence Henderson, frantically caling out "Roy! Roy!" in order to save Bert being pulverized on live television. "I like the boy--what's wrong with saying that? I like the man!" Bert went on, fearing for his life "Hey I'll do anything, I'll change religion for you!" he said trying to apologise. Everyone to this day is pretty sure Muhammad knew it was an honest mistake and no harm was ever meant.

That incident has gone down into Australian television legend down here and what happened last night was the only time since then such an issue has come up and cause this much controversy. It wasn't meant to offend anybody but I fear this will become something of a lightning rod down here on Australian television from now on.

Leaving the politics and history of Australia's Aboriginal population and how it's totally okay to wear blackface there, could we focus on the actual issue here?

The show invited Harry Connick Jr, a man raised in New Orleans and heavily invested in their jazz scene, to judge a show. And then, apparently with total disregard to the ABSOLUTELY OBVIOUS cultural background of their guest, the producers sprung a MINSTREL SHOW on him. He's not piping up about something he just saw on TV and got snitty about and decided to elbow in with his American opinion, they invited him! Not only that, but he had no idea this was coming until it was happening and he was already on TV.

Can none of you Aussies see how this is a problem? They blindsided a Southern man with a minstrel show! Of COURSE he had to say something about it afterwards -- he wasn't given a choice about participating in that situation, and he certainly wouldn't have been there had he known about the blackface nature of the routine. This is the equivalent of throwing a surprise bullfight for a Hindu, or serving veal to a vegetarian. It's that level of vomit-inducing taboo. That the producers didn't realize Connick would react this way (and believe me, he is being restrained) is astounding.

Couldn't care less about Aussie talent shows, but if you're going to invite someone from a different culture to judge, don't get your noses bent out of shape when he sees the act through the prism of his culture.

Thorne

Heres another Australian expression.

Fuck off you wanker!!

BTW, I'd like to welcome the pommey bastards to God's own Earth, and remind them that we don't like stuck-up sticky-beaks here.

Your article is wrong.

First of all as everyone else has said - the apology wasn't issued straight away.

What on earth is it with Americans that make them think they are so innocent. Robert Downey Jr. was 'black' in Tropic Thunder and the American people love it - as soon as some Australians do it and you guys all have a sook.

Just ridiculous. Australia is a multi-cultural society, we don't have the same racism issues as America does because we are a tolerant bunch of people.

a television show called 'hey hey it's saturday' that screens midweek? that's always going to be a little behind the times!
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI!

First up let me applaud Mr Connicks conviction here. You don't see that level of conviction today from world stars who are worried about upsetting anyone. However, that being said, I find it amusing reading all the American replies in this thread which are trying to justify how Australia is so racist though overlooking the fact that they have ongoing problems still.

Sure you have a black president. Personally I cried that the majority of the American public voted in a black president. Well done America!But to use this as some illustration of how American's have turned their society around is a joke. I've lost count this year alone of how many news accounts of some new right wing group seeking to assassinate Obama because his black.

Some here have tried to justify how Tropic Thunder was perfectly okay and was totally different to the Black face skit. NO ITS NOT. Its actually rather funny that people are trying to explain that its different. LISTEN UP PEOPLE, your not fooling anyone!

Oh and can some American please post up a site where it outlines an official apology made to black Americans for all the past wrongs to them? I'm still trying to find it....

The issue that you have discovered is that Australians are not as raciest as Americans.

You see here we don’t pretend not to be raciest so we can be seen as saints. While some racism does exist, most Australians would have found the skit funny, not because the participants had blacked their faces but because it was a comedic take of a well known act.

If you asked most Australians was it in bad taste, they would probably tell you a little because it was so close after Michael’s passing.

So what you are saying is in the USA you could do a funny skit imitating a band from the past as long as the band wasn’t African American or Mexican or Women or …! what about Russian or English or even Australian is that OK.

You see here in Australia we are not that raciest as to think we are actually putting someone down because we imitate their look while doing a comedy act.

What is raciest is where supposed comedians like Michael Richards refers to his African American countrymen using an offensive term. I would have been the first to leave that performance.

Don’t be misguided most Australians had the utmost respect for Michael and his brothers (though we ain’t so keen on the father), And the guys doing the skit would not have been doing it to make fun of someones race.

But you tell me how would you do a comedic skit of a band who’s members are African American. I mean if you don’t black your face are you obviously avoiding the issue and would still offend someone. So maybe you just avoid the issue and pick a white band to do a comedic routine about. You see in Australia that decision would be a raciest one. You just ruled someone out because of their skin colour.

So I suppose in Australia we might have to modify our behavior until raciest country’s like USA catch up.

Regards Tim

So Australia and America aren't friends anymore? such a sickening hatefest going on here. The whole "but you did this" and "you guys did that" however many years ago is ridiculous and this is why the world can't move forward past anything.

"Australians are racist!" - Not any of the Australians I know, "Americans are racist!" - Not any of the Americans I know.

These guys were impersonating the Jackson Five because they are a famous musical group, not because they are black, just the same as if someone puts on huge sideburns and glittery suits to impersonate Elvis. I don't believe they were being racist any more than I believe Harry Conick was implying we are a racist nation.

Grow up the lot of you.

Just because people paint their faces to impersonate someone, doesn't mean they are racist. Those people performing I'm sure are definately not racists (as they are already from different cultures). And that skit doesn't have anything to do with the racism that happens in the real world. If they did something to indicate they didn't like something of another race, well then it would be relevant. But their skit was totally unracist.

Just checking in to say that as I expected this is huge news today and everyone in the country is outraged. Even on lowest common denominator talk radio 99 percent of the people calling in are saying how shocked and amazed they are that something like this would happen.

The Australian's posting in this thread are in the minority.

OMG the skit segment is called RED FACES?? How offensive to our red skinned brothers and sisters. OH THE HUMANITY. BURN THEM!!!!

Harry Connick Jr, the hypocrite : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooKaCbMvaZ0

Also, funny that the media ignore the daily occurrences of similarly politically incorrect things on Japanese variety shows such as : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4QB7cHdVfs

Typical double standards, only western countries and white people can be racist, everyone else can insult white people as much as they want, ever seen a black comedians routine, it's an hour long insult-fest towards white people, but it's ok... Reverse the roles however, and it's 'racist'...

I also am amazed by the fact that the US is taking such a moral high ground, considering it has a television channel called BET (Black Entertainment Television) specifically designed to cater to a single racial audience, is that not racist? What about Hollywood producing movies such as 'White Chicks' where two black actors 'white up' and play some white girls...

How about a man called Kamau Kamon, on C-Span, saying that we need to 'exterminate white people' : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_61OoR-qEqs

I wonder where crusader Harry 'hypocrite' Connick Jr was when these things occured?

Eek. I'm embarrassed to call myself Australian reading through these comments. It was an extraordinarily stupid thing for these educated men to do and a woefully ignorant decision by the producers to OK the act. Apparently members of the group have come out this morning apologising profusely, but still wanting to take full responsibility by pointing their finger at the Hey Hey producers and saying, "well, we did question whether it would be offensive and they gave it the green light...".

All in all, I think Ben hit the nail on the head with his comments regarding many of these fools landing here via google.

Anand Deva played Michael Jackson in the skit - and that's not an Aussie name. It's a name more from the sub-continent (India, Asia for the uninformed)
So are you all going to throw your hands in the air because a non-white person portrayed a white person on television - or are you going to be self-selective and look at the impersonation of black people.
That is how stupid this debate and this reaction has become - in the same skit a person with origins in Asia can portray a white person but you miss the point entirely through seeing only black
It's comedy not racism and as one person (a British African in Australia) wrote on this site - the US has more incidents of racism on a daily basis than Australia would in a decade.
Australians will always see judgement as sounding better coming from a nation who don't provide adequate health cover for everyone (Australia does irrespective of social status, colour or religion) and here your kids could die at school because of some deadbeat with easily accessed daddy's gun.
The US has the worst violence culture in the western world and yet you scream morality when Janet Jackson flashes a bit of tit on tv.
Americans don't understand the world outside CNN, Fox News, Hollywood and McDonalds - so please don't try now. Unless you understand Australian humour (I sure as hell don't understand the loud brash crappy American comedy), then don't judge.
When the US is a perfect nation and not one of double standards and self righteousness - then judge others. Because no matter what you pull off the web on aboriginal communities - Australia will never be as racist (or as ignorant) as the US.

Oh my God there was a guy with a white painted face. I'm white! I'm offended!

To Ohmyohmy Your ignorance of Australian history is embarassing ! I suggest as a starting point to educating yourself more accurately would be to read "Blood on the Wattle" by Bruce Elder

The comments just got worse as the day went on, and most of the most ignorant and "I'm-not-racist!" ones came from Australians who bizarrely are defending something that is on-its-face racist. I guess that the United States doesn't have a monopoly on hideous stupidity on the Internet.

Connick thanked him, adding, “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.”

So you need "to not make black people look like buffoons". That implies they do act like buffoons, is Coonick now the racist?

What about the movie 'White Chicks' where two African Americans (what a BS term, you are Americans, period) dress up like white chicks. Is this not the same racism flipped?

Americans and particularly black Americans are a whiny, wimpy bunch. Harden The F*ck Up America.

I as an Australian have visited the US for many years my last visit was last week - Harry go back to your country and tell your fellow white Americans to act with some cutisy and civility and compassion to your fellow black Americans - it is heartbreaking to see the way that the black Americans are treated - one daysit will all come back to you white Americans!!!!!!!

"So you need "to not make black people look like buffoons". That implies they do act like buffoons, is Coonick now the racist?"

I hope like hell that was a slip of the tongue (or finger) regarding Connick's name, Peter. Other than that, everything you said zooms straight to the top of the trophy list for 'dumb things Aussies say' on this issue.

If this is the way it is going then I demand a public apology from the Wayans brothers for their movie 'White Chicks'.

Just chalk it down to a cultural misunderstanding. We just love to take the piss out of each other and not take it to heart, it's just one of the ways we use humour to facilitate understanding between each of our cultures.

Yeah, white people are the only racist people on the planet...

Regardless of what we as individuals may believe, if you offend someone then you need to respect that that is how they feel - irrespective of the original intent.

We can't dictate how people should feel nor should we try as it is no different from someone dictating to you what your favourite food/TV show/etc. is.

It can be hard as a caucasian Aussie male in the ethnic majority to be sensitive to every possible cultural nuance but when things like this come up we need to try and understand all sides of the issue and respect them.

I respect HC Jr. for speaking out about something that relates to his country's cultural history and pointing out the sensitivity around that - he was respectful, honest and non-accusational.

Take a step back and acknowledge that this sort of thing can offend some people, respect that and we'll all have a happier planet to live on.

What a hypocrite Harry is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooKaCbMvaZ0
America open your eyes.

hey hey its saturday has always been crap and never been funny. i'm still puzzled as to why they brought it back

Wow doesn't take much to get people to pull out the race and patriotic cards does it?

Take it for what it was, a tribute to the Jackson 5, they dressed up as them to enhance the performance, not to be racist. Harry took offense, fair enough, each to their own. He made his feelings felt, producers said sorry. End of Story

If people want to talk about race issues then talk about them straight up in the forum they deserve.

I'm utterly disgusted by all this. I am an Australian. And i'm bloody proud of it. I've always had a hatred for American's, but this just boils my blood. Quite frankly, non of you yanks can even comment on this, you don't know our culture, whether you think you understand it, coz you read a bloody wiki article about it, or not! I won't even start on how wiki is SUCH a reliable source of information. You yanks need to get your head out of your arse and stop meddling with other countries. We don't need, nor want your opinion. Australians, in general, are not racist. Our country is so multicultural, theres barely any caucasians left. And either way, this whole racism thing has gone way to far... globally. And i'm sick to death of the fact that everyone else is aloud to be racist, you just can't do it if you're white. The truth of the matter is, no matter what we do, humans will always be racist, its embedded in our brains.I think everyone should just get over it. If you enjoyed it... great! If you hated it... good for you. Just leave it alone, coz we all have more important things to deal with.

Americans are the stupiest people in the world; black or white. Australians rule and Australian TV rules. At least our hosts don't have affairs with crew.

While I love almost anything that goes against the modern day leftist PC grain, this definitely crossed the line. Absolutely no excuse for it, no reason it shouldn't have been rejected by the producers the moment it was first considered by them to be aired. It wasn't funny, there was no intended point they were trying to make, it was all about them being seen as a bunch of guys done up as blacks. Shame on them, shame on the show.

Team Connick.

Wow, Americans condemning other countries for being racist. How ironic. Almost as ironic as their anti nuclear weapons stance, seemingly ignorant of their own stockpile of WMD's. Quit with the hypocrisy America, you're truly pathetic.

The performance was certainly in bad taste - and culturally insensitive, but hardly racist. People bandy that word around far too much. Their intention was to lampoon the Jackson 5, not black people in general. They had no intent to cause offence due to someones race. Red faces was always in bad taste - that was the point.

That being said HCJ had every right to voice his opinion and I agree with the poster that can't understand how the producers let something like this get through given that HCJ is a Southern American and is acutely aware of a time where black facing was done with utter intent to belittle an entire race. It's very easy to throw poo back at Americans (and we all love a good poo flinging) for being racist or overly sensitive to apparent racial stereotyping - but it is part of their history and their present and of course it's going to be uncomfortable for HCJ to sit through something like that - no matter the intentions of the "performer".

I think what many Australians lack is a sense of cultural sensitivity more than anything else, and this is borne from the fact that we don't take ourselves too seriously either, and definitely bury our heads in the sand about our own problems. But when someone gets offended by something our first reaction is to get our backs up and say "But you do far worse than we ever would" and the always delightful "but it was just a bit of fun". Sometimes it's best to listen to what someone is saying and understand that just because it's funny to you and meant no offence - that it may have done just that, learn from it, apologise and move on.

And yes it would be great for someone who painted their face with black paint to represent a black singer to mean nothing more than someone who shoved a pillow under their shirt and sideburns to represent fat Elvis, but it doesn't, and to bemoan that fact, or to try and say they are the same is unfair and definitely shows a level of ignorance.

OK, so we're allowed to poke fun at and parody white people right?
I doesn't seem to matter what colour you are - thats fine.

But we're not allowed to poke fun at black people?

FFS, African-americans are PEOPLE. White-americans are PEOPLE.
I think Harry Connick Jr is missing his 15 minutes of fame from 10-odd years ago and wants to stir up a scandal so he gets some attention.

Answer me this tho' - Why can we parody white people but not black/brown people? Thank goodness Eddy Murphy knew that comedy is about humour and not the colour of your skin.

Very lame grab for publicity Harry.

To ALL the Aussies defending the act,

1) Stop comparing this skit to movies. Apples to oranges. Movies are fictional.

2) There was absolutely nothing funny about the act. If Aussies find that that is funny, then our humor is in a serious need of a fixing.
3) The real issue here is that Harry was invited to be a guess on the show, and since He was raised up in New Orleans - the skit was offensive and inappropriate to him. It's like if you invited a muslim to your dinner, knowing full well that he doesn't eat pork, and you serve him pork.
How on earth that the buffoon producers can overlook this important detail just multiplies the seriousness of this act.
Like it or not Aussies, Harry was offended and insulted. He showed great restraint and composer and I applaud him.

Maybe next time, Hey hey should invite a rape victim to be a judge and then put on a virtual rape act?

Think outside the square people.

Gosh, if these comments represents the views and intelligence of the majority of Australians, then i am absolutely ashamed of being an Aussie.

Well well well....Harry Connick Jnr is nothing but a HYPOCRITE! So it's ok for him to paint his face black and pretend to be an African American preacher (or something along those lines), yet when Aussies do a comedic skit on the Jacksons, he jumps up and down about it!! Typical bloody American hypocrisy at it's finest! Catch the first plane out of Australia mate, and don't bother coming back. By the way, your singing sucked Harry!

One pissed off Aussie chick speaks up!!

Wow. Liberal American publications chastising Australians for being racist. How unexpected.

Sounds like just another excuse to transfer the white guilt to somebody other than yourselves.

Maybe if we took a street poll around America (not just the East and West coasts, kids) to see what they think, you'll get some alarming statistics of your own. So pull your heads out of your butts and stop trying to pretend that your own country doesn't have a racism problem far worse, per population percentage, than Australia does.

The only ones who deserve to be offended by this are African Americans or the Jackson family in particular. Reminds me of that recent South Park episode. Just because it's hip and PC to defend black people for past injustices, doesn't mean you 'get' it.

I'm Austrailian and of African descent and the only reason people think it's racists is being American. otherwise I feel it would be just stupid comedy as other comedian acts. All and all it's pretty stupid but We Aussies don't think it was meant as racists.

Americans: please believe me when I say that not all Australians are simplistic, narrow-minded embarrassments like the guy who wrote "Americans are the stupiest people in the world; black or white. Australians rule and Australian TV rules."

The only reason Americans are offended by this harmless comedy satire is because it reminds them of their own racist past. Aussies take it for what it is - a parody of musical group that happens to be black.

Did anybody notice with all the "Australians are Racist and we're not" bollocks going on, the some of these people all painted black - appeared to be of Indian decent? Racist? Please get all the facts and try to put this into perspective.

I watched that skit live in Australia and I was shaking my head from the get go. Daryl Somers and the producers are idiots for allowing that. There is no justification for it.

Nobody appears to have noticed a far less ambiguous “is this racist or not?” moment from the show.
I just posted on this here….
http://notesfromthebartender.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/hey-hey-whats-racist/

Look at the last video from those three…. in all the subsequent furore, that line of Somers appears to have been forgotten

Hey Ben,

Do us a favour, stay in USA and get ur citizenship cause ur crawling up the Americans arseholes brilliantly, lets hope our customs turn u around shall u ever want to come "home".

U must be from Tasmania with ur 2 heads!

Go the Aussies!

this is either the stupidest or funniest reason for an argumentive thread ive ever read in my life..
or maybe both..
u ppl are actually soo retarded..
the fact of the matter is that this was an australian cultural show aired in AUSTRALIA!.. not in the south of america which is something we arent aware of

its unfortunate that it offended harry and they apoligised but as for all u low lives who have nothing better to do than complain... get the hell over it.. noone cares..
the amount of australians watching that that wouldve even though the word racist would be an insanely low %..
and not because we are ignorant or racist...
but bcoz we didnt see it as racist..
which just shows the difference between racism in australia and america and that u ppl would chuck a hissy fit bcoz u r so aware of racism where as we.. as australians just go with the flow and couldnt care less about all this stupid crap..

i would like to officially thank the american media for turning nothing in to a media frenzy and giving the yanks another reason to complain about something...

AMERICANS ARE HYPOCRITES!!!

You have absolutely no problem vilifying Arabs and Muslim people through your media and movies - Rules of Engagement, Delta Force, True Lies...the list goes on, with no thought of remorse. But, if the shoes on the other foot, then political correctness goes into overdrive! Hypocrites!

And, if you want a perfect example of hypocrisy, then look at this skit. Apparently black face mockery dosent apply to an American.

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/

American society taking the moral high ground, what a joke. You lot should clean up your own backyard instead of patronising us. You are so racist you have to hyphenate your tribal pride:- African-American, Irish-American, Latino-American, etc. Your movies, music and media parade black people as morally bereft, uneducated and thugs, but you don't protest against the stereotype.

A bunch of highly educated "coloured" doctors do a spoof on the highly disfunctional Jacksons, complete with the Afro hairstyles, the dark skin and the silly dance routines and a bloke who has himself parodied a black reverend on TV, decides he's going to protect all the hard work and social engineering that's been put into rebranding the black population as acceptable.

The reason Australia does not have a countable black Afrian population is because they didn't subscribe to slavery unlike your much beloved forefathers did. They then observed the great social divides in the US and prohibited migration of peoples who would be disadvantaged by europoean attitudes pervalent in Australia at the time.

Everytime a white guy stands up and waxes lyrical about equality for coloureds, he reopens a festoring wound. In Australia we dont have special discriminatory laws to favour employment of the few, we call each other names, we don't like being told how to behave and between riding kangaroos and climbing Ayers Rock we manage a fairly egalatarian multi cultural society better than you guys will ever hope to experience.

The pattern here is plain to see. Australians cannot take criticism. They can be as insensitive as they can to other races (all under the guise of humour), but the moment you criticise their actions, they will respond with insults about your countries past and present history, even your race and culture. Take two examples this year – attacks on Indian people living in Australia. Many responses on news blogs were “Indians have no right to complain, they have a caste system”. True, they do, but does that make it all right? The Michael Jackson skit – immediate responses regarding Americans history against black people, starting wars, being over-weight etc etc. They cannot argue their point in a calm mature manner and their responses on blogs, such as this one and many others (in Australia) prove this. It makes you feel that many Australians are arrogant, racist and have the mentality of a school child. Australia can have a place on the world stage, but it will be and must be a long time before they can be taken seriously and have the respect of a world player.

Yes. This was racist. I am an Australian and I get that 'blackface' skits are clearly racist. I simply couldn't believe it when I saw the skit go to air. The people in the act may not have had the sense to see it was racist but the the producers of the show should have.

This is the same network that let's an ex footballer call a Malaysian man a monkey and compares Serena Williams to the same man implying she is a monkey.

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2692254.htm

Channel Nine should hang their heads in shame. They are a disgrace to our country.

I never liked Hey Hey It's Saturday and only ever found one skit on red faces funny. It was a skit where raw chooks were used as string puppets doing very realistic dancing. I laughed until my sides split. Every other episode I tuned into was an epic fail. I hope Harry forgives and forgets soon. I think he will but still, he shouldn't have got on the "as an American" band wagon because it put people in his host country on the back foot. It was very condescending of him to hold up the show. I saw the skit where he himself played a black man (taking the mickey out of black preachers while plugging his CD). I wonder if his outburst on Hey Hey was an apology.

Does all this really matter? There are far more important things to worry about, tsunamis,earthquakes,floods, the war...etc Lets remain focused!

As one commenter above said "No one was thinking about racism, just singing and dancing. And that's the point NO ONE WAS THINKING. I love the excuses "we didn't know," "we didn't have slaves!" Yes, you didn't, instead the Aboriginals that were here, you tried to wipe them out (eg Appin Massacre), then the fair skin ones you stole from their parents and tried to turn them into servants, but you forgot to pay them (well you're still holding their money). You know, if someone acts as your servant and you don't pay him, hmmmmm sounds like slavery to me. But you wouldn't see it that way, would you? Too busy, trying to brush off your Federation's Whites only policy. Too busy, saying I never did anything to Aboriginal people and there you go again still not thinking. You know the reason why John Howard lost his seat of Bennelong? Because the Demographics changed and the new people of Bennelong didn't like his attitude toward Non-whites. Wake up.

it was the americans, not the australians or any other race that kept the africans as slaves, so i can understand where the americans guilt comes from, but they should not expect everyone else to share it

Everyone knows that white Australians aren't racist. That's why they treated the Aboriginals so well, and still do to this day. (Yeah, right, you frekin Aussies have no call to talk about American racism or what we have done in the past or what we are trying to do to overcome it now. Clean out your own nose first.)

I am glad Harry Connick Jr. spoke up in reference to African Americans but to all the people defending this who happen to be Austrailian, whose to say that SOME Kooris/Aboriginals, Torres Strait Islanders, and African immigrant in Austrailia were not at least slightly offended by this!No Austrailia did not have African slavery but it had Aboriginal Koori near Extermination/Stolen-Gen/Boarding school experiences, Blackbirding, and if the immigrants(of all colors) get shafted there like they do everywhere else, the mistreatment of these African immigrants! Which means not having the blood of African slaves on your hand a somewhat of a copout.Austrailians rightly get offended when North Americans do things to offend them. Chalk this up to Austrailia being wrong on this!

For those who do not know, the history of "blackface" in the USA is because for years blacks were not allowed to perform on stage or in cinema, so the characters were portrayed by white people wearing black makeup. (Very similar to the way women were banned from participating in theater for years with the female characters being played by men dressed as women.) What was even worse is that the whites playing the blacks were made-up based on white people's stereotypes of blacks. I have no idea why Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr did what they did in Tropic Thunder, but I personally did not like the movie for a number of reasons. However, whatever Stiller and Downey did does not make what these Aussie guys did any less inflammatory. It's that what our moms taught us from a young age, "two wrongs do not make a right". Now when you start saying "well that's the USA but this is Australia" let me ask you, how many Aboriginals are here on this board posting how they feel about seeing people dressed up wearing black paint on their faces?

Yes we Americans have our faults but before you start calling us nutters, and Imperialists, or whatever, why don't you Aussies take a good, hard look at racial discrimination in Australia? Even though you didn't treat the Indigenous people as slaves per se, can you honestly say you treat them equally to whites? And by the way, you also benefit from cheaper gas at the pump from our efforts in the middle east. I never voted for Bush and I hate that we are involved in wars, but you cannot disagree that we are the world's piggy bank, whether you like it or not and without us being over there keeping the Gulf defended, you would be paying 20 dollars a gallon for gas.

I am glad Harry Connick Jr. spoke up in reference to African Americans being one myself but to all the people defending this who happen to be Austrailian, whose to say that SOME Kooris/Aboriginals, Torres Strait Islanders, and African immigrant in Austrailia were not at least slightly offended by this!No Austrailia did not have African slavery but it had Aboriginal Koori near Extermination/Stolen-Gen/Boarding school experiences, Blackbirding, and if the immigrants(of all colors) get shafted there like they do everywhere else, the mistreatment of those African immigrants and others that are there! Which means not having the blood of African slaves on your hand is somewhat of a copout.None of this is to say that the US is any better since the U.S. hasn't had the best experience with race relations either.It is not said by me to bash Austrailia as the worst and only racist place in the world when there are many places like this.I do think that Austrailians are lying when they say that the atrocities that went on there were not serious and that black Australians-(native/immigrant)then and now are treated so well!Austrailians rightly get offended when North Americans do things to offend them. Chalk this up to Austrailia being wrong in "this" incident!BTW, I am not sure they meant to be offensive but this is something the producers and performers should have thought about and the fact that they did not mean to be offense and didn't consider the potential controversy is kinda sad!

BTW, as an African American in particular and American in general, I do not like when the U.S. is condescending towards Austrailia but the criticism on this issue makes a valid point! About Robert Downey Jr. though, he was criticized for blackface and other actors have been criticized for doing the same thing. Maybe not always in American mainstream presses but other alternative/ethnic ones for sure. If not Downey other people have been! About Harry Connick Jr. preachers skit I did not know about it until now-admittedly "I WAS NOT impressed" but I was not as offended as the out and out blackface/Afro setup.He could easily pass for some overthetop white televangelist preachers to be honest. The fact that some of these performers were Asian does not soften the blow-especially when Indian and Lebanese folks have not been strangers to colorface mockery too or possibly in the case of Lebanese, the genie character with the turban.They should have thought this over regardless of what the producers said if they had misgivings just like the producers. My thing though is time should have passed for blackface to be seen as quality entertainment-as"good clean fun!This goes for brown,yellow,and red face too this stuff should stay in the past where it came from THROUGHOUT THE WORLD!Whiteface is not right either, but since whites do not have the history of persecution by other groups that have been the target of oppression(who have had to suffer stereotypes design specifically to dehumanize them as oppose to just lampoon and demean them) the impact of whiteface is not as detrimental as the other types of colorface. Still, anybody of ANY COLOR-White,Asian,Black,Latino,or Native American- guilty of this ANYWHERE to ANY-BODY should have rotten tomatoes/mud pies thrown at 'em or be shot(jokingly) on sight!

I am black British and having read the thread here, I simply must comment. Aussies - wake the fuck up!!! This was not just offensive to Americans, any black person in the western world (indeed, black people globally) would have been totally offended by it. You would NEVER see anything like this on British TV today! A white audience in England would have booed this off the stage in 10 seconds flat and the producer would have been sacked instantly. It was simply disgusting and yes, IT WAS RACISM - in the crudest form. I was stunned to see something like this on air in a so-called developed country in 2009 and really, it does not speak well for your country. I am deeply, deeply offended by it and to those people defending it, you should be ashamed. I am just glad that I am not black in Australia. Thank God I am not black in Australia.

"The American public were so outraged over Robert Downey's recent blackface routine he was given an Academy award nomination. Fair dinkum the hypocrisy is pathetic!"

I am sorry...but if you can not see the difference between these two things you are an idiot. It's like comparing apples to oranges.

To Jack O'Leary:

As an Australian I can say you're right, we did do some terrible things to our native people, but certainly not on the sacle the America did. However, we learnt from our mistakes, but it would seem in America you weren't happy with trying to wipe out your native people and stealing their land, oh no, you didn't learn from that did you? You then decided to go across the atlantic and steel more people from another country! So don't tell me or anyone else about double standards! America always has been and still is the most racist country on earth even if it's only a small minority of the population! Just because you now have a black president, which is about time, it doesn't mean you can all get on your high horses and start calling everyone else racist just because you can now hide behind a black president!

I have a comment for Justin...maybe you should wake up. You poms are cowards as you forced the Australian and New Zealand troops to get slaughtered in Gallipoli.....so hey....you aren't exactly a bed of roses yourselves! The boys are mostly black themselves and it was JUST A TRIBUTE!!!!! Duh!!!!

Sigh. This has been blown up way out of proportion. As an American who has lived in Australia and is married to an Australian, I am embarrassed and a little puzzled by all the "outrage."

Australia's treatment of the Indiginous population is no different than what we did to the Native Americans. Yet we still have "The Redskins" baseball team.

The stolen generation is also a shameful chapter in Australia's history. But Kevin Rudd issued a national apology. We still have not offered an official apology for slavery.

Neither country is perfect or better than the other. What is annoying me is how all the Americans are suddenly getting on their high horse as if we are somehow more evolved.

Turn it onto fox news. Go to a Teabagger protest where Obama is being depicted as a witch doctor with a bone through his nose. Listen to Glenn Beck.

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Worry about yourself before you start attacking others. That's all I have to say.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_States

Enough said!

Just to let you all no Harry Connick DIDN'T stop the show he mentioned the skit during an ad break. Not during the show as reported. He was allowed to come back maybe half hour later to voice his disapproval.
I have visited your country on 7 occasions and I really didn't think you were so quick to judge other people when you have so much trouble in your country.Let's forget we all fight along side each other in Iraq Afghanistan, our fire fighter come over and help you guys out. But if we are all so bad let's stop all of this.You look after yours and we will look after ours

As an Australian I didn't find the act racist or funny. It was just stupid. I had never heard of blackface until reading the about the "outrage" in america. The act was not making fun of black people at all. It was the Jackson 5. I don't know how else a group of mixed race non black people could imitate the jackson 5 without making themselves black?

A quick look at american news websites shows that this seems to be a bigger issue in america. Some of your headlines include.

"Kansas Mayor Apologizes for Appearing in Blackface Drag"

"Minnesota College Investigating Party Involving KKK Costume, Blackface"

"Washington College Cancels Class for Diversity Seminar After 'Blackface' Party"

"Teacher Resigns After Appearing in Blackface"

Blackface is simply not known in Australia so there was no racism intended at all. Blackface is in American taboo that you are applying to other cultures where it does not exist.

Considering the uproar this has created it appears that you Americans need to educate your people as the headlines above clearly show that this behaviour is alive and well in America where dressing in blackface is a well known taboo.

Fair enough that the "Jackson Jive" didn't intend to offend anyone. Fair enough that blackface isn't a big deal in Australia. But what I find disgusting above all else is the backlash against Harry Connick Jr. If you idiots did your research on blackface (btw, you can take care of that right here at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface) you'd realize, that from the perspective of a man who grew up in the Southern United States, where racism has and still is prevalent to this day, where not only did he study the history of racism against blacks, but he also witnessed it happening to his black friends and black people in general, seeing someone perform in blackface is not only deeply offensive, but just downright indefensible as well. So you cannot blame him for his reaction anymore than we can blame the performers for their complete ignorance on the stigma that lies behind blackface. And if Harry had laughed along with the audience about it, then Americans would've excoriated him for not speaking out against it. Either way, he'd be bound to lose some fans. But at least he was man enough to not hide his true feelings about it. And he did not label the performers racist, he said the act was racist. He knows not all white Australians are racist, just the same way not all white Americans are racist. He did not overreact. If this is not the type of reaction you wanted, then you should've known better than to invite an American to judge people performing in blackface. That's about as smart as inviting a Jew to judge performers wearing Swastikas and sporting Hitler-style moustaches. It's not as if Harry looked for clips of Hey Hey, It's Saturday on YouTube and saw the act, and then proceeded to hold a press conference about it. He was invited to the show, saw something he didn't expect to see, it understandably offended his sensibilities and he voiced his opinion about it. That's all. If, say, Will Smith or Denzel Washington were in Harry Connick's place and reacted the same way, would there be such a backlash against them? If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive and saw this, and spoke out on how incredibly offensive it was, would the Aussies dare to call him an overly sensitive fool? I think not. Just because something's socially acceptable in your culture doesn't mean it is everywhere else. Nobody's asking you to get rid of blackface permanently, just next time use better judgment as to who you're gonna have on your show and what exactly will they be providing as "entertainment" should you wanna have an American guest judge. That's called being considerate. This whole thing would've been a non-issue if you hadn't invited Harry Connick Jr. on THAT particular episode.

From the Guardian in the UK:

To Australia, the world's most savagely self-parodic country, where there is news of an important breakthrough in race relations.

We lay our scene on long-running Australian TV variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday, which finished in 1999, but was back on air for a reunion special on Wednesday night - along with celebrity guest Harry Connick Jr.

As is the custom on these kerrazy studio programmes, the singer was roped into the judging panel, passing his views on - among others - a musical comedy troupe introduced as The Jackson Jive.

Now, having watched the Jackson Jive's act, Lost in Showbiz can tell you that they bring almost nothing new to the lame old business of impersonating Motown's most dysfunctional family. But I guess their USP is that they perform in blackface. Isn't that darling?

Not according to Harry, oddly, who marks them zero (the Australian judge to his right comes through with a 7. "I thought you were very cute"). "Would you give them anything for turning up?" asks the bemused host. "Man, if they turned up looking like that in the United States …" comes his guest's retort, "it'd be Hey Hey There's No More Show."

Seemingly oblivious to the point being made, the host cheerily points out that this is a comeback of sorts – the Jackson Jive in fact performed this act on the show twenty years ago. You know, in the olden times of 1989, when blacking up was totally acceptable.

Anyway… If you take a look at the mind-boggling video clip, you will note that we rejoin the show after the break, during which the host seems to have had a somewhat unconvincing epiphany.

"I noticed that when we had the Jackson Jive on," he says to Harry, "and it didn't occur to me till afterwards, I think we may have offended you with that act … I know that to your countrymen, that's an insult to have a blackface routine like that on the show, so I do apologise."

Very good of him. In Australia, of course, it is perfectly acceptable, and we thank the nation for yet another important contribution to the annals of human culture.

I'm still waiting for these so called racially liberated American's to show me their national official apology to the African Americans for the hundred of years of slavery and other form of racist abuse.You would think being so loud in their anger at a silly skit by multicultural Australian's, they would protest loudly to their own government to make amends. Nah, who am I kidding, American's are too busy trying to be the moral police for everyone else in the world rather then looking in their own back yard.

At least here in Australia we have stepped up to the plate, recognized our past wrongs and apologized.

I have to agree with Yank Aussie (and yes, Yank is a humerours racial slur, like Pom, Kiwi and..well actually any other racial nicknames DO sound racist, so I will stop there!)

Yes, this was an insensitive act, & yes, the producers should have realised that something that was funny 20 yrs ago may not be so overlooked today in our overly PC world. But if there is no racism intended, is something still racist? Or just stupid? Obviously each of you will decide for yourselves.

As for this forum, people here are trying to say that America Or Australia or England is hypocritical, more racist, or has a worse past than the other. I call on you to name one country in the WORLD that doesnt have a shameful racial past, as well as current race problems & divisions & racist individuals or groups. Pretty much any country that had a native population displaced by European settlers had that native population stomped on, & most of them still live worse off (Australian Aboriginies, American Indians, New Zealand Maoris etc). England has an entire political party (the BNP) which is whites-only, and there was South African Apartheid, which apparently now is all over? Hell, even countries with entirely black populations have different races/tribes trying for genocide on each other. Much of the western world has spent the last 60 years being conditioned to hate the Germans, the Japanese, the Russians, the Chinese, & the Muslims (though I guess that isnt specifically a racial thing), & now the North Koreans (& possibly the Chinese again, I cant keep track).

So until you can proudly say that your country lives in racial harmony (& killing everyone who isnt your colour doesnt count!), pull your head in & get out there & fix your own backyard, before you worry about the neighbours!

Europeans and the USA have 90% of the worlds wealth and resources even though they compose only 10% of the worlds population, and much of this wealth and power came from slavery. The justification for this horrible inequality of wealth and power was then, and continues to be today that the USA and Europe are the 'wise custodians' of these resources.

In a world where western science has proven without a doubt that all human beings are biologically, intellectually equal, these western cultures are still as ignorant as ever.

What hope is there for human progress when the attitudes in the most technologically, militarily and economically advanced nations is still that 'its all in the past' 'other people did it too' and 'its not hate full if we don't see it that way'.

This is not a subjective issue, as individuals and societies accountability for ones actions is key. Without accountability there can never be real human progress. Part of that accountability is taking responsibility for the past, the only way that can be achieved is through awareness of that past and by showing empathy and respect for those who have been wronged.

The use of people in comical, exaggerated 'black painted face' as entertainment in western society, comes from the cultural attitude that blacks and other dark skinned peoples are inferior. Historically they had to be shown as inferior as justification for enslavement.

Any western society that still has these 'painted black face' characters within their society are showing that they are perfectly willing to put aside accountability for the past injustices and the suffering of OTHERS, when the images make them laugh.

Where is the 'age of progress' western societies were supposed to lead the rest of the world into? When these societies are unwilling to make even the smallest sacrifices for that progress.

db

Trust American WANKERS to to blow something relatively innocent out of proportion. The media loves this crap, and make a fortune out of it. WHEN ARE AMERICANS GOING TO STOP INTERFERING IN EVERYTHING????? You hypocritical, arrogant pigs need to sort yourselves out before you criticise, condemn, invade and exploit the rest of the world for your own selfish and political satisfaction. No wonder the world hates you. FUCK OFF!!!!

Yank Aussie: The issue here is not about blaming Aussies for what happened on that show.

It's about pointing out that ALL western societies that choose to continue showing these degrading characterizations of blacks as fools (or any other similar degrading characterizations of minorities) , are showing their unwillingness to make even the smallest sacrifice for the sake of showing accountability for past wrongs. That accountability is key to any real human progress.

If western societies, who have 90% of the worlds wealth and power still are unwilling even in 2009 to become the worlds leaders in real human progress, then what future can we expect for our species?

"if there is no racism intended, is something still racist?"

Well, that's a short argument: yes. People can be just as racist out of ignorance as out of venom; in fact, there's a fair argument to make that the former kind is by far the more prevalent.

Again, to Americans (and others, and fellow Australians) reading these comments with their jaws hanging just off the floor, I can only say: be glad you're not here, where the tabloid media have not only spent the last two days debating WHETHER BLACKFACE IS RACIST... but seem to have concluded THAT IT ISN'T. I shit you not.

To The Cantankerist: Thank you for your post dude. You are right, my jaw hit the floor a long time ago. I am just stunned by the thinking of many of the posters on here. I previously thought it was a generally accepted truth in civilised societies in this day and age that to depict another race in a humiliating and degrading way for amusement is racist - clearly not, as far as a disturbing number of Australians are concerned. I assure you, no black person I have spoken to about this is in the slightest bit amused. The reaction is generally one of deep disgust.

Yes, from time to time, stupid things like this occur in Britain and the US (every society has its idiots). The difference is that these things are roundly condemned by society generally when they do occur and the message is that this behaviour is no longer acceptable. That does not seem to be the case in Australia and that is truly sad....

As an Australian who has lived in the UK for 10 years, and recently returned. I have to say two things. One, I cringed when that skit came on. It was so obviously insensitive and uncool. It's not about political correctness but plain insinuation. I watch some of the old black and white movies on late at night on ABC, which are mostly 30's to 50's American movies, and the earlier you go, the more you see African Americans as servants. When I first went to New York, there were masses of black kids looking for a dollar by working the trolleys. The US has moved on. The UK had race riots in Brixton to Notting Hill in the 60's, after emigrating to work the tube, and facing a very hard time. This brings me to my second point. Both countries have societies learning to take responsibility for their attitudes to race. It means that you dissolve the distinction, so that its simply about the individual and their ethics, the concept of difference destroyed. Many Australians have I'm afraid missed the point, and would be advised to not protest too loudly I know there wasn't intentional malice. But ignorance is no excuse. History matters.

Wow. Who'd have guessed that the Australians would have such an inferiority complex that they would rally behind anything Autstralian, even something so shamefully racist.

To argue that 'Australia' is racist or that 'America' is racist is simply generalising about an entire country, causing seperation and division between cultures which to me is simply another form of racism. Can't people see the irony in their comments? There is a point of contention here but some of the ways in which it's being dealt with is appauling. THIS HAS REALLY GONE FAR ENOUGH.

Anyone who thinks this skit is Ok is not only blatantly uninformed about race issues worldwide as well as Australia's racist history period. Shame on the producers for exhibiting their ignornace in approving this act and allowing it to go to air. No better than Sam Newman's idiocy when he painted his face black to parody an indigenous AFL player. Who said anybody with a degree, a medicine degree no less, was educated? How disgracefully embarassing this is. Even more so, that we had to subject someone like Connick Jr. to this shit. To his credit, at least he had the grace, intelligence and balls to make a stand against it.

I am American living in Australia since 1972.
Racism is rife in Australia.It is so institutionalized that I am not surprised your average Australian can't fathom what all the controversy is about.
We have many asian tourists come to our town, to harvest fruit. The general concensus is that "They don't spend enough money in town" and "They shouldn't be allowed to drive". Comments such as "they are filthy dogs" and "they are less than human" have been made.
As a American, I fully expect comments like "If you don't like it, go back to where you came from, you american scum". I also expect the average australian to be puzzled why that would be considered racist.
I like Australia.. I just dislike smallminded racists who think they can hide their inhumanity by claiming a cultural right to it, or that oppressing and belittling others gives them a claim to superiority, or is some way humourous.
Of course there are those who try the old "yes it was wrong but they did it too, so that makes it right" .. when what they really mean is "as long as it doesn't happen to us it's all right"

The Indians have been playing a dirty game of calling Australian's racist this year (there are financial/economic reasons why they are doing it) and I suspect Anand Deva's little stunt was part of it, a set up to make anglo Australians look bad, but it back fired on him.

Tell him what you think of his attitude, don't blame the rest of Australia for this idiot from India.

Hey they obviously didn't realise the political significance the "blackflace" routine has in the US, and how offensive it is to African Americans. I don't think they intended to offend anybody, and for what it's worth, they apologised.

Morally it's no worse than the highly popular Ali G, or the highly offensive yet even more popular Borat. Apart from being lame, I don't see the difference between this skit and the various "blackface" characters performed by The Mighty Boosh.

why is that all these "offended" people are unable to explain what is offensive when you ask them? could it be they don't know and are only repeating what they think they should rather than what they really think?i have yet to hear someone explaining why it is offensive other than "you can't do that in america", last time i checked i was in australia! I can't recall any australians bringing africans here to live as slaves, the only country i know to do this was america, we do not share their guilt.

Connect The Dots:

You're right! How fiendish those Indians have been! Getting themselves bashed and beaten up on so many occasions over the last couple of years! But this one, this Anand Deva, was BRILLIANTLY devious: he set the trap by performing this risible sketch on the show TWENTY YEARS AGO, so that he could revisit it on this reunion show and embarrass honest Australians in the eyes of the world!

Here's something I'm wondering: is there a point at which conspiracy theorists look down at the arguments they've put forward and say "wait a second... I'm a total nutbag!"?

Australian American humour is VERY different. Harry, all those other Americans and some of the Australian public who got "offended" are being waaaaay too sensitive. This show is aimed to entertain the AUSTRALIAN public, not to offend anyone. Also, the people who completed the act are not 'bogans' but are highly educated people gradutaing as specialists in the field of medecine (cardiologist, radiologist, neurologist), these people's intentions are not trying to offend anyone with this act, but are simply reliving a moment.
Harry Connick stated, "If you dressed like this in American, ohh man..", yeah in AMERICA, but which country are you in Harry? Yes. AUSTRALIA.

Think about it, if Harry Connick (American) wasn't judging none of this controversy wouldn't have happened. The other 2 judges (Australia) do heavily criticise the act, but not even close to the extent of being emotionally offended, making this act a world wide headline.

Come on Americans, please think rationally before critisicing this act and realise that is an AUSTRALIAN tv show not AMERICAN.

http://www.theroot.com/views/senate-apologizes-slavery

Not every state participated in slavery. In fact a great majority of the US had not even been founded yet. Slave trade involved 4 continents. i think apologies become redundant. It is in the actions that we redeam ourselves not in hollow words.