Chris Moyles - Will Young Joke

[Edge]

Chris Moyles faces a talking to from his BBC bosses after cracking jokes about Auschwitz concentration camp and gay singer Will Young.

The 34-year-old Radio 1 DJ told listeners on his breakfast show that he had gone to film in Ireland as part of research into his family history for the BBC1 series Who Do You Think You Are?.

He said: "Unlike a lot of the Who Do You Think You Are? shows I didn't go to Auschwitz ... pretty much everybody goes there, whether or not they're Jewish... they always kind of end up there, you know, if they just pass through on their way to Florida or something."

He also joked about Will, celebrating the singer's birthday by singing to the tune of his song Evergreen in a camp voice. He warbled: "It's my birthday, gonna wear my new dress tonight."

A spokeswoman for the BBC said no complaints had been received about the Auschwitz joke but there had been five complaints about the gag cracked at pop star Will's expense.

She said: "Anyone who listens to the Chris Moyles Show will know he has an irreverent style.

"However, we regret that on this occasion his comments were misjudged and we are speaking to Chris and his team about them

[Anne-Marie]

I heard the Will Young 'joke' and being honest i wasn't impressed at all. I usually get Chris's sense of humour and laugh at previous things he has said about Will but this time i think he went a step too far.

[sandra]

I've hated every single one of the times Moyles has had Will on the show, he's always gone too far in the guise of 'not meaning it, 'cos we're friends' type thing. He's used Will, making homphobic jokes at Will's expense, calling him 'she' and I think Will saw through him long ago and ended the contact between them.
He's a nasty bit of work is Moyles, and despised by quite a few others in the meida I think.

[Chris]

Moyles won't be sacked. Isn't he the "saviour of Radio 1"?

[Deleted]

It won't turn into a Ross/Brand-type scandal because that only took of due to the Daily Mail's involvement and we all know how they feel about the gays.

[Toy Toy's Boy]

Chris Moyles is a turd. End of.

[fridayfan]

I don't think it was a Joke, it was horrible. Terrible example to the people who should be his core audience.

[dancer4]

Chris Moyles.. In my opinion has got away with his nasty/bigoted comments for too long..(not only about Will) but I doubt anything will be done other then the "Paltry" apology we have already seen.. Only time will tell... I don't listen to Radio one , nor will I in the future.

Dot xx

[sweetwilliamfan]

posted by Mary.

Chris Moyles: he's a controversialist



Perhaps the continued presence of Chris Moyles at breakfast on Radio One is as some sort of poison pill to discourage anyone from trying to take over the network as a commercial offering.

After all, who would want to deal with the disciplinary problems unless they had to?

The funny thing is, for all the fuss over his "Auschwitz joke", it wasn't actually that offensive - it wasn't a joke about Auschwitz, it was more a poke at celebrities on Who Do You Think You Are trying to add gravitas to their image through the suffering of their forebears.

The Will Young "gag", on the other hand, was dodgy:
He also joked about Will, celebrating the singer's birthday by singing to the tune of his song Evergreen in a camp voice. He warbled: "It's my birthday, gonna wear my new dress tonight."

Ha ha, gay men are funny.

One observation: while the UK press has focused on the Auschwitz joke, what actually upset the public?
A spokeswoman for the BBC said no complaints had been received about the Auschwitz joke but there had been five complaints about the gag cracked at pop star Will's expense.

Perhaps Moyles' audience is more sophisticated than writers for the Daily Telegraph.

They were very quick to remove the listen again feature. i hope he gets his.

[o]

What's wrong with the auschwitz joke, as has been said, he's poking fun at people on that show. But yes the Will stuff sounds like a step too far, but it's what you expect and seems acceptable on radio 1 these days. Anyway, he has a gay producer, so he cant be homophobic can he?

[fridayfan]

Jan 27, 2009 14:12:03 GMT 1 o said:

What's wrong with the auschwitz joke, as has been said, he's poking fun at people on that show. But yes the Will stuff sounds like a step too far, but it's what you expect and seems acceptable on radio 1 these days. Anyway, he has a gay producer, so he cant be homophobic can he?

In short, yes - I can't say I've ever heard him treat Aled with any respect either.

[discopolis]

He's surely not homophobic, he's just really blokey with an offensive sense of humour. He's been doing the show for years, people know that by now and if they don't like it, they shouldn't listen.

Why are people outraged by every little thing these days. I'm sure Will Young couldn't give a rats a*s about it, he probably has a sense of humour.

[Doctor Blind]

I am so offended by people getting offended that I'm never going to listen to another persons opinion ever again.

Seriously though, Discopolis is right - Chris can be an idiot at times, but I'm sure it wasn't malicious - stop being so sensitive.

[getty]

I'm sure Will does have a great sense of humour and so do I, but it's wearing a bit thin lately and it does seem to have been "open season" on Will for the past couple of years now on Radio1, Scott Mills also makes nasty digs on his show, while Chris Moyles mainly jokes about Will's sexuality. Maybe he's snubbed them both and it's their way of getting back at him? They don't playlist Will on radio1 anymore, but they both mention him often, just to take the p*ss out of him, I don't think Chris should be making fun of any gay man on national radio by using extreme stereotype comments, like calling them "she" and insinuating they talk in a high pitched voice and wear dresses etc. He wouldn't get away with cracking stereotype jokes about a black man would he?

[ManicKangaroo]

Chris Moyles has been censured by Ofcom for condoning negative stereotypes of gay people, after the DJ made what the media regulator ruled were derogatory comments about Will Young on his BBC Radio 1 breakfast show.

Moyles changed the lyrics of two of Young's songs, Evergreen and Leave Right Now, and sang them in "an effeminate and high-pitched voice", according to Ofcom.

The Radio 1 DJ sang the spoof lyrics on his breakfast show on Young's birthday, 20 January. They included the words: "It's my birthday today, gonna wear my new dress tonight. And I smell nice. I've had a shower and I've shaved my legs. Going out later, might go to Nobu for dinner. Oooh Will Young here, mmmh. I'm here, it's Will's birthday and as the years go by I get more very gay."

Other spoof lyrics inserted by Moyles included: "When you saw me years ago you didn't know, but now I'm the gayest fella you probably know. Mmm, I like to wear a silly hat, I get camper by the hour, oh would you look at the muck in here. I'm Will Young and I'm gay."

In its defence, the BBC said Young was not being ridiculed because of his sexuality, adding that Moyles' remarks were not intended to be hostile or derogatory.

However, Ofcom, in its ruling published today, said Moyles's language "could have reasonably been interpreted by listeners as promoting and condoning certain negative stereotypes based on sexual orientation".

"Although no doubt intended to be humorous, comments such as these and the manner in which they were delivered, in Ofcom's view, could reasonably have been perceived as hostile and pejorative," the regulator added.

"In Ofcom's view, the broadcast of this language by Chris Moyles, taking account of both the tone and words, had the potential to cause considerable offence."

The regulator added: "Such material runs the risk of being imitated by children, for instance in the playground, causing unnecessary distress."

Ofcom received eight complaints from listeners who said Moyles's spoof lyrics were offensive and derogatory towards the gay community.

The BBC acknowledged that the comments had been misjudged and unacceptable, adding that Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt had spoken to Moyles and his production team about the matter. Parfitt has also written to Moyles's agent to make clear the material was unacceptable, the corporation said.

But the BBC, in its response to Ofcom, denied that Young was ridiculed because of his sexuality.

"[The BBC] said regular listeners to the programme will have been aware that Will Young has been a guest on the show a number of times. The audience in general would have been clear that such remarks were not intended to be taken as hostile or derogatory," Ofcom said today in its ruling.

Ofcom added that it recognised that Moyles's show was "well known for its irreverent style and humour", but said in its opinion his comments were "clearly based on the singer's sexuality and therefore capable of giving offence".

[Paddy]

I heard this, and tbh, they played the music before he sang and he was almost pitch perfect, Chris is actually rather a good vocalist, and he was just being himself.

If you don't like him go listen to Wogan who seems to get away with some jokes himself.

And tbh, a radio presenter has to try the boundaries, otherwise they are dull. And he has the utmost care and respect for all people off air.
Also, C4 have just had an advert for his neew quiz show...he is in demand.

[fridayfan]

Mar 23, 2009 20:27:04 GMT 1 Paddy said:

I heard this, and tbh, they played the music before he sang and he was almost pitch perfect, Chris is actually rather a good vocalist, and he was just being himself.

If you don't like him go listen to Wogan who seems to get away with some jokes himself.

And tbh, a radio presenter has to try the boundaries, otherwise they are dull. And he has the utmost care and respect for all people off air.
Also, C4 have just had an advert for his neew quiz show...he is in demand.

Dear me - where do I start disagreeing with you? Sounds like as long as he can sing in tune he can do anything in your eyes. C4 are probably just trying to get people to watch as clearly his Radio 1 listeners arent bothering.

[Paddy]

Never said I like him cos of that reason. Just pointing that out.

Moyles is like Clarkson, people either like him or hate him, I like both of them, but the way these guys are is how I am brought up, as my mother comes from the same area, so I am fully used to it.

You take everything these guys say with a pinch of salt and don't dwell on it.
It's light entertainment and to be heard and laughed at and forgotten about.

[fridayfan]

Mar 23, 2009 21:30:57 GMT 1 Paddy said:

Never said I like him cos of that reason. Just pointing that out.

Moyles is like Clarkson, people either like him or hate him, I like both of them, but the way these guys are is how I am brought up, as my mother comes from the same area, so I am fully used to it.

You take everything these guys say with a pinch of salt and don't dwell on it.
It's light entertainment and to be heard and laughed at and forgotten about.

Or homophobic bigoted rubbish depending on your moral compass.. Ofcom was absolutely right to draw a line in the sand as he went far too far.

[Paddy]

Then again, only 8 complaints were filed.

There are boundaries, and in life people push them. Live with it.