Channel 4 FURY: Jon Snow’s ‘white people’ remark triggered most Ofcom complaints in 2019
CHANNEL 4 new anchorman Jon Snow’s “white people” comment to describe a pro-Brexit rally triggered more complaints than any other television programme in 2019 - and the sixth-highest total of the decade, broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has announced.
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And Tony Close, the organisation’s Director of Content Standards, said the vast majority of complaints received over the last ten years related either to news and current affairs programmes, or reality television. Mr Snow prompted widespread anger while covering the rally in Westminster on March 29, the day the UK was originally scheduled to leave the EU, during which he remarked he had “never seen so many white people in one place”.
His throwaway comment prompted 2,717 complaints suggesting it was racist and offensive, resulting in an Ofcom investigation which nevertheless concluded he had not breached television rules.
A spokesman said: “We recognise that comments made by the presenters in these programmes had the potential to cause offence to viewers and listeners.
“However, we concluded that both unscripted remarks came during live programmes which featured a broad range of views about Brexit.”
An episode of last year’s Celebrity Big Brother was the most complained-about TV show of the decade.
More than 25,000 people complained about the episode, on Channel Five, when ex-Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett alleged she had been assaulted by fellow housemate Ryan Thomas.
Pallett was heavily criticised for accusing soap star Thomas of punching her, a claim she later said was “massively wrong”.
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The episode accounted for around half of all complaints in 2018, making it by far the most complained-about programme of the decade.
An episode of Loose Women featuring Kim Woodburn following her stint on Celebrity Big Brother was second, with around 8,000 complaints.
Viewers criticised the way the How Clean Is Your House? star was treated by panellists.
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A programme called UKIP: The First 100 days, also broadcast on Channel 4 in 2015, prompted 6,187 people to complain
Mr Close said the volume of complaints received about a programme is “not necessarily a sign that broadcasting rules have been broken”.
He said: “For example, shows with large audiences often generate more complaints because more people are watching.
“And we don’t need to receive any complaints to step in if a programme breaks our rules.”
The “rise of social media” could have sparked more debate about reality shows and news coverage, he added.
“Overwhelmingly, the most contentious programmes of the 2010s were either reality shows - like Love Island, Big Brother and The X-Factor - or news and current affairs.
“While concerns grow around some online content, people expect particular standards from TV and radio shows.
“Quite rightly, they feel passionately about programmes and want to have their say.
This year, Ofcom found that its broadcasting rules were broken in 55 cases.