The makers of Mike King's late-night talkshow are the latest to jump on the “satire” bandwagon in defending homophobic comments by a broadcaster. Tony Manson, executive producer of Greenstone Pictures, responded to an open letter from Auckland University researchers Dr Clive Aspin and Dr Leonie Pihama by saying that in their haste to correct Mr King on “a few cheap gags” they had overlooked their own stated goals of “developing greater acceptance of diversity and difference”. “Paving the way for social change may be your responsibility, but it isn't the job of a late night entertainment show on TV2, built around the wit of a stand-up comedian and his guests,” said Mr Manson. “I have made Mr King aware of your concerns.” “Mr King uses irony and satire to make us laugh at ourselves as well as to confront a broad range of people in our community with their own prejudices and lack of tolerance.” Satire is currently a buzz-word for defence of homophobia in the media. Recent homophobic tirades from Paul Holmes and Radio Pacific host Mark Bennett have all been defended by their bosses in the same manner.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 6th December 2003 - 12:00pm