Comments

Comment 1 | From: NB | Date: 5 October 2009, 23:16

The guy should be sacked completely. Sadly the BBC have to play the game of pleasing the tabloids and after the Carol Thatcher sacking won't want to have Murdochs attack dogs on their backs.

Comment 2 | From: dave | Date: 5 October 2009, 23:23

nick lowles, don't waste your time on these internet people. the majority of them will be EDL trollers (cue umpteen comments from people saying they are not internet trollers!)and the rest need to get out more. Do yourself a favour and turn the comments off. you must have better things to so than excuse yourself from them. as for all you trollers, just because you pepper the internet with your nonsense doesn't make it anymore 'real'. Get back to Stormfront or wherever you usually lurk. It's pathetic, seriously. best wishes, dave

Comment 3 | From: John | Date: 6 October 2009, 13:23

Anton Du Beke should go. Its the context of the term. Everyone knows its not right and its offensive and Du Beke as a well travelled supposedly intelligent dancer should know this. Carol Thatcher and Jade Goody were idiots, this guy is suppose to be a modern, worldly man. If he was caught with a prostitute or doing drugs he would be gone. So why not this? I hate the arguement of ....well we are called brits.....its not the syntax or mechanics, its the meaning in behind it...the context.

Comment 4 | From: Yogi | Date: 6 October 2009, 14:22

Why don't you go and do something usefull instead of nit picking. Anton said it was said in jest and apolgised which was accepted by Laila so mind your own bisiness. People like you need a hobby

Comment 5 | From: saira | Date: 6 October 2009, 15:06

Bravo ! Nick Knoles I salute you ! Thank God for some one with the cultivated intelligence to understand the historical significance of the term "PAKI" it is steeped in bigotry, inequlaity and mindless violence . The fact that a family dance show allows this kind of vernacular to be aired so publicly and then refuses to take punitive action against the perpitator of it is shameful . That Laila Rouass has to two step with someone who views her with such utter disrespect is sleazy and makes du becks presence on the show untenable . How many people would he jokingly refer to as "nigger" or "honkie" or "wop" still it's just good ol family fun right BBC? Hang your heads in shame rock against racism, the ANti Nazi league people like Joe Strummer et al fought for equality and against those who saw only with one colour . If the BBC don't take affirmative action they will be seen as civil service organisation who condone racist language in the work place . Rock and rebellion well done Nick keep stirring

Comment 6 | From: Glenn Davies | Date: 6 October 2009, 17:20

This is a difficult one, but Du Beke has appologised and it has been accepted. I don't see the man as a 'de facto' racist, unlike a flat mate who years ago said 'What's that Paki doing sat with them?!' when he saw an Asian fella in the company of white friends. As much as the term is offensive, it's all about the intent behind it that can be different, from mild banter to outright hatred - I see it as the latter case when this 'mate' was unappologetic for his ignorant views on non-whites. We would not be surprised if Messers Griffin, Darby, and Barnbrook use the term, but would they use the term in public?! Perhaps not, but they would cleverly twist all sorts of fancy words to the same effect without sounding directly offensive. I wonder if the fuss over some incidents like this play into the hands of the BNP and their bedfellows, probably promting them to write some elloquent soundbite on their blogs and websites.

Comment 7 | From: Rich | Date: 6 October 2009, 19:12

You know I can't speak for most englishmen/women but I would say this being in the states we have afro-americans, irish-americans, isalm-americans, but no anglo- or euor-americans and certainly no plain americans. When people put racial tags on themselves it sets a standard of bigotry, which they call heritage and we call anit-governmental action. All people all colors all nations have contributed to all the world, when religions like Islam, Christianity, and even Athiesm claim that their membership and belief makes them superior as people they spread the plague of hatred worldwide. I believe as a Christian if Jesus were here today he'd have a "Not in my name" written on his hand with all the others, Love to all and to Jan Johnston/PVD, keep up the good music and the good work, hate can only stop when people stop tagging themselves and creating false pretenses of superiority, love can only exist where there is honesty.

Comment 8 | From: Patsy Kane | Date: 6 October 2009, 20:09

Both her parents are actually Moroccan. Miss Rouass has repeatedly requested that the issue be dropped. Her and Anton continue to work hard together to do well on Strictly. She has accepted it was used in jest, perhaps in bad taste, - surely the 'acid test' is the persons reaction. Miss Rouass does not have a problem. Organisations like Hope Not Hate should not jump on the band and try and sensationlise the issue. Anton himself is of foreign extraction and is one of the most popular dancers on Strictly Come Dancing - many would like him to replace the legend that is Bruce Forsyth one day.

Comment 9 | From: Miss Truffle | Date: 9 October 2009, 15:37

I notice that everyone is rushing around saying well actually, Ms. Rouass is "morrocan" as if being someone from Pakistan is shameful !The fact that so many people are saying this infers that there is something wrong/ unpopular/ not cool about being from Pakistan. If only the greater public and others were aware of what Pakistani people actually look like ! Ms. Rouass is actually darker skinned than most Pakistani people who generally have fairer skin tones. Calling someone a "PAKI" in modern England is so regressive and unpleasant . No -one can recall being called a "PAKI" in jest or the word having a "South Park" vibe about it . The word "PAKI" is associated with Neo Nazis and was always used as "put down" .It was a way of deliberately bullying someone based solely on the colour of their skin. The reason, I think, why Laila has asked for it to be dropped is that she is in a difficult position and doesn't want to be seen as an agitator or someone dropping the "race card". I also note that the media while skirking away from using the term "nigger" not the reclaimed version but the racist term are quite happy to throw the word "PAKI" around . I think it is an uncomfortable phrase and associcated with decades of "PAKI BASHING" and racist vitriol . Hope Not Hate are not "jumping on any band wagon" they are standing up for what is right and good and true . Justice is blind to skin colour and cultural origin remember this term is a fave of the BNP and extreme right wing groups if you allow this kind of racist langauge to infiltrate the wider public minorities won't even feel confident reacting to what is a grossly insulting term. The historical connontations of the term can't be ignored hence the race riots of the 70s and early 80's. Hope not hate it's right there in the title or as Robert Nestor Marley use to say : "until the colour of man's skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes I say War......." So Hope not hate are right to care and right to speak out it gives you a blue bird feeling right there in your soul Peace and sunshine yeah Clash City Rockers !

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