Jokes about LiLo, Sam on BBC show ‘reinforced lesbian stereotypes’

LONDON - The jokes cracked on Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson’s relationship by DJ Spoony and porn actor Ron Jeremy in the show ‘The Most Annoying People of 2008′ breached guidelines and reinforced stereotypes about lesbians, according to the BBC Trust.

The Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee (ESC) admitted that the BBC Three’s show reinforced negative stereotypes of lesbians after a complaint came about the second programme in the two-part series.

The show, which was aired on December 29 last year, also breached the BBC’s editorial guidelines on harm and offence and portrayal.

DJ Spoony had said on the show: “Let the munters and you know the mingers get each other, that’s cool, see no one really wants them ones, but they’re hot and fit d’ya know what I mean and Hollywood superstars they should be saved for guys like, you know, not me but, you know, for other guys.”

Jeremy had added: “You know it’s a double-edged sword you know, men wishing they could be with her and change her mind and ‘yeah well she’s a lesbian now ‘cos she never met me’.”

Now, the committee has said that some of the remarks were “admittedly… very non-pc,” reports the Telegraph.

The ESC found: “The remarks made by DJ Spoony and Ron Jeremy were crude and offensive in their targeting of Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson.

“Even given the wider context of the programme as being ‘irreverent’ and focusing on the lighter side of celebrity, the committee believed these particular remarks exceeded the expectations of an audience familiar with the BBC’s broadcasting values.

“Rather than ’sending up a common attitude adopted by heterosexual people,’ the committee believed that it appeared to reinforce stereotypical views.

“The committee concluded that these comments were offensive and made stereotypical assumptions which were not editorially justified.

“On this basis the programme was in breach of the editorial guidelines.”

The clips of DJ Spoony and Jeremy may now be removed from repeat telecast.

Richard Tait, BBC trustee and chair of the Trust’s ESC, said: “In the case of The Most Annoying People of 2008, it was a clear breach of the guidelines in relation to harm and offence, and the portrayal of sexuality.

“We found that the comments were crude and offensive and reinforced stereotypical views of lesbians.”

Lohan and Ronson were placed at number 43 in ‘The Most Annoying People of 2009′ list. (ANI)