Fashion blogger behind ‘Saggy Boobs Matter’ baff les Today listeners with a PC jargon-fest
SHE’S the politically correct fashion blogger from Peckham who has won thousands of followers with her ‘Saggy Boobs Matter’ campaign. But listeners to Radio 4’s Today show were left scratching their heads in bemusement when Chidera Eggerue took over as guest editor yesterday.
The welter of incomprehensible jargon had some wondering if the makers of the flagship BBC news show had ‘gone mad’.
In one segment, rapper Jordan Stephens from the group Rizzle Kicks spoke about the notion of ‘toxic masculinity’. He said: ‘I use the term because for me it infers masculinity in its true self is not toxic, I think there’s just an energy that’s carried with it – a hypermasculinity if you will – you’ve got to balance it out. I think it becomes toxic when it becomes fragile, when it lacks feminine energy.’
One listener tweeted: ‘Turned on, heard “toxicity of men” and turned off again. Turned on again half an hour later and heard someone talki ng a bout male f e male body images… turned off again. Who edits this rollicks?’ Another wrote: ‘I have no idea what he has just said – heard the words but can’t interpret at all – lost me.’
‘ Non- binary artist’ Travis Alabanza was also interviewed on the show – with Ms Eggerue, 24, insisting on sitting in to ‘represent physical safety to Travis and solidarity’.
Alabanza told presenter Martha Kearney: ‘ People t hat haven’t existed as male and female have been here for thousands of years.’
One Twitter user, Catholic cleric Raymond Blake, simply asked: ‘Has BBC Radio 4 Today gone mad this morning ?’ And another exclaimed: ‘The #loonyleft indoctrination machine is in full whirr trying to make men feel ashamed for being men. Of course, the BBC is the mouthpiece as usual. Beyond time funding for this awful institution was pulled.’
Ms Eggerue calls her blog The Slumflower and has adopted the phrase ‘Saggy Boobs Matter’ in her campaign for greater tolerance for all body shapes.
Feminist campaigner Julie Bindel said: ‘ Some phrases used in the Today programme, such as “gender non-binary” and “feminine energy” are incomprehensible, posh middleclass versions of phrases I and other feminists have been using for decades. When we say “refusing to accept sexist stereotypes”, a phrase everyone understands, the kids say “non-binary”. All “feminine energy” means is “rejecting the idea that men are always macho”. The language of today is elitist and pointless, and neither funny nor clever.’
In August, figures revealed the Today programme had lost more than 800,000 listeners and its editor Sarah Sands, who took on the role last year, was criticised for making the show too soft.
Earlier this month, The Mail on Sunday reported on the backlash by Radio 4 l i steners over the amount of airtime devoted to transgender issues on Woman’s Hour.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘It is a well-established tradition for the Today programme to have a range of guest editors with diverse experiences who bring their own ideas and perspectives to programmes over the festive period.
‘ They work closely with t he regular programme team to ensure the material meets the BBC’s editorial guidelines.’