It wasn’t just enough for some 12-year-old Canadian to allegedly call Justin Bieber a “faggot” during a day of laser tag. Now some Canadian radio host, Dean Blundell, is getting wrist slapped for implying the singer is — THE ULTIMATE OF INSULTS — a homosexual! The Hollywood Reporter breaks down the scandal to my north:
The Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council (the northern neighbor’s version of the FCC) has slammed a Toronto radio station and its shock jock for making crude comments about pop sensation Justin Bieber and his legion of teenaged fans. The agency has just published an interesting ruling against the station, CFNY-FM (“The Edge”), that finds there is “no justification for allegedly humorous references to children in sexual contexts.”
The controversy began last October with a Twitter message published by CFNY’s radio host Dean Blundell about his distaste for Bieber. The host also implied the singer was gay. Bieber has one of the strongest followings on Twitter, accounting for 3 percent of all traffic on the website, according to one recent study. Predictably, Bieber’s fans unleashed their venom on Blundell. Blundell tweeted back: “Save your energy for puberty or to fend off your dad tonight while you’re sleepin’.”
The exchange then became the topic of conversation on Blundell’s radio show. He repeated his tweets, and several responses, and referred to one 12-year-old critic as a future “chugger,” slang for a male prostitute.
Wait, this began last October? As in a year ago? That some radio host was calling a then-15-year-old a homo?
Actually, Blundell — as you can hear in the audio clip below — refers to Beiber as a “he-she” and then a “she.” And then an “it.” And then a “transexual.” While laughing. And saying Bieber “sounds like a gay kid,” should “be embarrassed” for the the sound of his voice, and that he’s a “pretty good looking chick.” Asked by a co-host whether Bieber is “a male or a female,” Blundell responds, “I don’t know. You decide.”
So Canada’s broadcasting bureau has reprimanded, or whatever, Blundell and his station, which hosts his “shock jock” show The Edge. It’s unclear whether the punishment means a fine, or just some tersely worded paperwork.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Kids bullying kids? What award do adults get for picking on teenagers? Blundell was suspended at least once before, in 2004, when the Jackass crew stopped by the studio and pissed all over it, literally. It’s time to review the options to keep Blundell off the air.
BubbasBack
Bieber really needs a better haircut. Burp.
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Jack
Does anyone besides teenage girls care about anything to do with Justin Bieber? Really…
Kieran
An “adult” now casually using the “he’s so gay” charge against 16 year old Justin Bieber. As far as your average homophobic asshole is concerned, that is the insult of insults to throw at someone, and it kind of epitomizes the homophobic age in which we are living. Isn’t it so very perplexing that young gay teens in the kind of culture that produces loads of clueless dirtbags like Dean Blundell would be struggling to come to terms with their sexual orientation?
jason
Maybe Blundell has the hots for Bieber. I certainly wouldn’t condone this relationship, especially seeing the age difference.
Yal
See, I will never understand Dean. I’m from Toronto and I listen to his show sometimes.Yes, he is a gigantic douche (is any morning radio jockey not?). He makes homophobic jokes and insensitive comments like this, but at the same time he is very pro gay rights. He has talked on air many times about the small-minded idiocy of hating gay people, has gay contributors to his show every week, promotes and lauds gay pride and how it’s even a worthwhile and fun time for straight people. He has told homophobic people who call in that they are idiots, he has spoken eloquently about gay issues and the struggles gay people have had to face (i even heard him going on the other day about how important social media sites must be for gay people who are isolated and in small communities, to feel that they are not alone)
He has highlighted, mocked and ridiculed Pastor Martin Ssempa and his bigotry. He calls Shirley Phelps and argues with her and highlights her ignorance, and also mocks her, and anyone who thinks her views are in any way legitimate. He has mocked the homophobia of many people this way.
This is why I don’t understand why he thinks it’s ok sometimes to use homophobic language in a joking manner, and to mock and put down other people. Sure, he is a douche in many other ways on his show (ridiculing obese people, sexualizing women, obnoxiously pro police during the G20 debacle, etc), but he has never shown himself to be an idiot.
Part of me just wants to believe he plays up that stupidity just because he knows that some of the people who listen to his show are the types of morons who also use and bandy around this kind of language. But I can’t. Because his other actions prove he doesn’t care if some in the audience are too ignorant to agree with him on progressive issues.
It frustrates me because he really knows better, and if you listen to the show long enough, you will know that he may be a jackass, but he is not an idiot. He has the potential to be a great ally, but only if he grows up a bit, and if he realizes that homophobic jokes can be just as damaging as the blatant homophobia he always campaigns against.
gregger
The man is a douche nozzle with the hots for a 16 y.o. boy who looks like a lesbian. He’s ashamed and lashing out at the object of his affections as his way of dealing with his confusion, puzzlement, and secret pain. He needs help.
Desdemona
This guy, like so many other straight guys, is just hating on justin bieber b/c he’s surrounded my millions of girls ready and willing to bed him, while these other guys like this loser radio host probably hasn’t been laid in years… if ever.
tonyd
I never cared for Bieber, but no kid should put up with this shit; from the pestering 12 year-old and his father at laser tag to this Dj? Regardless of money or body guards, Bieber is a child being harassed continuously and by looking at some of these comments, some gay men foolishly fail to recognize this, but I bet they’d be the first to pout for their safety to be guarded first. A double standard, isn’t it?
A. Non
What kid without facial hair DOESN’T look like a lesbian woman? Hell, sometimes the facial hair doesn’t even matter for the lesbo-look these tweens have.
That said, IMO his only mistake is to go from doing what most shock jocks do and say what everyone is thinking and instead go and say what everyone else has already said about Bieber and many other celebs his age…get some new material, next you’ll be going on about how Jacko needs less plastic surgery and older bodyguards to share his bed with.
And, to point the argument away from Bieber or this jock, shame on the CBFC for saying “allegedly humorous references to children in sexual contexts” in response to him calling Bieber gay…the word gay is in no way a sexual connotation and his reference was to the kid’s sexuality rather than his sexual proclivities, to be gay does not mean to have sex with those of the same sex, it means to have a physical attraction towards those of the same sex. This attraction does not have to be sexual, and it is this kind of disregard for the difference between the two that have given us gays problems with the whole “gay” thing. When a parent hears the words “I’m gay” they instantly think “Oh, so he’s fucking other boys then!”, and it’s official agencies like the FCC/CBFC that do the most harm when they make this mistake because more people get to see it and they accept it must be true because it’s by someone official.
Not to say we dont fuck those of the same sex, but you CAN be gay and celibate just like you can be straight and celibate!
A. Non
Additionally (and I was going to mention it in the same post, but got sidetracked :-)), shave that beard off and this guy could pass for Ellen’s fat sister…Dean, don’t throw stones, you might get your glass house broken! 🙂
Mal Tempo
Another irresponsible media member! I am shocked, shocked, shocked!
Giovannidude
Where is Chris Hansen?
Leave Justin al-oooooooone!!!!!!!!!!
gladys
Fuckin’ WAAAAAH. Geezuz…he’s a guy making jokes. It’s what he does. Get a grip, people. You can say whatever the hell you want to say, about anybody. You’re offended? Tough shit. Toughen up. EVERYONE gets picked on about something. It’s up to you to decide to not be a victim. Everyone likes to blame others for the way they are, or the way they think. Guess what….it’s all you, dickneck. Grow a pair, and move on.
Michael
Success breeds contempt. Contempt affords the target more publicity, as is seen here. Who knows how much larger Bieber’s fan base could be if he were Gay?
A. Non
But then that’d mean he wouldn’t be able to bully his fans at a laser tag game, it’s kinda hard for a kid to bully a group of grown men who are following him around letcherously wherever he goes
Michael
@A. Non: Bieber has a staff of paid body guards and PR people to do his bullying.
Derek Washington
What a dick.
Btw, has anyone seen “Lesbians who look like Justin Bieber”?
http://lesbianswholooklikejustinbieber.tumblr.com/
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Was that guy once a catholic priest???
John Thomas
@Activists Need Your $upport:
Fuck off….It’s a joke your retard. Perhaps you and Justin can “chug” together at the bus station….Ha Ha Ha…
John Thomas
@Yal:
Listen bud, I get what your saying but come on, it’s a joke. Most people now a days are educated enough to see it as that. I get where your coming from but suck it up and learn to laugh at yourself sometimes, it makes the world a better place.
Ya I get it, gays have to deal with a lot, blacks have to deal with a lot, jews have to deal with a lot. Guess what, so does everyone else…..lighten up. Whats wrong with this world is people take themselves waaaayyyy to seriously and can’t laugh at things deep down they know are funny.
Seriously, Beiber does seem a little gay…..
Egelbert
I’m no fan of Bieber, and I think he deserves a lot of the criticism, I mean he’s crap really, but sexualising a child, calling him “a real good looking chick,” I think is really fucked up. That’s really creepy.
Andy
Well written by someone who has obviously never listened to the show. Dean’s issue is that Beiber is a snob that makes a living off of taking advantage of an easily manipulated group. Perhaps Dean is crude with his humour but he has always avocated gay rights and often uses his show as a medium to promote equality. You should get your facts straight and not take things out of context.
David Gervais
There is a factual error in the story:
“The Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council (the northern neighbor’s version of the FCC)” quoted from The Hollywood Reporter.
The CBSC is not like the FCC, which is a Gov regulatory body. The CBSC is an industry group and has no government authority. see CBCS.ca
Taylor
@Kieran: You don’t know what you are talking about. If you actually listen to the Dean Blundell Show you would know that Dean Blundell is far from homophobic. They have a weekly guest who is a lesbian and comes on every Tuesday. They do poke fun at the stereotypes associated with sexual orientations but the also do so with religion, race, gender, geographic location etc. This is what makes the show amusing and attractive to millions of people. The problem is not the homophobic age that we live but the over-sensitive idiots that complain about every little comment that can be interpreted as something borderline offensive.
ryan
you people are just sticks in the mud eh? hes a talk show host, a damn funny one too. maybe if people in contemporary society shared a sense of humor, you wouldnt get this uptight and bitchy. stop looking for little imperfections and slip ups just to slam on someone whos doing better than you are! oh “douche bag radio host”, thats a good one. if you ever bother to listen to the DBS you’d recognize how he eats douchebags for breakfast. i havent heard him mention anything about this, or similar articles. but i can not WAIT until he does! all blundell is doing is picking a popular topic of humorous nature…familiar with those? they start good conversations and make lots of friends. im not one of those typical beiber haters, the kids got talent. beiber has committment beyond my comprehension to have gotten that far and done what hes done with himself. i have all the respect in the world for that kid! as i am sure blundell has! please for the sake of the generations to come revive the sense of humor in society! smoke a joint maybe it makes everything funnier -_-