JO'S ACID TONGUE
BBC sparks outrage by refusing to sack Jo Brand for telling anti-Brexit protesters to hurl ACID at Nigel Farage
THE BBC today defied calls to dump left-wing comic Jo Brand after she suggested protesters should hurl acid at Nigel Farage rather than milkshakes.
Brand, 61, told Radio 4 show Heresy that yobs who attacked Brexit Party leader Farage with milkshakes were “pathetic”, adding: “Why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?”
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Farage called for a police inquiry. But despite a deluge of complaints the BBC insisted Brand’s remarks were “not intended to be taken seriously”.
The broadcaster was accused of hypocrisy after it defended comedian Jo Brand for suggesting protesters should throw acid rather than milkshake at right wing politicians such as Nigel Farage.
Critics said the BBC recently rushed to sack Radio 5 Live presenter Danny Baker for offensive behaviour — but refused to axe Brand because of her left wing views.
The BBC was inundated with complaints after Brand, 61, suggested on Radio 4 show Heresy that the yobs who hurled milkshakes at Brexit Party leader Farage were “pathetic.”
She told the audience: “Certain unpleasant characters are being thrown to the fore and they’re very, very easy to hate.
“And I’m kind of thinking, why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?”
As the audience laughed she added: “That’s just me. I’m not going to do it, it’s purely a fantasy. But I think milkshakes are pathetic, I honestly do.”
The remarks triggered an angry backlash from both politicians and the public.
BEEB BACKLASH
Farage called for Brand to be prosecuted, saying: “This is incitement to violence and the police need to act.”
Brendan Cox, whose Labour MP wife Jo Cox was murdered by a neo-Nazi fanatic in her constituency in June 2016, said: “I dislike Nigel Farage’s politics profoundly.
“But I don’t think throwing stuff at politicians you disagree with is a good idea. It normalises violence and intimidation and we should consistently stand against it.”
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Commons Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said: “She should apologise and withdraw the comment. Even if it is meant as a joke it is inciting others to carry out an act that is very serious.
“Milkshakes shouldn’t be thrown — but we are talking about a corrosive substance.”
Listeners also contacted the BBC to register their protests.
Judith Bowler said: “If Joe Public made such a suggestion they would be arrested.”
Steve Revill said: “Joking about throwing battery acid at politicians instead of milkshakes — how is this in any way acceptable?”
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage reads mean Twitter tweets from members of the public
HISTORY OF HYPOCRISY
One listener said: “The BBC went into overdrive when somebody called Remain Tory Anna Soubry a Nazi — yet when actual violence is advocated on one of their shows there’s not a peep.”
Another said: “This is an utterly appalling, evil, malicious thing to say. She was targeting Nigel Farage. This was an attack by the liberal elite on the Brexit movement.”
Others pointed out the “blatant hypocrisy” of both Brand and the BBC. In 2009 broadcaster Carol Thatcher, daughter of ex-Tory PM Margaret Thatcher, was sacked by the BBC after she was heard using the word “golliwog” off-air. Brand is said to have complained to BBC bosses about Thatcher at the time.
A listener said: “Brand was more than keen to jump on her solely because Carol's mother was Margaret Thatcher.”
Just weeks ago the BBC sacked veteran broadcaster Baker for tweeting an image of chimp and saying it was royal baby Archie — even though he swiftly deleted the picture and apologised.
But the BBC on Wednesday refused to condemn Brand.
It said: “Heresy is a long-running comedy programme where, as the title implies and as our listeners know, panellists often say things which are deliberately provocative but are not intended to be taken seriously.”
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom confirmed it had received 19 complaints since the show was went out on Tuesday.
At the end of the show host Victoria Coren Mitchell said she hoped Brand’s remarks had not caused offence.
And on Wednesday she went on Twitter to complain about Farage’s reaction to Brand’s outburst. She wrote: “Nigel! I’m genuinely disappointed. We don't agree on everything but I would totally have had you down as a free speech man. Especially when it comes to jokes.”
MPS' SAFETY FEARS
Brand’s remarks come amid growing security concerns for MPs who have been repeatedly targeted as tempers flare over Brexit.
Ms Soubry was jostled and heckled outside Westminster in January by a hate mob shouting “Nazi” and “traitor”. And at least 115 MPs have already written to Scotland Yard to complain about threats outside Parliament.
Retired Met Police detective chief inspector Mick Neville said officers should step in over Brand’s comments.
He added: “The police should deal with this by giving Jo Brand a warning about the potential impact of her words.
“She should also spend some time with acid attack victims and see the physical and psychological injuries they have suffered. The BBC was quick to sack Danny Baker for making an unacceptable joke following the birth of Harry and Meghan’s baby.
“Will they act in the same manner with Brand? She has arguably done far worse.”
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Brand has appeared on the BBC’s Have I Got News For You and fronted The Great British Bake-Off: Extra Slice as well as guesting on many other shows.
She is one of the BBC’s best-paid female comedians.
Brand was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.
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The Sun Says — Toxic Brand
IMAGINE the revulsion if a Tory “joked” about maiming Jeremy Corbyn with acid.
They would be shamed — and hounded out of their job by a Twitter mob.
When Jo Brand says it about politicians she dislikes, the BBC Radio audience guffaws and the Left thinks brave, funny Jo really stuck it to the bad men.
These puke-making double standards are given an unchallenged platform by our publicly funded yet blatantly partisan national broadcaster.
OAPs who will soon be forced to pay for it will be even more outraged today.
A Ukip candidate who made obnoxious rape “jokes” about a Labour MP was rightly vilified. So should Brand be.
Our politics is volatile enough without morons from the “kinder, gentler” Left fantasising about disfiguring opponents.
Stars who were axed
THE BBC defended Jo Brand’s right to make offensive remarks because they “were not to be taken seriously.”
But in previous cases it has swiftly axed those who have step out of line.
Danny Baker
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Russell Brand & Jonathan Ross
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Carol Thatcher
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Danny Baker interviewed after being sacked by BBC over 'racist' royal baby monkey picture
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