Kiwi comedian Te Radar's comment about former Prime Minister Helen Clark being "a bloody communist and a lesbian" on a recent Radio New Zealand National programme have been OK'ed by the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA). Former Prime Minister Helen Clark During a broadcast in November 2008, Te Radar said he'd recently arrived back from America and had overheard a man at the airport talking to some tourists about New Zealand's change in Prime Minister. He said: "I was at the airport, we flew in last Sunday morning and there were some tourists there, and you know humility in victory is a wonderful thing, and there was a guy there who was obviously quite pleased with the election result and they said 'has there been a change in government?' And he said, 'Yeah, we got rid of the old PM, she was left of Mao, a bloody communist and a lesbian. She's gone. Best thing that ever happened to the country'. And I thought 'whoa, welcome back, it is so great to be back'." A listener had complained to the BSA, saying the comment was "in breach of good taste and decency", was of doubtful accuracy and was an example of "discrimination and denigration". The listener stated that she found the remark offensive and that Radio New Zealand National was not the place to make comments about a person's sexuality. Radio New Zealand National has contacted the listener, noting that Te Radar was only reporting back comments made by either a real or fictitious person at Auckland Airport upon his return from overseas. The broadcaster argued that the reference to Ms Clark being a lesbian was fleeting and was made without malice, explains the BSA. The listener then told the BSA that the broadcaster had trivialised her concern and that she was left thinking that "as long as the comment is a fleeting one, a person can say whatever they like on [RNZ]". The BSA took into account that Te Radar is a well-known satirical comedian, who "did not actually state that Ms Clark was a lesbian, but was recounting with amazement a conversation he had overheard at the airport. "In the Authority's view, Te Radar was clearly being ironic when describing the conversation and, rather than supporting what the man had said, he had been shocked by it." Therefore, the BSA did not uphold the listener's complaint, so no fine or other action will be taken against the broadcaster. Yesterday was Helen Clark Appreciation Day, according to hundreds of Facebook users who wore red to honour Clark's time as Prime Minister. A clip from her valedictory speech in Parliament yesterday can be viewed on the Stuff.co.nz link below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Thursday, 9th April 2009 - 10:20am