"Shilpa Poppadom".....?

Question

....Not my word's,..but that of "Celebrity BigBrother Star" Jade Goody!

I'm doing a paper for my Media Studies class on "Celeb Culture These Days" and i thought this massive BigBrother scandal was perfect,as it caused such an up-roar.

My question is;

How was that phrase seen as being Racist?

Most of my Asian friends say it wasn't Racist,just Jade's stupidity and ignorance that got her in trouble with that comment.

I'm Black also,and i didn't see it as being Racist at all,and agreed with most of what my mates said.

All you're opinion's are welcome,so say what you feel!

Thankyou.;)

Answer 1

I don't think it was racist at all

Would a Brit take offence to some calling us Joe English Fry Up, or Joe Fish and Chips?

No obviously not but because of Shilpas race a few people blew it out of proportion

Yes it was a stupid thing to say as it was clearly meant to offend Shilpa but I don't think Jade meant it to come out as a racist remark

Answer 2

it wasn't seen as being racist by any intelligent person. It's just a really stupid thing to say. just like calling Jade Goody: "Jade Fish and chips"

it's just ignorant and silly. not particularly racist but probably from the mouth of a racist person.

Answer 3

Here in Wales everyone is known by names like that, e.g. Griff the Post, Dai the Milk,Bryan the Chip, Bob the Builder etc.

As a token of PC correctness, at that time, my cousin was expelled from school for calling his best mate 'Pakki'. He , in turn called my cousin 'Taffy '.

Mrs P,kki went up the school and pleaded with the authorities to re-instate 'Taffy' as , like she said 'they are proud to be P.kistanis 'cos that's where they're from and their surname is virtually unpronounceable !

The 2 x families have been friends & neighbours for over 30 years  and were, like lots of us ,upset that 'Popadom' is considered a racist term.

My granddaughter works in a local care home where there are 2x Susans. One= black Sue, the other = white Sue - there are no problems !

C4 made a mountain out of a molehill

Answer 4

I said all along that a "mountain was made out of a molehill" and didn't think Jade deserved all the flack she got over that remark. Especially as Jade is mixed race herself. The press and media over-reacted, and made Jade out to be a monster, and I, at least, agree with you.

Answer 5

tv & media always make a drama outta things on BB

Answer 6

I don't think it is, it was just said by some daft bird with a gob the size of the channel tunnel and the brain of Plankton!

Answer 7

I never ever thought that Jade & co were racist and Jade was made a scapegoat.  Yes she has a gobby mouth and she lost her temper and quite frankly so would I with that stuck up ******, Shilpa - she was enough to wind anyone up and she gave back as good as she got but she didn't get punished for it - oh no!  It was disgraceful the way Jade's life was ruined by that incident.  Popadom is just Indian food - cannot see that as being racist myself and Jade only said it because she couldn't remember Shilpa's surname.  Sorry but the whole thing made me so mad!!

Answer 8

Its funny how only the people who commit racism are the only people who say there is no racism--- WHITE PEOPLE

racism is alive and well in Jolly ole England

its disgusting

Answer 9

it was blown out of all proportion by the media and the shetty woman too.

how can you call jade racist when she comes from an ethnic background herself.

her father was black.

Answer 10

Not racist no. But ignorant none the less. I would suggest she used the word poppadom as a trivial reference in an attempt to belittle or trivialise the person the remark was aimed at. However that is not to say that racist thought processes were not behind the comment. It would seem to me that Jade Goody was struggling to be in the same presence of somebody of different race who proved themselves to be anything but inferior. The situation offended her sensibilities or she felt threatened? Hopefully she may of learned from the experience. That is of course simply my opinion and is not stated as fact. Hope that helps.

P.s. I am not sure if this has any bearing on your question but I am white English.

Answer 11

everything you say in frightened england is racist...did'nt you know that

Answer 12

It would appear that the politically minded liberal people that run this country (UK) have it in their heads that ANY remark made by one race to another is considered Racial.

When in reality it is tribal.

The Brits have made remarks about every race under the sun, not only those in close proximity like the Scots, Welsh and Irish but also those from Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham. Bristol, Cornwall etc, and that is before we cross the Channel and start listing our European cousins.

Jade Goody was not being ignorant or Racist by calling somebody a Poppadom, it was her attempt to be humourous.

Every comedian for the last 200 years has told jokes involving the peoples of every race including those throughout the UK.

So to answer your question. No it was NOT racist.

Answer 13

My friend works for the C4 complaints department, it was her first month working in the place. In her department of 12, they collectively recieved 56,000 complaints. Top marks for putting the question in Media & journalism.

Answer 14

It's not that it an out and out racist remark, it was that it was meant to cause upset and this was because of her race.  Shilpa Sheppy was targetted firstly by Jo O'Meara and jacky goody because of her colour and race.

Answer 15

This racist business has now gone too far, as you cannot open your mouth now before you are called one. I really am getting fed up with it all... after all years ago they said all kinds of things about the Irish ... but all in fun... but these days you have to be tight lipped about everything, and its becoming a bore. There is no joy left in England now, and so everyone goes around looking miserable. Its a case of... you cannot do this or that, and you cannot say this or that... in fact we are condemned to be miserable for the rest of our lives. What a miserable  Country we now live in. So button it  !!