A group of singing dancers calling themselves the “Jackson Jive” performed a version of the Jackson 5’s Can You Feel It in blackface makeup in a sort of American Idol type contest. Guest American judge Harry Connick Jr. took issue, giving the Jive a “0″ and saying, “If they turned up like that in the United States, it’d be like Hey Hey There’s No More Show.”
He later elaborated, telling the host: “I just wanted to say on behalf of my country, I know it was done humorously, but we’ve spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons, that when we see something like that, we take it really to heart. … and if I knew that was going to be part of the show, I probably—I definitely wouldn’t have done it.”
Afterwards, Jackson Jive members later told Australia’s Herald Sun they had flagged potential issues with the performance with producers before the show. Anand Deva, who played Michael Jackson in the skit, said the act was meant to be a tribute. “It certainly was not meant to be racist in any way at all.”
Our thoughts?
18 Comments
How the hell is that funny??? this is the kind of mess that needs to stop . i swear obsessed is not the word, who has time to be so serious about imitating another race,, how pathetic but lord let Kanye be rude or jamie foxx tell miley to go ride a bike seat !!! oh hell naw!!
not meant to be racist…Are you kidding me? PLEASEEEE!!!
Not funny. Good job Harry, for calling it out.
Go Harry!
GOOD FOR HIM! I wish more people had the balls to stand up and say what he said.
I commend Harry for doing what he did as the skit was poor judgement.
However in Australia’s defence, they don’t have race relations to “repair” like the USA does, as they don’t have the disgusting messy background this country has with how Black people have been/are being treated.
USA is so behind the rest of the world when it comes to acceptance and diversity.
Actually, Austria is known for their insensitivity in regards to race relations. They’ve breached international obligations on human and indigenous rights by imposing radical restrictions on Aborigines, so this is nothing new. You all need to check out Rabbit Proof Fence
I commend HCJ for his stance. He was raised in NO and probably has been around African Americans all his life. He was one of the first celebs out there in NO during Katrina. He is a stand up guy.
Talk about racist,,yeah they wrote the book, a black family just moved into a house in Az, and some racist SOB put a go back to AFRICA sign on their door, how effing racist and narrow minded these stupid racist pigs are.. why dont they go back where they came from.. oh the love of Africa the first motherland!!!! i cant believe this sh-t is stil going on in 2009 and they got the nerve to talk about blacks being racist.. ifg we lived to 200 we could never be as racist as a white person. You can hate me if you want , i couldnt care less but when you come up to my door or in my face , its time for your ass to be buried 6 feet under !! The nerve of who ever did that bullsh-t!!
Australia isnt a racist country, they just a very different relaxed kind of humour. If you were here, you would understand. The indigenous people in my country get on very well with the white people. and we all make jokes about each other its just the way australia is.
although they should not have done this skit, because australia should no America is not like australia with their sense of humour. I can see why people can see it as racist, but I think it is just very misunderstood.
@sez,
I know all about Australia and it’s issues with race….denial is a big part of it
it it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, guess what? enough said
Anyone who has an iota knowledge of Australia would know there is a racial issues in that country.It might not be African descendant, rather the Asian and the aboriginal people they have issues with.
I am an Australian and this whole incident really embarasses me. Whoever said we don’t have a history of race issues really needs to brush up on their history. Ever heard of the Aboriginals? Seriously Australia has worked hard to abolish any rascism as well, and this skit just makes it look like they are a racist country when they are not. Sure there are a few people who have no tolerance and are living in the past, but Australia is one of the most muliticulturally diverse places in the world and this ’skit’ should never have been allowed to happen. I’m glad Harry called them out on this.
im glad he called it out as he did, but if a black person had of called it out then they would have been jumped at as playing the race card.. racism breeds racism right back and the sooner folks realize that the better! The skit was racist and pathetic and ridiculous , they could have done the same thing without a black face, but if a black person comes out with a white face and mocking Bill O’Reilly then they are a reverse racisr.. WTF? my thing is if you hate me so much stay the hell away from me, if you dont like my comments dont read them ~~ Why do you feel you have to comment to me when i dont comment ot you~! You want a penpal go to a chat room and i know these folks come at me under differnet names but i am always Alicia and dont have to disguise myself to get at you!!
I think it would have been better to get five black guys in whiteface and come out and do the Jackson 5 impression….
Honestly, yeah the skit was in hideous taste, but you all need to recall what, exactly racism is. It’s the belief that one race is better than another. Full stop. If you think that your race is inherently better than another, you’re a racist. The end.
And, Alica, I think the difference is, if a black man came out in whiteface and made fun of Bill O’Riley, he’d be hailed as a hilarious comedian. Didn’t you get the memo? White people are the only ones who are racist, everyone else is just licking their wounds and crying to mummy.
It’s entertainment, black men can portray white people and make fun of them and it is okay. Yet, white men portray black men and it is racism? Go suck a c*ck! What’s all the crying about, the United States has a black president, what else do people want? Black people were slaves, women were slaves, white women at that!!! And people are still stuck on that race card! Stop the whining! They were in Australia, if they didnt like then Connick should get the f&*K out of Australia and go rate a black comedy show in America. Get over it people!
Get over it people it’s a comedy show. I’m Australian and we are NOT a rasist country! Harry has dressed as a black man before too.
I definitely respect Harry for standing up for his values, and I believe he did the right thing. Instead of focusing on who is singing the music, we should be focusing on the music itself. The Jackson Five were cultural icons who made the world better with their songs. The same goes for Harry’s voice. He is a true talent. There’s a new stripped concert online on iheart radio that was just posted. http://www.iheartradio.com/cc-common/ondemand/stripped.html?apid=6019&cmp=ali_harryconnick Watch that and then tell me the music isn’t worth more than the body it comes out of.
As a black person, I think it equally pathetic that Mr. Connick states that “… we try hard not to make black people look like buffoons…” As if it were a daily effort of sorts on his part and others like himself. Am I the only person who caught this gaffe and tomfoolery?