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TV host says he sees nothing wrong with calling Susan Boyle retarded

Henry refuses to back down from offensive remark

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
Irish Central.com

Published Sunday, November 29, 2009, 11:56 AM
Updated Sunday, November 29, 2009, 10:48 PM

 

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Super trouper: Susan Boyle wows the crowds at the Rockefeller Center in New York
Super trouper: Susan Boyle wows the crowds at the Rockefeller Center in New York

A massive row has broken out in New Zealand after former BBC host Paul Henry called Susan Boyle "retarded".

Talking on his TV show this week Henry laughed as he described how the global superstar was "starved of oxygen" at birth and suffered an intellectual disability.

"Here's the really interesting revelation," he said, "she is in fact retarded ...

"And if you look at her carefully, you can make it out," he said.

His co-host Pippa Wetzell immediately blasted Henry on-air.

Wetzel told Henry: “That is not funny. That’s awful. She’s had such a tragic life that woman.”

Henry has since attempted to defend his comments, saying they were made in a light-hearted fashion.

He said he had done nothing wrong and that it was okay to use the word retarded in relation to  people with intellectual disabilities.

"The remarks I made were specifically with regard to Susan Boyle and they were light-hearted," he said.

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Posted by cabrinnik on Dec 18, 2009, 05:31 PM EST
There is only one person with the intellectual disability here and it is Paul Henry.
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Posted by NanCeeBee on Dec 06, 2009, 11:39 AM EST
Sorry, it was another post where there was some 'Brit' bashing. But it has been going on since Susan's audition, and I wish people would stop showing their own ignorance by doing so. I don't know if this guy is a New Zealander or British. I thought since it was BBC, he was British. So I shut my mouth before you all do it for me, ok?
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Posted by NanCeeBee on Dec 06, 2009, 10:59 AM EST
Just because one Britain on BBC is retarded is no reason to generalize to all 'Brits'. I am an American and am ashamed at the bashing of the British since the Susan Boyle phenomenon. It is uncalled for, regardless of anything one or any of them say or do --there are idiots in every country, and the fact that we know of one that is British is irrelevant. We should feel sorry for him, because he aired his ignorance and now everyone knows. Have some pity for the real retard here, and pray for him folks. Maybe he will glean some small amount of intelligence before he next opens his mouth. One can hope, even for what seems impossible.
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Posted by margemcclory on Dec 05, 2009, 10:54 PM EST
I think that Henry's remark about Susan was unnecessary & uncalled for, just to make news. If I was a listener I wouldn't listen to him any more.
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Posted by proud2beokie on Dec 05, 2009, 12:15 AM EST
It's a shame in this day and age that there are still people like this henry man who thinks it's "light-hearted" to speak about someone as he did about Susan. I had never heard of him and hope to never hear of him again. I'll be listening to music from Susan Boyle for years to come!
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Posted by kickstar on Dec 03, 2009, 09:48 AM EST
And here is the latest utterances from TVNZ Boyle, 48, a frumpy Scottish singer who became an international YouTube phenomenon after appearing on TV show Britain's Got Talent, also topped the British album charts earlier this week. http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/susan-boyle-makes-smash-debut-in-us-3223217
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Posted by kickstar on Dec 03, 2009, 09:10 AM EST
'LiamDavid' Bloody well said!!!
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Posted by kickstar on Dec 03, 2009, 07:38 AM EST
How do you call someone you have never met Retarded in a light hearted way. He is a true RETARD.
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Posted by kickstar on Dec 03, 2009, 07:16 AM EST
Who on earth uses that term today ?? I usually here terms like Challenged etc, BOZO .
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Posted by Respectfully on Dec 02, 2009, 10:02 PM EST
Call it “retarded” or anything you want, “I’ll take what ever Susan has!”
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Posted by emal7717 on Dec 02, 2009, 12:33 PM EST
I hav'nt seen a brit yet that wasnt retarded to one extent or another
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Posted by lovesusanboyle on Dec 02, 2009, 11:50 AM EST
And to you shrinnkie246: You Brits need to reign in your media and keep it on a leash. Or, better yet - MUZZLE IT!
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Posted by lovesusanboyle on Dec 02, 2009, 11:45 AM EST
Susan Boyle is retarded??? If Susan Boyle is retarded, she is the most talented retarded person I have ever seen. If Susan Boyle is retarded, she is the kindest most loving and resilient retarded person I have ever seen. If Susan Boyle is retarded, then this American Woman's greatest ambition in life is to be a retarded person too!
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Posted by shrinnkie246 on Dec 02, 2009, 04:56 AM EST
So this happened in New Zealand did it? That's a surprise. This sounds like something that would come from a loud mouth in America.
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Posted by LiamDavid on Dec 01, 2009, 08:47 PM EST
I think that this Paul Henry suffers from possibly a number of psychosis or perhaps other organic dysfunctions, which cause him to yearn for the attention and approval that is usually and rightfully earned by those who are talented people, and who have achieved their success by way of demonstration of their hard earned talents. This poor ass is trying in vain to be humorous, and to be colorful in the eyes of TV viewers. Yet, making his sociopathic remarks towards a person who may or may not be encumbered by a learning difficulty or any other physical malady is nothing more than a crude and hurtful remark in its entirety. But in an effort so as not to repeat publicly, this hurtful tack of Paul’s, I would like to end here by saying that I hope Paul might someday work hard enough to develop some true talents of his own, and thereby, perhaps discontinue his childish attempts at gaining public attention at the expense of truly talented people like Susan Boyle.
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Posted by tampamom25 on Dec 01, 2009, 03:38 PM EST
And exactly what does this have to do with anything, and why is this disgustingly offensive man allowed to be on television? Susan has a talent that overwhelmed everyone who heard her and she is being allowed to use it. If anyone is retarded it is a grown man who calls names, laughs, and then says he was being light-hearted to try and cover up his real intentions.
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Posted by maygrove on Dec 01, 2009, 03:00 PM EST
greetings Niall from New Zealand. Such crass and insensitive remarks say more about the presenter than of Susan. We can't all be scientists or mathematicians! Susan has a unique talent. I love listening to the c.d - it's the highlight of my very ordinary day. Congrats to Susan and best wishes for continued success.
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Posted by innishowen on Dec 01, 2009, 01:26 AM EST
Sound's like a real wanker! This is said specifically with regard to Paul Henry...You see I feel it's "OK" to use the word "Wanker" in relation to people who feel it makes them bigger when putting down others.
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Posted by lorias1228 on Dec 01, 2009, 12:19 AM EST
I still can't believe he is so dense to not know that the term retarded is taboo. http://fans4susanboyle.ning.com/- updated!
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Posted by sully1167 on Nov 30, 2009, 10:15 PM EST
Paul Henry must think that the world must have an as***** shortage.
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Posted by saturdaynight45 on Nov 30, 2009, 08:54 PM EST
wish i was as retarded as susan. she sold about a million cds on opening day. the biggest first day sales ever in history of mankind. yeah, if she is retarded, make me that successful and call me retarded also
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Posted by dublingausafan on Nov 30, 2009, 08:43 PM EST
no light hearted comment like this is okay. If he really had met susn boyle he would know she is truly a kind. good-hearted person who is keen on the topics addressed with quite a vocabulary not be outdone by any of the people read or heard.
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Posted by beachpolly on Nov 30, 2009, 02:58 PM EST
Every time someone makes an unkind remark about Susan she gets more famous. Most people love her! I think Henry's remark was crude. Someone should should kick his a--.
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Posted by Tschetter on Nov 30, 2009, 02:47 PM EST
Never heard of this Henry guy anything to get his two minutes of fame ...Who's retarded?
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Posted by Louisa21 on Nov 30, 2009, 02:11 PM EST
Rude
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Posted by FromAsia on Nov 30, 2009, 01:55 PM EST
Looking at Paul Henry, I see that he is the one who is retarded. If he looks at himself more carefully, he will discover that he is retarded.
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Posted by srmaryjo on Nov 30, 2009, 01:16 PM EST
RETARDED? I DONT THINK SO! I'VE READ THAT SUSAN HAS AN IQ OF 114. CHECK YOUR BROWSER! 114 IS AVERAGE, NOT REARDED. A RETARDED PERSON CANNOT ANSWER QUESTIONS AS RAPIDLY AS SUSAN CAN. ALSO SHE HAS A GREAT GIFT OF EXPLAINING THINGS. I THINK HENRY SHOULD MAKE A BIG APOLOGY FOR SAYING THAT. IT IS A REPEAT OF THE BULLYIG SUSAN RECEIVED IN SCHOOL AND IS TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR.
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Posted by youareloved on Nov 30, 2009, 01:10 PM EST
I can see in the comment section these words "report abuse". So Irish Central, I would like to report the abusive, derogatory, demeaning, defamatory remarks made by a certain Paul Henry (never heard of him before) about Susan Boyle. How can someone excuse such abusive language as 'lighthearted'? If he thinks he was being lighthearted, then that just goes to show he is the one with the TWISTED MIND!
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Posted by KMcSinger on Nov 30, 2009, 12:52 PM EST
How crass! I hope she doesn't hear about stuff like that. With 1 million sales I'd say that she has the last laugh here on all her naysayers.
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Posted by katmc1149 on Nov 30, 2009, 12:33 PM EST
I hope they keep on blasting him ..! Dont stop! He is the idiot for thinking that he knows what retarded is..!! Susan is not retarded ...Susan is very smart and uses a wonderful sense of humor, a trait of Aries to win people over...she may be guilty of wearing blinders but who wouldn't after what she has been thru..! She has kept her sight on the prize ..the singing career she has always wanted and that takes a very brave and courageous person to do..She being a 48 year old unmarried woman thrown into the mix makes it even harder for her..she may have a very childlike quality about her never having gone thru all the adult phases..but that does not make her retarded...the only one who is the village idiot here that I can see is Paul Henry that is probably why he is tucked away in New Zealand and not commentating in Great Britain lol ....Kat Florida


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