Australian variety show sparks controversy

Australian variety show, "Hey Hey It's Saturday", sparked controversy Wednesday when a group of singers parodying the Jackson Five performed in blackface. They received a warm welcome by the audience but were given a score of zero by American guest judge Harry Connick, Jr., who stated that if the skit had been performed in the United States it would have been pulled off the air. He went on to say that he would not have appeared on the show had he known about the skit.

The show's host, Daryl Somers, apologized to Connick at the end of the show, saying, "I know that to your countrymen, that's an insult to have a blackface routine like that on the show, so I do apologize to you."

The reaction to the performance by the public was mixed. In online communities some Australians expressed embarrassment that such a racist skit was aired, while others found it to be funny and thought those upset over it were being too politically correct.

source

By Anna Mandrell