Exceptionally unfunny "comedian" Ricky Gervais has been criticised by disability groups for repeated use of the word "mong" on his Twitter feed in such hilarious ways (see my sides split) as "Good monging everyone", "Night night monglets" and "Two mongs don't make a right".
Mencap said using it could reinforce prejudice but Gervais insists the word has changed meaning and that he never meant to refer to people with Down's.
The Office star criticised "the humourless PC brigade" on his Twitter feed and said the term is now commonly used to refer to someone who is very stupid or idiotic. On Sunday, he tweeted: "Well done everyone who pointed out that Mong USED to be a derogatory term for DS [Down's Syndrome], Gay USED to mean happy. Words change. Get over it."
However, disability charity Mencap called Gervais's tweets "very disappointing". Campaigns and policy officer Mark Gale said: "When people in the public eye use words of this type [it] can be offensive to people with a disability and their families.
"We want people to know that such language can perpetuate discriminatory attitudes towards disabled people."
Down Syndrome Education International also said it was concerned and claimed many people would find it just as bad as offensive language related to race or sexual orientation.
Ricky Gervais is 50 years old and knows full well what the word mong meant and still means. Then again Gervais was, is and always will be a talentless arse.
4 comments:
"Mongoloid" was a term that was still in use when I was a child but has been in disfavour for years.
I'm willing to believe that Gervais meant to disrespect "Night night monglets" sounds more endearing than insulting to me
Uh oh... that should read "meant NO disrespect"
I hope that is the case but I get the feeling that he is being puerile. Which would be in keeping with his dismal brand of humour
A bit Steve but I am not picking on the weak here!
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