Channel 4 apologises for Madeley over 'dyke' gaffe

by Staff,, Brand Republic 09-Aug-04, 12:05

LONDON - Channel 4 has apologised after talkshow host Richard Madeley used the word 'dyke' -- believing it to be 'hip' -- which prompted complaints from viewers that it was homophobic.

Madeley has explained that he used the word during a 9 June broadcast of 'Richard and Judy' in the understanding that, historically, it was a disparaging term but it was now widely used in popular culture. He argued he had used "dyke" to describe a woman's sexuality in a "hip" way.

Two complaints were received about the item, which was actually about tanning and nothing to do with lesbianism.

Ofcom, the media regulator, said it considered the matter resolved because Madeley had apologised at the end of the next programme and Channel 4 had emphasised there was no intention to condone "dyke" as a term of abuse. The production company behind 'Richard and Judy' has agreed to edit it out of the show for any repeat broadcasts.

Ofcom has rapped MTV2 for showing a fire extinguisher being let off in someone's face during the stunt programme 'Dirty Sanchez' after viewers complained it could encourage children to copy the stunt.

MTV said the scene was included mistakenly and Ofcom ruled it was in breach of the programme code on the watershed and children and imitative behaviour.

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