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Jonathan Ross accused of homophobia over Hannah Montana comment
Amar Singh, Evening StandardUpdated 10:01am on 14 May 2009
Jonathan Ross was today accused of homophobia after suggesting parents should put their sons up for adoption if they like the teenage TV character Hannah Montana.
Bad joke? Jonathan Ross was accused of going a step too far
Listeners to the £6 million-a-year presenter's Radio 2 show on Saturday took offence to Ross's remarks claiming they were anti-gay.
Ross, 48 was talking about competition prizes when he joked: “If your son asks for a Hannah Montana MP3 player, you might want to already think about putting him down for adoption before he brings his...erm...partner home.”
Media watchdog Ofcom confirmed today it had received complaints, which it would be assesing against the broadcasting code,' but was unable to say how many had been received.
Listener Karen Mills said: “How can these people earn such huge sums of public money to come out with this discriminatory rubbish? “What would be the message to a young gay man listening to this? Worse still, how might such comments reinforce and support homophobic bullying in the playground?”
“I dont understand how the BBC - a public body that we all have to fund, is allowed to get away with this kind of casual homophobia - especially when its own website goes on and on about its commitment to equality and diversity' and about its duty to serve all parts of its diverse audience'.”
BBC bosses have warned Ross about his on-air conduct after he returned from a 12 week suspension this year for leaving obscene messages on Andrew Sachs's answerphone.
Ofcom also reprimanded Ross for lewd comments made to Gwyneth Paltrow on Friday night with Jonathan Ross last year.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “These off-the-cuff remarks were made purely in jest and were not intended to be offensive. Jonathan is not homophobic in any sense and never meant for his comments to be taken seriously.”
Actress Miley Cyrus, who plays the fictional TV pop star Hannah Montana was a guest on Ross's BBC One chat show last month.
It is not the first time, in recent weeks, that a prominent BBC star has been accused of homophobia.
Ross's Radio One colleague Chris Moyles was found to have breached broadcasting rules by Ofcom when he mocked the singer Will Young's sexuality on his show.
Reader views (27)
Why should it matter if it was anti-gay. So what? Freedom of speech or no freedom of speech, which is it????
- Matt, long beach, usa, 24/05/2009 01:54
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It was a joke. I think it was a funny joke. I laughed and so did my mate. You can't limit comedy, because its just there. Ross doesn't have time to make jokes up and then think if they offend people. He doesn't have a checklist saying rascist, sexist, homophobic etc. iTS A JOKE! Get over it. Laugh for G-d's sake.
- Artin, London, England, 21/05/2009 12:33
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If my children liked Hannah Montana I'd put them up for adoption immediately. Jonathan got it wrong by specifying a sex. What drivel and how awful that girl was on his show two weeks ago.
- Maisy, London, 15/05/2009 14:37
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Did I miss the part where he said people who listen to Hannah Montana are gay?!?!?! I think it is us who have made that assumption. There is no mention of homosexuality in this comment. get a grip people!
- Jenny, London, 15/05/2009 11:31
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Gay people should be put up for adoption. Hilarious. At what point did he think it was a good idea to say that? Get with it Johnathan. Enjoy laughing at minorities guys, hope it makes you feel more secure about yourself.
- Rebecca, Scotland, 15/05/2009 10:47
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I am gay. I love gay jokes, and I guarantee I know more gay jokes than anyone who has commented here. JR's remark was not a joke or funny - he may have received a titter from the white 'English' commentators on this page -but advocating homophobia based on musical preference is sad. Being gay is not easy - it's even harder when you are child, but perhaps you think it doesn't matter making a kid feel even worse about themselves if they are gay? I am sure someone wise with a big heart will leave a comment now telling me to stop whinging and to get a sense of humour 
- Nick_P_Scott@Yahoo.Com, sydney, australia, 14/05/2009 23:47
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When this odious creep is removed from our screens I might consider renewing my TV licence. In the meantime I am happy to do without.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 14/05/2009 20:18
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This is ridiculous.
Soon you won't have comedy.
Comedy HAS to have a target. Whether it be the comedian him / herself or otherwise.
THAT IS what COMEDY is. It's making fun of things. Joke, hence JOOOOKE.
You could make a joke about ANYTHING and claim it offensive.
Why are all these Irish and Jewish jokes not being brought up for racism?
It's absolute madness.
- Nick, Newport, UK, 14/05/2009 19:52
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ross is a middle-class, middle-aged twerp who attempts in vain to be cool and dangerous. he's a traget because he wants to be one. i hope a big gay bear gives him and his retarded mates a good hiding.
anyone who uses the phrase 'pc gone mad' clearly has limited brain capacity. what a load of toss.
- J, manchester, 14/05/2009 19:42
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Deano, Brighton: I said at the time of the Sachsgate affair that the whole episode was a publicity stunt that got out of hand. Andrew Sach's agent had agreed for the call to be made to give Sachs' career a boost, but when Ross and Brand went too far and a few listeners complained, it all went pear-shaped. Andrew Sachs knew exactly what he was letting himself in for, and to an extent it has worked - as you say, he is now in Coronation Street and receiving more publicity than he has for years. Time to lay off Ross.
- Pam, East Kent UK, 14/05/2009 16:57
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What a sad state of affairs. Another example of PC gone mad.
- Pink Lady, London, UK, 14/05/2009 16:35
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Why has he become such a target?
Ok, the Andrew sachs incident was stupid but all he was doing this time was his job. Entertaining people.
Anyone who's complained about the Hannah Montana joke needs to lighten up and get a life.
Insomniac666
- Insomniac666, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND., 14/05/2009 15:15
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I can't stand Jonathan Ross but pu..lease!! If people who listen to his show do not want to hear this sort of thing, why listen? The man thinks he is being funny and to some I suppose he is. Don't listen if you don't like him but do stop complaining about him.
- June O'Brien, London England, 14/05/2009 15:04
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Pathetic! The Andrew Sachs affair was MUCH more serious than a general hinted remark. Why can nobody say anything about gay people or even hint at it without being called homophobic? There are plenty of people who make "hetrophobic" comments but these dont cause an outcry.
- Fq, London, UK, 14/05/2009 14:19
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Well said Aidan. It seems strange to also point out what Wossy's earning - Are you trying to cause trouble? We've been through all this already! This is such a non-story it must be one hell of a slow-news day.
£50000 a year NevTheTech.
- Nevthetech, SOS, UK, 14/05/2009 13:45
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Jonathan Ross is at best, an average presenter. His arrogant attitude to the BBC should be rewarded with dismissal. He seems to think that he is beyond the law, regulations etc. with his crass comments and I wouldnt pay him 1p even for what he has done.
- Aidan Kelly, Convoy, Ireland, 14/05/2009 13:19
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I think if parents don't want to bring up a gay child, it is their right to get them adopted by others who don't mind. Ross is being helpful in highlighting the sort of traits that will alert the parents in question.
- Keith, King's Cross, London, 14/05/2009 13:19
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For god's sake, can't anyone take a joke anymore?!
- Michelle, London, 14/05/2009 13:19
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Never mind the alleged homophobic comments. The very mention of Hannah Montana gets my back up.
I saw Miley Cyrus being introduced on Ross's show. They played a clip of the movie - the backing band were ok, but then Ms Cyrus opened her mouth. Oh dear...The TV was switched off in an instant.
- Jock, London, 14/05/2009 13:19
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What a none story. You could offend more than 4 people by farting on the tube!
- Richard, LONDON, 14/05/2009 13:19
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Is "Listener Karen Mills" part of the Hannah Montana publicity team. I'd never heard of HM until this. Can we all get on with life, now, please? Leave Rossie alone. It is possible to refer to something without being so-called politically incorrect.
- Martin, Teddington, 14/05/2009 13:19
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I can't believe people are still hounding Jonathan Ross. For goodness sake it was a joke. Is everything scared now? Has the country lost its sense of humour? Ok, you don't need to find it funny but to be offended is pretty pathetic. And exactly who is "listener Karen Mills" and is she gay or represent any organisations who represent gay people? (Bit like the white middle class people who complain about offense to Muslims, who themselves are wondering what the fuss is about.)
For a man who has four gay men on his show every week, he is hardly homophobic. He makes camp comments quite often himself.
Like him or not, that is your choice. But to constantly scrutinise his every word just to have some cheap copy is pretty poor. Time to find a new hate figure, this is getting boring.
- James, London, UK, 14/05/2009 13:19
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Just another example of how the general British public have lost their sense of humour...a joke is a joke, get a life you PC idiots!
- Rebecca, London, 14/05/2009 13:19
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He's funny, but he's not as clever as he likes to think he is.
Mind you, he's the one earning 6m quid,,,,,,,,,, like he cares!
- Johnny, Beijing, China, 14/05/2009 13:19
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Well said Kim!
- Nik, London, 14/05/2009 13:19
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Oh for goodness sake! Can we all stop being so sensitive about everything? We're turning into a society of namby pambies who whimper at the slightest jest. There are far more important things going on in the world than worrying about an off-the-cuff comment. Put your energies into something more worthwhile. By the way - I am a red head and don't break down in tears and ring the complaints line everytime I hear a 'ginger joke' !!!
- Kim, Lancing, West Sussex, 14/05/2009 13:19
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Cue the Daily Mail dragging out Andrew Sachs and his wife for yet another quote! Seems he did quite well out of the last episode. He's now on Coronation St. Bet if Rossgate hadn't happended he'd still be reduced to panto in Margate and voice-overs for anything Spanish. Have any gay listeners actually complained or are people complaining by proxy?
- Deano, Brighton, 14/05/2009 13:19
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