Prince Harry to comic: You don't sound like a black chap
Sri Carmichael, Royal Reporter11.02.09
Prince Harry is at the centre of a third race dispute today after allegedly telling a black comedian he did not "sound like a black chap".
He is said to have made the remark to Stephen K Amos after the comedian performed at a show to celebrate Prince Charles's 60th birthday in November.
The prince has already faced criticism this year for calling a Pakistani Army cadet a "Paki" and in 2005 he caused outrage when he wore a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party.
Mr Amos told Channel Five's The Wright Stuff that Harry, 24, made his remark after the gala We Are Most Amused.
The comedian, who lives in south-west London, said: "Harry said: 'Hello you don't sound like a black chap.'" Mr Amos added: "I wanted to say: 'How is I supposed to sound?'" His fellow panellist Lowri Turner and presenter Matthew Wright gasped.
Naomi Byron, from Youth Against Racism in Europe, said: "This is not just Prince Harry that is at fault. The aristocratic, rich circles he moves in obviously don't have a problem with this kind of racist stereotyping."
However a source at the show said: "Harry had just been talking to a Iranian actor who had done an impression of a Nigerian. They had been talking about that and Harry then turned to Mr Amos next to him and made the comment. It wasn't racist."
Reader views (53)
Every programme I have seen Stephen k Amos on he was moaning about something.Obviously racism is rife and that is unacceptable. However I think that picking up on and singling out every single comment does'nt help anyone. Could it be Amos making up for the fact that he is'nt funny. How the hell did he get his own show?
- Iain Macinnes, isle of lewis
Paul from London - my condolences, mate. That would be awful.
- Jimmy, Fulham
Even worse. Whenever i'm in America they think I'm Australian .... now that I DO get upset about.
- Paul, London
I'm sorry but I still don't see why it is a problem to ask someone where they come from or where their parents come from. Why does it have to be a big secret? If I ask someone where they are from it is because I'm interested, not because I think they are a lesser being due to not being from here. I am not going to change my behaviour and not ask people a friendly question like that just because some have got a weird problem about it. It is their problem, not mine.
- D Woodstock, London
Glad to see everyone's had productive evenings/mornings.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK
As a black woman I want to say that political correctness has run amok! I consider myself to be extremely open minded and in no way racist but I dare say that if every word I said was monitored and commented on, you'd find a few missteps on my part. I've seen this kid do a lot of good deeds, give him a break, he's 24 folks, think about the things you said and did then. And, yeah, I know we're gonna hear from those that say he should know better, but come on, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, being perfect is hard.
- Shannon, san diego, ca usa
Oh no.... Call a public enquiry. Get the PM to comment. Get the phone in's started.
- Mike, London
Give a dog a rag doll to chew on and no matter how many times it has to come back to it, the dog will keep tearing at it regardless. The prince is, after all, a high profile rag doll to play with, especially when he can't strike back.
- Rogan, Irving
Final comment - as KH said, the real point is that Harry's comment questions a person of colour's Britishness. Harry's comment just shows that he isn't aware of how multicultural London is since there are people of all different shades with all different accents who would consider themselves British and not wherever he might assume.
- Mrs S, London
Kh and Natalie, I believe you are showing ignorance with your comments on Pual Hertford remarks. Jokes and remarks are always being made about the intelligence of people who come from the country i.e country bumpkins, this too can be seen as discriminatory.
- E Sullivan, London
cannot beleive that someone living in multi cultural london can actually offer this tripe as a legitamate argument. To call me and natalie ignorant is ignorance on a 'Harry Windsor' scale! Ed you need to have a serious chat with your ethnic neighbours and not just ignore them,(as you obviously have been doing) as you seriously need a 'diversity check' - UNBELEIVABLE!!
- Kh, London UK
OH THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
If someone had said to Harry "oh, you don't sound like a white chap" nobody would bat an eyelid.
grow. up. there are far more important things to be whittering on about in the world
- Keria, London
There's gonna be a racial backlash if we keep having all this PC rubbish rammed down our throats. I have never insulted anyone over their origins and I hope I never would but being told what I should or should not say gets me so mad I could go out in the street and scream abuse at everyone like a person with Tourettes Syndrome.
In fact, can any of the PC do-gooders out there tell me how they'd feel if someone who genuinely had Tourettes (a recongised disability) shouted a word at a non-white person which they considered racist? Would having Tourettes get them off the hook or what? Because if you had a go at them for it then wouldn't you be victimizing them for their disability? I'd really like to know, you know?
- D Woodstock, London
This is all getting very silly.
who cares what harry said or did not say. Havent his critics got anything else to think about? Get a life!
- Jan, London
Mr Amos should have replied, well I might not sound like a black man, but you don't look like your father!
- Nj, London
Harry should have said to Stephen Amos "you don't sound like a funny chap".
- Anthony F, London
It's time to abolish the Monarchy and consign these fools to history where their attitudes belong.
- Mick, London, England
The loony lefties and do gooders know this is the beggining of the end for political correction. They are just using up whatever time is left of it when the general election comes.
- Joe, Swanley Kent
Kh and Natalie, I believe you are showing ignorance with your comments on Pual Hertford remarks. Jokes and remarks are always being made about the intelligence of people who come from the country i.e country bumpkins, this too can be seen as discriminatory.
- E Sullivan, London
I think a lot of you are missing Mrs S's point. It IS irritating when people ask 'where are you from' when you have a london accent if you are in london at the time. lets face it what they really mean is 'where do your parents come from' and so why don't they say that? because they know that question has certain conertations. I was born in london and so was my child. it will be interesting to hear people ask her 'where are your parents from' because she will say 'london' and no doubt people like Paul will say 'no i mean originally', which in turn really means 'you can't be from england because you are black'. As a black londoner who is constantly told by non black people that i 'don't sound black', i know what Mrs S is trying to say, and i have very similar experiences. The problem with many of you commentating is that you are woefully ignorant of races other than your own, despite living in a multi cultural environment, so you think stupidity and ignorance shown by harry is normal. Having said that many, like me will agree that Harry is stupid - simple as that so his comment should not be taken to heart. he definately needs a gentle word in his ear though as these gaffs are becoming frequent.
- Kh, London UK
Get over yourself, Natalie! My father's first language was not English, but he used to give his mates as much grief about their east end accents as they gave him about his. Try shaking off the victim tag, be proud of your background and ethnic routes, and no one can hurt you.
- Paul, London
Errrr I think you'll find that Mr Amos actually opens his act with similar comments!!!
- Paxton, N17
Dear Mrs S, I would not think twice about asking someone in a social situation where they came from and am surprised that anyone would mind being asked. I do not think it is reasonable to expect people not to enquire about others they meet. But if I refrained only from asking non-white persons where they came from, then I would be treating them differently to how I treat whites. Would that make you happier or unhappier? I really can't imagine but I must say I think it would be too much to expect us to never ask anyone where they came from. It is just part of general conversation when you meet a new friend.
- Jane Snooks, BROMLEY
So what . . . .How on earth was HRH's comment deemed to be racist?
Some people do have an ethnic sound whether they are Irish, English, Black, Indian or Spanish.
- Eoin Mcgreeghan, Derry, NI
Yet again, ignorant simpletons who don't know their own history - like Paul, Beatriz and "Wheaty" - don't know what the hell they are talking about. If only darker-skinned people could lead the same rose-tinted lifestyles where no current or historical judements are made on their skin colour. They clearly have no idea what was meant by that comment.
Those of us who live in the real world know exactly what Harry and his kind means. They live in a world where blacks are easily mocked and portrayed as less intelligent than whites. One stereotype is that they can't speak English properly. So when Harry comes across one who can, he's surprised.
Harry's developed the same disease that afflicts his grandfather. People shouldn't be amazed such a cozeted and ignorant young man is part of the Royal Family.
- Natalie, London, UK
I remember when Fiona Bruce made a similar statement on Crimewatch. She said "...and we must stress that although the man was black HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCENT". I mean how dumb is she. I was pretty annoyed by that remark. Black people born and bred in England do not have an accent unless they come from a council estate. And before you say anything yes I'm black
- Lorraine, London
Humour has helped the Brits get through some really bad times but nowadays, anyone laughing at silly little jokes is branded a racist.
Major fraud, street murders, running the country into the ground, etc. etc., is so much nicer and costs the country next to nothing.
- Hilary Hohmeister, Heidelberg, Germany
The remark shows ignorance (i,e how does a black person sound?) I have had this said to me many a time. And lets remember folks harry is not the sharpest tool in the box! Also, the comparason paul makes about 'sounding from hertfordshire' is equally ignorant!
- Kh, London UK
Why on earth did that 'comedian' have to tell anybody?
Attention seeking? More fuel for the PC brigade sadly.
- Simon Price, London
To Paul,
Completely missing the point. The accent a person has will primarily depend on where they have lived. I've seen Mr Amos live and he puts on a NIGERIAN accent when it suits. Black = colour of skin not country of origin.
- Mrs S, London
Boring. Why not leave him alone and find something worthwhile to set your targets on. Journalism in this country is getting so pathetic and self serving.
- Stephen, London
Given the context, the remark was perfectly proper and not racist at all. What worries me is the urge by someone (who has covered his or her bets by laying out context)to stir the pot in the hope that some of the contents spill over onto Harry. As a 'news' story this should never have seen the light of day.
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
Mrs S; you're right, it is ignorance, but I can't imagine that its malicious? The very worst kind of racists (of all colours) are the ones that mind their p's and q's but surrepticious and stealthily discriminate against all but their own, they are the ones to watch out for.
My partner is black and he finds these kind of gaffes hilarious and doesn't take them to heart - is it really worth getting wound up about them?
- Wendy K, London
Just Leave It !! it's all getting soooo boring !!!!!!
As for Mr Amos - be ashamed of yourself ! blabbing away like a spoilt kid !
- Gr, London
He and his ilk are purely ignorant and i don't believe its done with any malice,hes obviously never traveled around London using various forms of public transport,if he had he would soon realise you cant judge a persons colour by the way the way thay speak.He really needs a broader education poor boy.
- Kev, London-UK
Language and accent notwithstanding, people of black African descent have a timbre to their voices which is usually distinctive to my, and surely most peoples, ears. Some white soul singers ( Joss Stone for example ) are lauded for 'sounding black' so what's the issue? It's not about content, in this case, but sound, and I agree that when I listen to Mr Amos's voice on the radio he is A-typical in that, if I didn't know better, I could easily think it was a white londoner speaking, but so what? I have heard men who sound like women and vice versa, but so what? Should I be accused of sexism as well as racism? What a load of nonsense...and I wouldn't mind, but Mr Amos plays the racism card for laughs when in his act he refers to the BBC quota allowing him to be on screen so long as Lennie Henry is taking a sabbatical - some might take umbrage, but when I heard it I thought it funny, notwithstanding that the 'stereotypical truth' in the joke that makes it funny is now years out-of-date.
- Barry1858, Welwyn
To Mrs S of London - what's wrong with being asked where you come from? It's a perfectly normal question which white people ask each other, the same as "Where do your (extended) family live?" We should not be made to feel awkward about showing an interest in someone else's background. Would you prefer people didn't treat you as an individual with perhaps an interesting story to tell? Very sad reflection of our times which can only result in people becoming more insular still.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
This getting really tedious. Impersonations, mimicking accents, etc., used to be a big part of comedy in this country. Now you can't say anything at all.
- Beatriz, London
Mr S, I come from Hertfordshire, but I can say 'tractor' and include the 'c!' I made the point that he does put on a 'black' accent when it suits him. I'm not going to get upset if people say I don't sound like I was born in Hertford, but then maybe I've got chip free shoulders?
- Paul, London
This is all getting pathetic now.
- Wheaty, London
Sorry Gc from London but everybody has a stereotypical view of how sections of the population look, speak and behave.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment
Comments need to be viewed in context. Obviously in this case, it was a follow on from an impression that had been made by an actor. There is real racism out there. Let's stop witch hunting people.
- Ije Adibe, Erith, UK
Is anyone else suffering from "race fatigue"?
- Gary, London
All day, every day. It's almost impossible now to pick up a newspaper, or turn on the news without hearing an accusation of racism. It's getting boring.
- Teddy Picker, London
Paul - what does a black person sound like? If he has been born and breed in London why is it surprising that he has a London accent? This is the kind of thing that really grates. I am black woman with a London accent but I am constantly asked in certain circles (work functions etc) where I come from. It's just ignorant.
- Mrs S, London
Sue,
So you agree he was being insulting?
Nigel,
"PC brigade"? A black man who was told he didn't "sound black"? I think you'll find that the comment wasn't about being PC but about rank uttered ignorance. If I said that Nigel "didn't look Jewish" (for the record, I have never seen Nigel and have no stereotypical view of what being jewish should look like) that would be an example of my stupidity. Nigel might not feel insulted but it would certainly show my ignorance.
- Gc, London
trying to drag an old story into a very very old story now...... PC brigade please change the record.......
- Jonny, London
If this happened last November, why has it taken until now for the comedien to speak out? Seems to me like everyone is trying to jump on the PC racism band wagon. Get a life before we are all too afraid to open our mouths for fear of upsetting someone or being branded a "racist"
- Susie, London
I've heard Steven K Amos, and it's true, he doesn't!
- Paul, London
Leave him alone - very soon we will all be too frightened to say anything for fear that the PC brigade will report a remark that most right minded people consider inoffensive.
There's always been stereotyping and why not? We are all different in physical appearance, religious and political views etc..etc... People should be proud of that fact. I'm Jewish and never take offence if none is meant - and it rarely is!
- Nigel, St Albans
This smacks of a witch hunt now. It's about time the media laid off Prince Harry, he hasn't said anything that serious.
- Huw Morgan, London
Oh for God sake all get over yourselves. I'm sick to death of everyone jumping on the bandwagon everytime someone may or may not have said something insulting to somewhere else. Pretty soon everyone's mouths will be wired up for fear of saying something insulting to someone!
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
It just shows how irrelevant and out of touch Harry and his lot are. Time to get rid of them once and for all.
- Charlie, Soho, London
Poor Harry and his size 16 feet!
- Isabel, Woking
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