Coren Mitchell apologises for Only Connect scar gaffe
VICTORIA COREN MITCHELL has issued an apology after campaigners criticised Only Connect for linking scarring with shame.
The presenter of the quiz show released a statement on Twitter after scarring charity Changing Faces said it was “disappointed” and “shocked” by how scars had been described as “marks of shame” on the show.
The charity said that the episode, broadcast on Nov 28, had linked the word “scar” to three other words – blot, stain and stigma.
A statement from the charity quoted one of its supporters, Alison, saying she had been “absolutely flabbergasted and completely shocked” by the “perpetuation of negative stereotypes”, pointing out that the BBC “promotes itself as a diverse and inclusive organisation”.
“The terms and descriptions used on this Connecting Wall [round] are a stark reminder of the barriers and issues we negotiate every day,” she said.
Heather Blake, the charity’s chief executive, said there was “nothing shameful about having a scar” but it was disgraceful that society still stigmatised those with visible differences.
In her statement, Coren Mitchell said that in the question writer’s mind for
Only Connect they would have been using the “figurative” meaning of the word scar to denote a mark on someone’s reputation, for instance.
“However,” she added, “this opens the door to the ridiculous and awful idea that a literal, visual scar on the face or body of a person is [shameful].
“I hope anyone who’s ever watched our programme would know that this is the very opposite of what we would think; an idea utterly alien to our little universe and our value system.
“We stand proudly at odds with that kind of nonsense! We revel in the beautiful variety of the human condition.”
Coren Mitchell said that Only Connect was supposed to be a standard bearer for “nuance and deep thinking” and that it should not have used language “lazily”, adding that she was personally “extremely embarrassed” that the show had laid itself open to such accusations.