The silent treatment...
Offended Filipinos' vigil at BBC
Filipinos staged a silent vigil outside the BBC's offices over the weekend, in an attempt to force the broadcaster to apologise over a 'sexist, racist and immoral' Harry Enfield sketch.Around 25 people gathered outside Television Centre in West London to protest at the Harry And Paul sketch where a 'pet Northerner' is urged to 'mount' a neighbour's Filipina maid. They had banners stating: 'Sexual abuse and exploitation is no joke,' and 'Comedy is not an excuse for prejudice.'
A simultaneous demonstration was planned at Tiger Aspect Productions, which made the show.
In the scene, which was broadcast on BBC One last month, Enfield's character tells a passing postman: 'Our chums up the road want to see if we could mate their Filipina maid with our Northerner, but he's not having any of it.'
He encourages the Northerner, saying: "Come on Clyde, mount her."
The BBC have said no offence was intended.
Published: 20 Oct 2008
