Singer/actor, Harry Connick Jr. was asked to be a guest judge on the Aussie variety TV show Hey Hey It's Saturday and was shocked when a group of Jackson 5 impersonators, called the Jackson Jive, appeared on stage in complete blackface! Connick gave the group a zero rating for their performance and was booed by the audience, later, he gives everyone a good talking to about why blackface is so wrong. Believe it or not the group says it was meant to be a tribute to Michael Jackson! It reeks with racism from start to finish. On air, Connick says, "If I knew that was going to be a part of the show, I definitely wouldn't have done it." This incident has created controversy in Australia, especially on talk radio, where listeners feel that Connick was over-reacting!Bravo to Harry for making a public stand against racist imagery!
Watch the video below.
Thanks, Simon from Melbourne!
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16 comments:
I could manage 1:27 of the video.
The whole performance is cringe-inducing!
- QTC
grow up. the whole thing was about as racist as robert downey jr in tropic thunder
The role played by actor Robert Downey jr in Tropic Thunder and the Harry Connick Jr blackface controversy are not the same thing.
- QTC
Why not?
If you were going to impersonate elvis would you wear the greased back black hair and the white jump suit? of course...
so why not make yourself look like the jackson five did when impersonating them
people need to realise the difference between humour and insult
why not make yourself look like the jackson five did when impersonating them
people need to realise the difference between humour and insult
What--you think the Jackson 5 really looked like that?
The historical reference of Blackface is completely racist. Learn your history people.
Harry is a class act.
That other act, on the other hand, was pathetic. And the female judge said the choreography and singing was great!? A kindergarten Christmas pageant has more talent.
I doubt they were aware it was so controversial in the USA and meant to cause any offense. I guess they won't do that again.
If you don't think this racist you don't understand the history of blackface performing and mistral shows that started in the US. Furthermore, if these doctors had done this in the US, they'd have to practice in Australia because no American hospital would hire them and few patients would agree to see them.
Chris, Los Angeles, CA
Hey i think they should be fired because they are stupid for doing that skit than they should be sued...
RE: "grow up. the whole thing was about as racist as robert downey jr in tropic thunder"
That's exactly why the character in Tropic Thunder is so ludicrous. He's so self-absorbed with the notion that his portrayal will earn him accolades, that he is completely oblivious as to how outrageously insensitive it is.
RE: "grow up. the whole thing was about as racist as robert downey jr in tropic thunder"
That's exactly why the character in Tropic Thunder is so ludicrous. The character is so self-absorbed with the notion that his portrayal will earn him accolades, that he is completely oblivious as to how outrageously insensitive it is.
The show was a 2 part "reunion special" for a long running Australian institution that ran for 27 years. It was not slick American Idol style tv. It was not racist. HC Jr missed the point entirely.
I've been to Australia, although they were very kind to me, they were racest as hell.
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