Transcript of BBC radio race row

I don't see how anyone could be expected to comment without having access to the full transcript. We have no way of knowing what happened between the difference of opinion between Purves and Howe and the shouting match between Rivers and Howe...

Joan Rivers: I'm so bored of race. I think people should inter-marry. Everybody should be part this, part that and part everything and race doesn't mean a damn thing. It's about people... everybody should just relax, take the best of their cultures and move forward.

Libby Purves: That's a very American approach, a melting pot approach.

Darcus Howe: That's not an American approach. America is one of the most savagely racial places in the world.

Later on:

Howe: Since black offends Joan I will make it..

Rivers: Wait. Just stop right now, Black does not offend me. How dare you, how dare you say that. Black offends me? You know nothing about me, you sat down here. How dare you.

Howe: The use of the term black offends you.

Rivers: The use of the term black offends me? Where the hell are you coming from? You have got such a chip on your shoulder. How dare you say that to me.

Howe: I think this is a language problem.

Rivers: No I don't. I think this is a problem in your stupid head. You had a child, you left them, your wife said you weren't there. You married a woman, you deserted her, now your son comes back he's got problems. Where were you when he was growing up, until he was eight years old?

Howe: May we continue?

Rivers: How dare you. Please continue, but don't you dare call me that. Son of a bitch.

Purves: Right Darcus, can we just say you don't think Joan is a racist and then perhaps we can move on?

Howe: I don't know whether she is a racist or not. I don't care.

Rivers: You just said the word black offends me. That's the stupidest thing I ever heard.

Howe: Normally I wouldn't ever meet you in my life.

Rivers: No normally would I meet you, nor would I choose to meet you.

Howe: No she's not a racist.

Rivers: OK please continue about your stupid film.

Purves: Right can we talk about your tour Joan?

Rivers: Talk about anything you want.

Howe: I don't think you brought me here to be insulted.

Rivers: No I don't think I was brought here to be insulted by someone, to be called a racist.

Howe: Let's go on with my film please?

Rivers: Please go on with your film.

Purves: Well we have to move on for time reasons. (To photographer Andrea Jones) Andrea shall we talk about plant photography?

A blazing argument between US comic Joan Rivers and broadcaster Darcus Howe almost brought BBC Radio 4's Midweek programme to a standstill on Wednesday.

The dispute began when Howe suggested the veteran performer was offended by the use of the term "black".

Rivers replied angrily, calling Howe a "son of a bitch" and accusing him of calling her a racist.

Presenter Libby Purves tried to defuse the row, which was broadcast live on the normally sedate programme.

The dispute arose during a discussion on Howe's forthcoming Channel 4 documentary Son of Mine, which explores his relationship with his 20-year-old son Amiri.

The Trinidad-born broadcaster revealed how he had only seen the boy a few times a year during the first eight years of his life, prompting further sallies from Rivers.

'Chip on shoulder'

"You had a child, you left him," she said. "Where were you when he was growing up?"

Rivers, about to embark on a UK tour, also accused Howe of having "a chip on his shoulder" on the subject of race.

Purves eventually managed to end the argument by bringing in another guest, plant photographer Andrea Jones.

A Radio 4 spokeswoman said the station had received around 20 calls from listeners.

"A few complained about the swearing, but most called to say they really enjoyed the debate," she said.

Son of Mine will be shown on Channel 4's More4 network on 24 October.

Darcus Howe is a twat.

'nuff said.

EW

Seems to me that only white, more or less, Anglo-saxons are racists nowadays, and everyone else is just having a little intercultural dispute. What gets me is that people who so hate our rather open, and sometimes rather morally loose society, who come from another culture really would do well to go and live in a place where they approve of the culture that would then suround them, if they cannot stand ours. I had never heard of D Howe before this, but he seems a very nasty piece of work to me.

Fredrik

I don't think this is actually a race row; the incident was simply about bad manners and arrogance.

Darcus Howe arrogantly made derogatory assumptions about Joan Rivers opinions and was rightly berated by her for his insinuation that she was a racist.

Based on my experience of Darcus Howe and the facts about him presented in the programme I agree with Joan's actions and find him a pompous self-righteous joyless misanthrope.

Give me laughter over sour bitterness anyday!

Doug

From the transcripts I've seen it's difficult to assume anything other than that Darcus Howe is a complete arsehole and far, far too ready to play the racism card - especially to cover his own failings.

There's no business like.......

I wish Berlin Fraser had been there as well...