BBC finally apologizes for demeaning Pinays
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/24/2008 5:22 PM
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The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has finally issued its apology for the demeaning portrayal of Filipino women in an episode of its comedy series “Harry and Paul”.
BBC Director General Mark Thompson sent a letter of apology to Philippine Ambassador Edgardo Espiritu for the offense the episode has created
In the letter dated October 10, 2008, which was received 10 days later by the Philippine embassy, Thompson conveyed his “sincere apologies, on behalf of BBC, for the offense that this program caused you”.
Espiritu earlier wrote to BBC Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons last October 3, 2008 expressing his dismay over an episode of Harry and Paul, initially shown on BBC on September 26 and replayed on BBC 2 three days later.
The sketch made an insulting reference to Filipino women, portraying them in a dual role as domestic workers and sex toys of their British employers.
The ambassador also wrote a similar letter to the BBC Complaints Centre, copy furnished Mr. Mark Pritchard, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group -Philippines and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Sir Trevor Phillips, head of the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission; the Office of Communications (OFCOM|), the independent regulator of the UK communications industries; Sir Christopher Meyer KCMG, head of the UK Press Complaints Commission; London Mayor Boris Johnson; and the Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman MP, UK Secretary of State for Women and Equality.
The British sketch angered some members of the Filipino community in the United Kingdom, who then led an online petition against BBC and the show’s producer, Tiger Aspect Production. The online petition gathered more than 2,000 supporters within three days.
Aside from the petition, the Filipino community and its supporters held a simultaneous silent vigil on October 17 in front of the BBC Office in White City, and Tiger Aspect Productions in Soho in central London.
It can be recalled that Tiger Aspect Productions Chief Executive Andrew Zane, issued an apology before members of the Filipino community who joined the Soho vigil.
"We're sorry to anyone who was in any way offended by the program. This certainly was not our intention," Zane said.
