With at least eleven people including a police officer currently missing and livelihoods, houses and belongings lost in the floods in Cumbria, Stephen Fry feels that it’s a good time to make a cheap and smutty gag about the worst hit area:
I’m sure this will be lauded by his legion of 1,000,000+ automatons followers as hugely amusing, but I can’t help but feel it’s insensitively-timed, amazingly juvenile and done in rather poor taste.
But then, he does have a bit of history in that regard:
Words tumbled from my lips during that interview that were as idiotic, ignorant and offensive as you could imagine. It had all been proceeding along perfectly acceptable lines until I said something like “let’s not forget which side of the border Auschwitz was on.”
You can really go off some people.
10 Comments
Got to say I didn’t see this as offensive, but merely a passing observation. Perhaps the news readers he mentions are having difficulties saying “Cockermouth”?
Trouble is, we have become sooooo PC over here, that it just raises the launch pad for girly giggles when one does have to say a so-say “rude” word!
I don’t deny it is sad and appalling to see what troubles are afflicting this fine country, natural or otherwise!
.-= Helga Hansen´s last blog ..Last of the summer time =-.
HH > Come now. It’s hugely insensitive. And utterly puerile.
Another example of the North/south divide and another example of his lack of thought.
I think you are being a tad over-sensitive 6K. I’ve been watching Sky News this morning as the story of the policeman who was wahsed away when the bridge collapsed, unfolded. The poor chap’s body has been found. I found it amusing that Sky thought it pertinent to report it as “a body wearing a policce uniform has been found”
Yes, well it’s not like he time to change into his morning suit did he?
It does appear that the reporters and studio hosts are having a little competition to see how many times they can get the word “Cockermouth” into their reports.
.-= Henry Crun´s last blog ..Exclusive Interview With New EU President =-.
Insensitive crass and unnecessary Fry.
I’m with Helga on this one. But maybe that’s because puerile is how I roll.
Henry Crun > It touched a raw nerve. The policeman was a friend of a friend and it smacks of the London-centric attitude of media and celebs. If that much rain had fallen on London we’d still be hearing about it in 2015.
Angus > Glad someone agrees with me. Thanks.
Ad Wiz > It certainly is. But see my reply to Henry Crun.
6K, but you didn’t mention the “frienfd of a friend” in your original post.
Be that as it may and I’m not going to fall out with you.
The news reports this morning are now referring to the town as “Cockermuth”. Doesn’t take long for reporters to assimilate the local accent.
.-= Henry Crun´s last blog ..Exclusive Interview With New EU President =-.
Henry > I didn’t know I had to.
Glad we’re not falling out, anyway. After all, everyone’s entitled to their opinion and mine is that Stephen Fry acted like a bit of a twat on this one.
Seems like Cumbria is steadily being cut off from the rest of Britain as the bridges are toppling into the rivers at an alarming rate. Now would be a good time if Cumbrians fancied cessation from the Union and wanted to declare UDI.
Henry > And why not? The Western Cape is tempted. Cape Town is on the verge of doing it. Hout Bay has already done it.
But it sounds bad up there. Got flooded once before and it is no fun – the house never really recovers.