Spat on Radio 4
Spat on Radio 4 between Joan Rivers and Darcus Howe, moderated by Libby Purves.
What amuses me is imagining all the R4 listeners as this spat erupts…
Darcus Howe: … since black offends Joan.
Joan Rivers: Wait. Just stop right now. Black does not offend me. How dare you. How dare you say that. Black offends me? You know nothing about me. How dare you.
Howe: The use of the term black offends you.
Rivers: The use of the term black offends me? Where the hell are you coming from? You have got such a chip on your shoulder. I don’t give a damn if you’re black or white. I couldn’t care less. It’s what the person is. Don’t you dare call me a racist. I don’t know you. I want an apology.
Libby: Purves I don’t think it was personal, Joan.
Rivers: Oh, I think it was, when someone says the term black offends Joan. I will not sit here and be told that. How dare you say that.
Howe: I think this is a language problem.
Rivers: No, I don’t. I think it’s a problem in your stupid head. You had a child, you left them, your wife said you weren’t there, you married a woman, you deserted her, now your son comes back and he has problems. Where were you when he was growing up until he was eight years old?
[...]
Howe: Normally I wouldn’t ever meet you in my life.
Rivers: No, nor would I choose to meet you.
Howe: No, she is not a racist.
Rivers: Thank you. Now please continue about your stupid film.
Purves: Can we talk about your tour Joan?
Rivers: I’ll talk about anything you want.
Howe: I don’t think you brought me here to be insulted.
Rivers: Nor was I brought here to be insulted by someone and to be called a racist.
Purves: I think we have to move on to Joan.
Rivers: Please go to Andrea because I’m so upset.
Purves: Andrea, shall we talk about plant photography while Joan and Darcus glare at each other?
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One Response to “Spat on Radio 4”
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About me
I'm a playwright and investment analyst. I have a broad range of interests: food, gardening, innovation & intellectual property, sustainability, architecture & design, writing and the arts. I sit on the board of Talawa Theatre Company and advise a CIS investment trust on socially responsible investments.
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Recent Work
Recent plays include, for theatre: Nakamitsu, Yellow Gentlemen, Lost in Peru, Lemon Love. For radio: Places in Between (R4), Patent Breaking Life Saving (WS).
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Nakamitsu
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Yellow Gentlemen
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It sounds to me like Howe was simply saying that the word “black” was not Joan’s preferred word to describe someone non-white, but she misinterpreted it as Howe saying she was offended by black people. It shows people’s hypersensitivity to the issue, and that the fact that people are so too PC, that they can’t even have a sensible discussion.
Mind you, I didn’t hear the programme.