Corrie sorry after racism storm over slavery quip
Coronation Street has sparked hundreds of complaints after one of its characters was accused of making a racist comment on screen.
itV soap bosses apologised for the quip in which character Eva Price, played by Catherine tyldesley, 32, described her hair as having ‘more roots than Kunta Kinte’.
the phrase refers to 1976 novel roots: the Saga of an american Family by late american author alex Haley, featuring an 18th century african slave of that name.
Media watchdog ofcom has received 278 complaints about the remark since Monday’s episode, with Coronation Street bosses accused of being ‘insensitive’ and ‘casually racist’ by campaigners and viewers.
the remark was made as Miss tyldesey’s character paid a visit to the hair salon.
Looking in the mirror at the dark roots in her dyed hair, she said: ‘i have more roots than Kunta Kinte. no idea who that is, by the way, just something my mum used to say.’
Viewers were quick to pick up on the comment and took to twitter to criticise the show.
olivia Brown wrote: ‘2016 and you wonder why there is a rise in hate crime, racial inequality & xenophobia with @itvcorrie utilising oppression as flippant humor [ sic]’. the Slavery remembrance organisation wrote: ‘@itV would you script ‘i’ve got more secrets than anne Frank’s diary’? thought not. racial bias #blacklivesmatter #coronationstreet’
Sam Burnett, acting director of Mediawatch-UK, said: ‘this is Coronation Street not the Edinburgh Fringe. Maybe the scriptwriters should leave the edgy jokes to the professionals.’
Black rights activist Lee Jasper said although the remark was ‘casual, sloppy racism’ the online backlash was also a ‘storm in a teacup’.
He added: ‘it could be moderately offensive – and any obvious racial references should be well-considered in any popular drama.’
a spokesman for ofcom said: ‘ofcom has received 278 complaints about Coronation Street. We will assess these complaints before we decide whether to investigate.’
a Coronation Street spokesman said: ‘We apologise if this dialogue has caused offence.’