Disappointing “no-show” from self-confessed racist in First Contact forum
She criticised Aboriginals, then quit the series. But SBS says "Sandy couldn't be here tonight" to explain herself.
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Outspoken First Contact participant “Sandy” Clifford was nowhere to be seen last night in the Insight special -after quitting the series in the second episode.
Host Stan Grant told viewers, “Sandy couldn’t be here tonight”without elaborating on the reasons.
All 5 other participants attended to discuss their experience on the SBS Indigenous series.
“Sandy” had been unapologetic in her views on Indigenous Australians before calling it quits.
“God gave black people rhythm and soul. They can dance and sing and all are hot while they dance, but when it comes to brains, white people have better brains,” she had said.
“If they think it’s racist, well, I don’t f***ken care.”
Producer Darren Dale told TV Tonight last week, “Obviously we wanted all of them to complete the whole journey. They’re free people but they sign an agreement with us but if people don’t want to continue…
“It is like being immersed in a whole 28 day thing. That’s what you signed up for.”
He said a conversation with Sandy took place before she exited from Central Australia.
“‘Ok. You don’t want to proceed? Off you go,'” he recalled.
“But I think she makes quite an impact in the one and a half episodes.”
Last night she was nowhere to be seen to provide insight into her departure.
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9 Responses
I couldn’t get past the first night. This manipulative style which blends a shreaking reality format with an on air host is a post modernist attempt to update and extend the documentary genre. But really it just wrecks it and achieves almost nothing. Give me a really considered traditional observational documentary any day. In fact there is one and it is called First Contact. Made in 1983 by Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson it won multiple awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. Take a look at a documentary such as this and you’ll soon see how its new namesake has trivialised an idea.
Sandy didn’t do herself any favours by her overall poor, selfish and ignorant behaviour.
She selfishly took up a place and wasted an opportunity for a more worthwhile person to participate .
Whilst this program was well intentioned it didn’t quite work, focussing too much on the participants and not enough on the individual indigenous people and their issues.
Also I found the two younger girls very self indulgent and sooky – carrying on like they did about the potential prospect of spending a night in a prison cell ,and other scenarios they faced throughout the show.
Harden up girls !
@Pertinax: while what she says may be unlawful under the RDA, section 18C quite specifically says “an unlawful act is not necessarily a criminal offence”. And participation in a TV show like that is almost certainly covered by the academic / artistic / scientific / public interest exemptions in section 18D (as others have been).
If someone really wants to spout intolerant crap, then a TV show made with the specific purpose of showcasing the complexity of racism is probably the safest place to do it…
@bettestreep2008, the hard left are just as racist as the right wing rednecks…fyi…just more insidious about it. Condescending patronising prescriptive racism.
That aside….it will take unity to improve the life of indigenous folk and a pragmatic approach.
The trouble with a show like this, is that it will shine a light on the issue, but will life be any better in 5 years time? Kev Rudd said sorry (good ‘on him by the way) but many many indigenous folk are still at a considerable disadvantage
I’ve watched the first two episodes, but I’m not sure I can face the third. For me the racism on show is not exactly surprising, given how ignorant and ill-informed most of the participants are – and not just about aborigines. But the real problem is that the program doesn’t squarely tackle the perceptions and prejudices. In fact, in many ways it inadvertently confirms them, without offering anywhere near enough background to generate genuine understanding. It’s like the producers feel that confronting bigots with real live aborigines is enough. It’s not. I note that most of the reaction on social media is more about the bogan participants than the real issues of poverty, education, housing, etc. An indication that it’s been more of a sideshow than a wake-up call.
Jezza – you’ll find that a lot of us ‘lefties’ are appalled that there is rampant racism in Australia.
The solution is to educate the rightwing rednecks that all people should be treated with respect and dignity.
A good start is Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech.
She’s a piece of work, that one. Unbelievable attitudes.
Well she can only be judged on what she said and did. More fool her.
I thought the contact series and follow up was kind of treading over old ground, a little bit leftie inspired drivel.
The one thing that did stand out completely was the feelings of one of the indigenous studio guests, who felt so proud to be Australian when she was overseas and when she arrived back in Oz, the cloak of colour came over her and she did not feel the same. I felt that was so sad and that all of us (left,middle or right…indigenous and non-indi) have so much more to do. I don’t have the answers
Give that she could be prosecuted under section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. She would have been stupid to continue or turn up. It’s done its job and intimidated her into silence.
Making TV entertainment based around racism, no matter how well intentioned, is an ethical minefield.