Frankie Boyle suing The Mirror

[The Spanish]

I really hope you haven't been on jury service...

i could think of nothing worse.

 

[00snook]

I'm not questioning the merits of whether it's funny or not. But being funny doesn't absolve all blame for anything. He's played with fire many, many times so one of these days he's going to get quite badly burnt. Seems his TV career is already going down the toilet anyhow.

Yeah but I guess its the nature of being the sort of comedian he is. A Michael McIntyre style comedian is extremely safe, will always appeal to TV and live audiences alike and as long as he keeps doing very obvious situational humour jokes then he will do well nb. I am not running McIntyre down, I love his comedy.

Frankie Boyle will always be more extreme, and if this hurts his TV career I doubt he cares.

I absolutely agree with you that being funny does not absolve you of blame, but in this case I do not believe he has been racist (from what I have read) and therefore he shouldn't be called one.

You can call him many things which would be absolutely true, but a racist is not one of them.

 

[Mellotron]

Frankie Boyle will always be more extreme, and if this hurts his TV career I doubt he cares.

If he "doesn't care", and I've heard him described previously as "fearless", why doesn't he do any Muslim jokes?

I do agree with you in that I don't think he is actually racist.

 

[Nibble]

I think he is spot on for suing The Mirror. There has to be some kind of recourse for people being falsely accused of something. Just because some of you don't like him doesn't mean he is fair game. Personally I cannot stand the ginger sweaty but I still think he is in the right on this one.

 

[Don Quixote]

How could he prove he isn't a racist anyway?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

How could he prove he isn't a racist anyway?

Do what Tweedy did and marry someone black

 

[Nibble]

How could he prove he isn't a racist anyway?

It's up to The Mirror to prove he is, as they made the accusation. The onus of proof does not lie with him in this case.

 

[00snook]

If he "doesn't care", and I've heard him described previously as "fearless", why doesn't he do any Muslim jokes?

I do agree with you in that I don't think he is actually racist.

A very interesting question that Mellotron.

Clearly Frankie Boyle is not as fearless as he says he is.

Tim Minchin does a very interesting bit about the Qu'ran as part of one of his shows, but he is the only comedian I have ever seen who goes anywhere near it. Many of them will have a pop at Christianity or Catholicism, and Eddie Izzard had a whole tour based around taking the micky out of Christianity, so why Islam seems to have escaped it in the mainstream I do not know.

The "does my bomb look big in this" on the Fast Show (I think) was an inspired bit of comedy. Funnily enough I cannot find a YouTube clip to support this though so I may be wrong, but I seem to remember it. And also that particular joke doesn't poke fun at Islam, as much as at any religion or organisation wearing burkas (spelling).

Back to the point though you have changed my mind and obviously Frankie Boyle does care about his TV career, otherwise the "fearless" comedian would let rip at Muslims as much as any other.

 

[Nibble]

Have you considered that he doesn't consider Muslims to be a fountain of comedy?

 

[JBizzle]

Ultimately as has been said, its not about if he's funny or not, its about if he is racist. The Mirror's article started with something like "Racist comedian Frankie Boyle..." and took a few words out of context to justify it.

If in context they are racist then he will lose his case and rightly so, if they are not, he will win.

His style of comedy courts controversy so its hardly a surprise that this has happened. Much like the GTA games, there are people who look for things to offend them and make a fuss. It'll be interesting to see the outcome of this.

 

[The Spanish]

Have you considered that he doesn't consider Muslims to be a fountain of comedy?

if this modern day hysteria, terror (in all senses) and paranoia isnt worth a brave comedian taking on, then I dont know what topic currently is. As protecting freedom of speech is often an implied part of an edgier comedians act (often just as an easy escape capsule should things go wrong, but still), then yes its one subject that should be broached probably more than any currently.

Chris Morris did it very very well and no one killed him. But then hes got proper bollocks unlike Frankie who is a flat track bully.

I dont see your point nibble it as a target for satire at the moment is indisputable. why say what you say, i dont see the motivation unless its just for a bit of liberal balance.

 

[Nibble]

I imagine he'll be offered settlement aout of court and I think he won't have the courage of his convictions, take the money and never metion it again

 

[8ace]

What exactly was the racialist joke

 

[Nibble]

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Clearly this is not anti Muslim but I think it shows he is not worried about mentioning them in teh context of terorism and in fact is mocking the kind of reationary idiots who are afraid of all turbans and beards.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

It's up to The Mirror to prove he is, as they made the accusation. The onus of proof does not lie with him in this case.

Exactly. Boyle should stroll this legally. From what I've read so far, all the Mirror lawyers have done so far is repeat some of his jokes. They may have some phenomenal evidence of a secret recording in which he does some racist activity...but I very much doubt it.

 

[The Spanish]

yep he is certainly not afraid to broach the subject but only if the butt of the jokes are 'ill informed' and frieghtened non muslims. playing to the gallery very safely. my hero.

 

[Nibble]

yep he is certainly not afraid to broach the subject but only if the butt of the jokes are 'ill informed' and frieghtened non muslims. playing to the gallery very safely. my hero.

As I say, don't find him hugely funny but you said he won't make jokes about Muslims and here he has.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

He stated that Jamie Oliver had Down's Syndrome without proof. The Mirror could just say they were joking, as apparently that absolves all blame immediately. I don't buy this "I'm joking" as a get out clause for ANYTHING. I agree with Ricky Gervais, your conscience shouldn't take a break when you walk onstage.

Like others, I also don't think Boyle is a racist, I do however think he's an arrogant twat who has played with fire far too many times. Always picks cheap and easy targets, can't help but notice he's never made these jokes about Muslims, but disabled children? Sure, fair game.

libel needs to "lower the reputation of the person in the minds of 'right thinking people'....whether or not down's syndrome applies to that i'm not sure.....accusations of being racist certainly do.....if oliver wishes to persue a libel case against boyle then that's his shot

for the record i don't like boyle one bit........as you alluded to his jokes about a disabled child (which i presume some people found HILARIOUS) weren't to my taste

 

[MJsGhost]

I went out with a girl who liked Frankie Boyle for a while. She was a stupid f***ing bitch.

(not for liking Frankie Boyle ...... although that would make her a stupid f***ing bitch ............ She was a stupid f***ing bitch ................did Jimmy Carr there for free)

he's crap and nasty and I would not be upset if he gets a bad cancer or (preferably AND) goes blind.

So one of the things you don't like about Frankie Boyle is the fact that he's nasty?

Bravo!

 

[The Spanish]

As I say, don't find him hugely funny but you said he won't make jokes about Muslims and here he has.

hes not making jokes about muslims though is he really.