Jo blogs: Vicious jibes, dull material – why one comedian’s sport ‘jokes’ leave me cold

Okay, so I know the whole point of the British series ‘Argumental’ is to be controversial. I get it. The programme is dressed up as comedy with a panel of presumably well-known comedians lining up to take pot shots at various statements.

‘There’s no place for women’s sport on TV’ is always going to be inflammatory, but you know, if the comedian is clever, witty, original and tongue-in-cheek about it all, well I’m happy to have a laugh along with that.

Or you could go down the ‘you look like a man route’, like British comedian Jimmy Carr when asked to comment on the statement standing next to a female sumo wrestler.

Going on to talk about women’s sporting attire, weight and that some sportswomen are ‘not amazing to look at’, I could go on but it’s just too dull.

So the programme is dressed up as comedy and the audience are laughing hard, well, ooh-I-shouldn’t-be-laughing-at-this laughing. But you’ve got ask, why is the sumo lady willing to be the foil for the barrage of just plain cruel insults?

Is it because it’s the only way for her sport to get any exposure? Was she planning on coming up with more than the one brilliant retort that got a roar from the crowd and appreciation from the panel?

Was she there for the wider good of women’s sport to show that derogatory comments are all water off a duck’s back these days and people can say what they want we don’t care, we’re breaking barriers?

Was she there to prove Eleanor Roosevelt’s notion that ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent?’ I’m not entirely sure.

What I do know is that I found the comments from Carr unnecessarily cruel, painfully predictable, and vicious. But worst of all, just plain boring.

Author: Jo Gunston

Freelance sportswriter Jo Gunston works for the likes of Olympics.com and also publishes additional content at sportsliberated.com. A favourite personal sporting moment for the former elite gymnast was performing as a 'dancer' in the London 2012 opening ceremony.

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