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Irish radio host blasted for calling Susan Boyle a 'freak' and 'not right in the head'

Do you think calling someone 'not right in the head' can ever be justified?

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 7:22 AM
Updated Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 9:47 AM

 

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An Irish breakfast show presenter has been professionally reprimanded for calling Susan Boyle a “freak” and “not right in the head.”

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) said that Claire Byrne’s comments were “inherently offensive,” “disrespectful” and “not editorially justified."

Byrne made the comments on-air on Monday, November 17, after the Irish twin singing sensation of John and Edward Grimes were voted off TV show "X-Factor," which had also featured Boyle as a guest.

Byrne said she did not think Boyle was a good enough singer to be on the show.

“She annoys me," she said. "I can’t listen to her or watch her. She does my head in. The whole thing, she’s a freak show, she’s a freak . . . she’s not right in the head . . . it’s because she’s a freak that she’s up there.”

Byrne's employers, Newstalk, claimed that the word “freak” referred to the "Britain's Got Talent" TV show that sent Boyle on her way to global stardom, rather than the singer herself.

The BAI chose to disagree. It said the language was inappropriate and that the comments were “likely to cause offense."
 

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Posted by Temerity on May 13, 2010, 03:31 AM EDT
PS. maybe she was feeling bitter because her husband dumped her;-).
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Posted by Temerity on Mar 04, 2010, 10:55 PM EST
Who is Clair Byrne never heard of her.she must be a rather silly shallow ignorant person. Who cares.
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Posted by erlemann55 on Mar 03, 2010, 11:56 PM EST
Perhaps it is Claire Byrne who is not right in the head otherwise she surley would not make such remarks.
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Posted by carol0911 on Mar 03, 2010, 09:54 PM EST
Well of course it is not justified. Nor is her "explanation" satisfactory. This woman obviously is lacking both in common courtesy and common decency. What a shame that she is allowed to spew such comments on the air.
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Posted by beachpolly on Mar 03, 2010, 04:24 PM EST
I sorry I meant that Claire Bryne is the freak. I hope Ms. Kelly will forgive me for my remarks.
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Posted by beachpolly on Mar 03, 2010, 04:21 PM EST
I think Ms. Kelly is a very unkind and unfeeling person. Susan Boyle singing voice and stage presence has thrilledf millions. Ms. Kelley is the freak.
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Posted by LinLinisme on Mar 03, 2010, 12:25 PM EST
Why are you trying to get more publicity? You are already a "personality" but you are TRASH. Susan Boyle is a lady and she is the best of the best. This Claire Byme should lose her show, and never be on the air again.
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Posted by KathyMu on Mar 03, 2010, 12:19 PM EST
People say this trash about Susan for one reason, and that's because they know that whenever her name is mentioned, it's news. By repeating the trash that they say, it's giving them exactly what they want. Publicity. Sorry, but no one can be ignorant enough to say something like this without an ulterior motive.
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Posted by killowen on Mar 03, 2010, 12:17 PM EST
This Claire Byrne must be some moron. What county is she from? Her ass should be grass by now. Out on the street.
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Posted by tlachdga on Mar 03, 2010, 09:13 AM EST
Claire Byrne should know better, and if in fact Susan Boyle is "off in the head" that just makes her achievements all the more impressive. Shame on Claire for making such inappropriate remarks.
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Posted by Critarun on Mar 03, 2010, 08:56 AM EST
poor taste for an irish women and i would have expected better she should grow up we were all raised better
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Posted by MalcomAC on Mar 03, 2010, 08:43 AM EST
Irish Central is reporting what folks are talking about. It is not endorsing the information or saying it's valid. They're saying it's a topic of discussion in the press. That this woman has been reprimanded for comments about Boyle IS news. That's all.
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Posted by busterbrown on Mar 03, 2010, 06:07 AM EST
That's the reason why she won't be singing for the Queen.
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Posted by idafan43 on Mar 03, 2010, 02:10 AM EST
Must be nice that people that live in large cities are not backwards like us rural people. I agree with you sugarpuddin. Copy and Paste, from acticle from yesterday.
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Posted by sugarpuddin on Mar 02, 2010, 09:53 PM EST
I am simply appalled at what passes for journalism today. Most of the BS in this article is lifted directly from tabloids that either misconscrew or outright lie or invent stories and unfortunately fools like this "writer", and I use the word loosely,instead of checking facts, believe them or are too lazy to find their own facts and do their own story. What this writer wrote is simply unforgivable and what is needed is not an apology but a termination of employment so they can hire a real writer. That would be a big first step in the direction of cleaning up journalism. Nial O'Doud, the buck stops with you. Are you content to harbor trash like this on in your employ? We are judged by the company we keep AND THE EMPLOYEES WE HIRE AND KEEP.
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Posted by kickstar on Mar 02, 2010, 09:52 PM EST
Susan Boyle is one of them strange Rural type of people who you will find in a hundred towns and villages in Ireland, Scotland and in fact the entire British Isles who come under the banner of normal, She could have been my next door neighbor where I grew up, You would have seen a lot of people like Susan at the Bingo in The parochial hall on a Tuesday night when I was a kid, But a Freak!? This lady Byrne needs to do a course or three on People Sensitivities.
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Posted by FromAsia on Mar 02, 2010, 08:17 PM EST
KathyMu, well said.
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Posted by FromAsia on Mar 02, 2010, 08:06 PM EST
this belfastjames person does not seems to have learned logic. This person certainly not a native British because I learned from history books that British people have manners. SO true Brits will not call anyone retard. Or, maybe the history book should be getting re-write by now.
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Posted by flamefromlake on Mar 02, 2010, 07:49 PM EST
I dont't know Susan Boyle, so all I can do is say what I sense about her. From her personality on video and TV, I see a charming, sincere & lovely person. From her talent, I hear a beauty of song from a voice that touches me deeply, really unlike very few other singers ever have. From a nonenity like Ms. Byrne, all I can hear is a cruel, insensitive and envious wannabe, but never will be anything near the person and success that Susan, with her unique talent, is and will remain no matter what she does in the future.
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Posted by KathyMu on Mar 02, 2010, 06:31 PM EST
Has she has Sharon Osbourne on the show yet?
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Posted by KathyMu on Mar 02, 2010, 06:30 PM EST
belfastjames....she got less votes in the UK because a lot of retards that can't think for themselves believe tabloids......you've just proven you're one of them.
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Posted by terijay on Mar 02, 2010, 06:19 PM EST
why re you rehashing a non story from four months ago? you are as bad as Ms Byrne- keeping the crap going.
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Posted by JoMichael on Mar 02, 2010, 05:45 PM EST
Well, it offends me! Nov. 17 - six days before Susan's CD was released in the U.S. where it set records. The day before, it set records in the U.K. So I guess Ms. Byrne doesn't know what she's talking about. 10 Million sales worldwide later, and Susan is planning return trips to Germany, Japan, a first trip to Australia, and others. The world loves her. So sorry Ms. Byrne felt the need to use derogatory, disrespectful language about Miss Boyle who is such a beautiful artist!
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Posted by janetha on Mar 02, 2010, 05:21 PM EST
Do you also kick dogs and take candy from babies? What a lack of compassion - I hope no baby is ever born in your family with any degree of "disability". There are various degrees of disability and if Susan is "retarded" I have seen no evidence of it. She is sharper than a lot of people I know!
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Posted by marydobish on Mar 02, 2010, 05:07 PM EST
What a nasty piece of work Claire Byne is! I don't even know her, never saw her, but don't ever want to do so now. Susan Boyle, on the other hand, is a sweet, sincere person who happens to also be an awesome performer. Susan, don't listen to this moron ever!
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Posted by belfastjames on Mar 02, 2010, 03:25 PM EST
And thats one of the reasons why she got 1million less votes. She is one crazy woman
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Posted by belfastjames on Mar 02, 2010, 03:18 PM EST
She is a retard, most people in the UK think the same
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Posted by FromAsia on Mar 02, 2010, 03:16 PM EST
Boyle's behavior at BGT is called "cool"; Byrne's behavior is called "mean".
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Posted by maxriley on Mar 02, 2010, 02:26 PM EST
JUST BECAUSE SOME OF THESE MORON'S HAVE RADIO SHOW'S THEY THINK THEY TRASH ANYBODY ANY TIME. HE NEEDS TO BE LOOKING FOR A NEW LINE OF WORK RIGHT AFTER HE APOLOGIZES
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Posted by prettywoman on Mar 02, 2010, 01:26 PM EST
BYRNE MUST ASK APOLOGY TO SUSAN BOYLE. BYRNE MUST ASK APOLOGY TO SUSAN BOYLE.


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