Doug Stanhope is encouraging his adoring fanbase to contact the BBC to defend Richard Bacon. In trademark foul-mouthed style he rants against the “fuck-mouth” at the Down’s Syndrome Association who wrote Friday’s official statement, saying the person “is not fit to protect the retarded. Oh… and go fuck yourself in the head.”
He just doesn’t give a fuck, does he? In case you miss the point, he even says it: “I don’t give a fuck.” That’s his thing, not giving a fuck.
He offers this argument in defence of Bacon:
Imagine if Richard Bacon had actress Sasha Grey as a guest, someone who is known for her cross-over from pornography. He warns the audience over and over that some of her x-rated work would be upsetting. You race to your computer to watch, then blame Mr Bacon and implore folks to file complaints saying that Richard Bacon was “directing” you to do so?
For the comparison to work Bacon would tell his listeners: “Sasha Grey is here. Just a remarkable actress. If you haven’t seen her and want a flavour of what she’s like go to a search engine now and type “Sasha Grey Anal Cavity” [laughs] and get back to me.” I somehow doubt Bacon would feel comfortable about that, realising it might overstep a line or two at the BBC.
Here’s a more direct analogy. Stanhope describes his stuff as “flat out shock humour”. Imagine he’s got a shock routine, equal in depravity to the Palin one, only this time it’s about one of the Obama kids. On Stanhope’s terms it could be defended as a satire on politicians using their children in politics or something. For argument’s sake, let’s say it’s an expletive-filled violent pornographic fantasy revelling in the prospect of raping one of the young Obamas. Is that about on a par with fantasising about shooting Palin’s child in the head as it’s born? I don’t know, but we’re playing imagine so let’s imagine it is. Now, would Richard Bacon have said to listeners, “If you want a flavour of what he’s like, go to YouTube and type ‘Doug Stanhope Barack Obama'” knowing full well that’s what people would find? No, of course not. It’s the fact that Stanhope’s target was Palin’s child that made it OK to mention because hey, that shit’s cool and hip right there. Stuff about underage Obamas – man, that would be just sick.
Interestingly, if you do a YouTube search for “Doug Stanhope Barack Obama” it turns up a video which includes a clip of him discussing his choice for president in 2008. He says he’d like to vote libertarian but can’t bring himself to do so. His choice instead?
“Barack Obama’s my fucking dude. He’s fucking cool to watch, so why not? It’d fucking make us look better to the rest of the world when I go to play in fucking Norway next time or England or the UK. They won’t spit in my sandwich because they heard my accent and think I’m an asshole.”
For someone who doesn’t give a fuck he seems unduly worried what right-on Euroweenies think of him. Still, it’s one more reason for Richard Bacon to like him.
Oh, and before any Stanhope fans come on here and tell me I don’t “get” him – don’t bother. I do. So go fuck yourself in the head instead.
UPDATE 17.30. Apology to the DSA from BBC 5 Live and Richard Bacon:
The Down’s Syndrome Association has today received and accepted a full apology from Radio 5 Live and Broadcaster Richard Bacon following his show on Thursday 4th August. The official statement and letter are printed below.
Statement on behalf of 5 live:
“During a live interview on Thursday 4th August with American comedian Doug Stanhope, Richard Bacon made an unscripted comment referencing an online clip of one of his guest’s stand-up performances.
“Richard has apologised for referring his listeners to the video of his guest. At no stage did he or does he condone the offensive material in that sketch, none of which was broadcast on 5 live. It was still unacceptable to highlight the clip and he fully accepts that it was inappropriate. It falls below the standards our audience expects from us and both he and 5 live apologise unreservedly for any offence caused.”
Letter from Richard Bacon:
I am writing to apologise for any offence caused by my live interview with the American comedian, Doug Stanhope, on the 5 live radio show on Thursday 4 August.
In order to illustrate the comedic style of Stanhope’s stand-up performances, I referenced available You Tube clips. This was a poor recommendation and I whole heartedly accept that this reference was inappropriate because of the subject matter. I full well understand my responsibilities as a broadcaster and such a reference fell below the standards I set myself personally in my broadcasting.
I am sorry if the reference has caused offence to anyone in anyway. I shouldn’t have done it.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Bacon
Btw stu me old mate. Is you avatar a little boy because of your intellectual level or just your sexual preference
You call me a cock. Check i have a bit of a cock. As for the avatar, am to stupid to change it and on that note i must be a bit thick. You think all low IQ levels should be shot dead or give them shock treatment to get there brain going a bit to be able to understand?
Shame you dont like Homos Paddy, here i was thinking i may have had a chance with you.
How low can you go Paddy?
Nothing against friends of Dorothy but for me it’s an exit not an entrance.
Without our homosexual friends who would serve you those tiny tubes of pringles on your way to your Hols.
Don’t want you shot,that would make me as big of a dick as your mate Stanhope.
Secondly I was positing the idea that you were non too bright considering your defense of a man who thinks downs is a fair subject for ridicule. Either you are a little dim or a complete bastard. And as I don’t know you I kindly assumed you were just stupid
so assumptions all round then! fuck fact make shit up!!! in true bb style.
are you jewish homo stuart??
i,m afro homo jewish!!
doug stanhope = very bad man!
Thats so kind of you Paddy to call me stupid. Just for you i changed my avatar. I think Stanhope is a funny guy and this one clip that EVERYBODY is going on about did i ever say it was funny or argree on what he said? Carry on with your judgement Paddy and stop calling people stupid it makes me think less of you.
c g Am a muslim left wing gay guy with a sprinkle of stupid
I can’t make out what that avatar image is. Maybe it’s just as well, though.
allah rules
Stuey baby,
Firstly
I am not anti Stanhope per se.
I don’t know the man, have never met him and can’t fully judge.
However his routine about the execution of a child with downs is sick.
I don’t care if you think Palin is the spawn of Satan he child does not deserve this sought of verbal abuse. It’s sick in the extreme and although sometimes grotesque humour has a place targeting an innocent in this way is totally out of order.
For many years downs kids have been discriminated against. The use of the word mong or mongol was commonplace when I was a child and I hope those days are gone.
They do not ask to be different, yet your hero seems to feel it is fair game to take the piss.
Nazis held similar views to the mentally handicapped and actually practiced the eugenics Stanhope suggests as a joke. That’s what makes his pathetic desperate sketch ten times worse.
You have come on the site to defend him, well do so. I don’t attack him just his sick unwarranted rant.
I also attack auntie and the hypocritical left wing mmeeejar. Bacons apology was hollow. He lied about recommending the sketch and only apologised when forced to by the beeb damage limitation department. Like Pravda you have to read between the lines to get the true meaning and the reply from bacon was basically two fingers.
Bacon is a tosser.
But you came on to put your point. Tell me what I should tell my cousin, who has downs, tell me what I should say to him that describes how funny Stanhope was being in his piece.
Tell me what I should tell him when he asks why they want the downs child dead.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/comment/guest-commentary/doug-stanhope-on-offensive-comedy-1.1083012
Heres Doug take on it.
You know what to tell your cousin? Nothing tell him nothing you would have never had none or heard that joke from Doug unless that Twat bacon told you to look it up. There are lots of stand up in this world who make over the edge Jokes just look what Sarah Silverman said, this is perfect way to explain
I could show you many many Stand up comedians which would shock you.
No one on this planet wants to shoot anybody unless your a sick bastard. For me its an escape from this shitty world we live in. Its comedy , for you it maybe sick but i find people like Palin sick for being a life member of a gun club NRA and anti abortion including in cases of rape and incest. That to me is sick. I do my own stuff in this world and i know its better than most people will do in a lifetime to help others. I am glad you replyed, i will agree that Bacon is and always has been a twat. I just hate the fact the people start slagging off others who know nothing about but only do so because someone you dont like said he was good. Thats what happens to most people they hate something and they get lost in it and dont see the bigger picture and just think negative all the time. If i was you i would move on from this site and use your intelligence for better causes. Also which you all ready know and to most on this site just because they dont agree with you it does not mean they are wrong or stupid you always need two sides of a story..
I miss my spell checker….
You need more than a spelling checker to make sense of that piece of strangled prose. A translator and an editor would be required as well. Is that a diatribe from hero of comedy, Stanhope or is some of it your own distinguished prose?
Could you translate this into English please?
Nothing tell him nothing you would have never had none or heard that joke from Doug unless that Twat bacon told you to look it up.
Would your hero really be saying such nasty things about his luvvy pal Bacon?
Surely not.
And Sarah Palin is sick for being opposed to abortion and belonging to a gun club? My, oh my but that is such a weak defence of his sick attack on Sarah Palin and her disabled child that it barely counts as even an attempt.
And the clip…I listened to for 3 – 4 minutes of wittering, wondering when if ever, they were going to get to the point. It was beyond tedium and beyond endurance. Is that the idea of these unfunny people: to bore people with pointless prolixity until they are driven to laugh out of embarrassment or desperation?
Still with the school kid put downs.. Hats off to you sir you are by far the funnest guy here..
I will make one thing clear Sarah Palin is a idiot. A puppet who would just stand there waiting on someone telling her what to do. Yeah perfect for the money men to to tell her what they want and what to do…
If that’s addressed to me, I was trying to make sense of what you posted and to be honest, it was a confusing mess. I didn’t find it fun at all. You could at least have tried to clarify it. Why don’t you?
You would appear also to be unaware that Sarah Palin has a track record as a successful Governor of a State. That’s an accomplishment that relatively few can claim. What about that, eh?
Tell me, what do you think of Obama?
you would have never had none or heard that joke from Doug unless that Twat bacon told you to look it up.
Hey! We’re back to the actual point at last!
Sorry to use edits from his article but they help illustrate where he’s dead wrong
‘honestly, the person who should be taking the brunt of all this is the woman who complained’
‘People such as Mrs Smith like to wear their hardships like a crown of thorns. They define themselves by their misfortunes because they can get sympathy from them. I was a victim of this or a survivor of that. They use their trials and tribulations in place of unique personality traits’
Bollocks .
There speaks a man who has never experienced the kind of hardship he sites.
The parents don’t choose to have a downs kid.
They don’t choose to have someone they love, their baby, stared at by a insensitive society. They don’t wear the disease as a badge the just love their kid.
People do you know.
So when some twat takes the piss it hurts more.because the comedian is treating their child like some nazi style ‘under menchen’. Some how the disease they have is fair game. The mother mentioned in the article didn’t choose to be upset, she just was.
I agree people don’t have a right to not be upset but picking on dialled kids is a lowlife kind of target.
Sure attack the hypocrisy of politicians but don’t use innocent targets as some sought of easy targets it’s just cheap and sick.
You seem are reasonable bloke. Before judging people here , and let’s be honest you started this ‘spat’ ask yourself are you defending the indefensible.
If you hate plains anti abortion stance or her need to shoot the odd moose attack her. Having a go at her kid is a cheap shot which is below the belt and looses any sympathy people might have had with your argument.
For the record I am anti abortion so agree with Palins stance but I respect your right to have an opposing view. As or the gun thing it’s a bit of a red herring. Too much time is spent on Palin and not enough time is spent on the corrupt scum on both sides of the house who get away with syphoning money needed for important things for our society into their sweaty little pockets.
In conclusion, I called you stupid because defending heartless bullies as being artistic or cutting edge is a bit stupid. No laugh is worth reinforcing negative stereo types, that’s why N jokes aren’t acceptable in the mainstream except in the context of eddy murphy where he is critiquing his society.he has a right, he is black. As long as it’s not in some unle Tom way.
I digress
You came on here to put your two peneth as you have a right to do. I replied as is my right. I won’t agree with you as regards Stanhope. I think he grossly over stepped the Mark. I don’t agree with you about abortion. My degree was in cellular biology and my view is there is no point where an embryo/zygote/feotus isn’t a separate human and therefore, as long as no life is threatened by the birth then that separate human deserves protection like any other.
I have reached my forty six years knowing I am not going to persuade you of my view but I hold it and as above have a right to it.
Before judging us all with your instant appraisal take the time to read the site.
All of us who contribute here just want a pluralistic voice on our national station. We don’t want your voice shouted down just ours heard.
Thank you for reading this long mind dump and return at any time. A good well structured debate improves understandind
So you think that a rape victim who by LAW must have that child.
Dont forget Doug is only doing comedy not one person in that room wishes what he said to happen but he has the right to say it.
Taking away the right to have abortion you open the flood gates to many unwanted kids which is more sicker than any stand up making jokes about it.
There are many kids out there that need homes lets keep that number low.
Huge waiting list for adoptions yet low adoption rates due to red tape and pc.
True, rape is a difficult one, but life is life. Would your life be worth less if your father raped your mother. You are not to blame. The child carries no guilt.
It is truely a difficult circumstance but exceptions shouldn’t preclude law.
Did he tell the joke for a laugh purely, then high price for low return as that sought of degrading discourse reduces everyones lives.
Did he tell it for political reasons, if so how does it help his cause apart from the fascist tactic of dehumanising your victims.
Did he tell it to impress and make him feel smug in front of a democrat leaning audience, then as above, the returns were minuscule compared to the negatives.
To degrade innocents is cheap. To do it for a laugh is just sad. Downs kids have lives too. You say your gay, well would it be right to make jokes about forcing you to wear a pink triangle , or maybe elton and David’s baby should be beaten to a pulp.
If a right winger talked about shooting obamas kids would that be ok by you?
Stu, are you Scott in disguise?
Oh and i forgot guns.
Guns are for protection?
No there made for killing.
Guns exist, you can’t uninvent them.
Ask a Bosnian who had to witness the gang-rape of his wife or daughter whether he would have liked a gun.
The gun question is a complicated one and there is no black and White only grey.
They banned hand guns in th uk and our Olympic handgun team has to train in France and yet gun crime has gone up.
True I would rather a world without guns because as you say they are killing machines but there are two sides to every story and in the real world hit happens.
I don’t own a gun but my neighbours have guns for hunting. If some bastard was harming my family I would have no hesitation of going and getting one of the shot guns and shooting them.
It’s easy to say an eye for an eye sends the whole world blind but much harder when it’s your family you want to protect.
I think Doug sais it best when he said:
‘You are a cabal of cowards and self-important dim-wits and the authorities who you run to for muscle should be the same people that deem you unfit to care for those you purport to be defending.’
Well said Doug.
Yawn
Sorry ive been away Paddy to reply quicker. I will thank you for giving me your side without making childish remarks. I guess we could go on and on but we both have our views. I had a little peak at this site and still dont understand why you are here. Am not getting into that to much either! All i can say is when i see Fox news with the likes of Glenn Beck and Bill O’reilly i have nothing to worry about with the BBC! Anyone with a brain will use the internet for there news. There better things to do out there than pick holes in the BBC.