Harry Connick, Jr. on MadTV - Preachers Skit


"...A video of US singer Harry Connick jnr impersonating a southern US preacher has resurfaced online in response to the singer's condemnation of a controversial "blackface" skit on a Hey Hey It's Saturday reunion last night.In the 13-year-old video, filmed for MADtv in 1996, Connick jnr wears a black wig, preacher's robes and speaks with a southern accent, before promoting one of his albums.

During last night's show, five men were covered in black face paint and black wigs and re-enacted their skit Jackson Jive, which appeared years ago when Hey Hey was originally on air.

The Michael Jackson character this time had his face painted white.

Connick jnr was one of the judges of the segment and took offence at the act, giving it a zero.

Some of the online response to the MADtv segment has been to brand the singer a hypocrite, while others were angry the resurfacing of the clip was deflecting attention away from the Hey Hey performers, who have since apologised for any offence caused.

"If he can get away with that in the US why is a dated and harmless blackface skit on Aussie TV so offensive to him? The man is a hypocrite of the worst kind," Meg wrote.

Dozens of people also posted comments on YouTube, as links to the MADtv video circulated rapidly this morning.

"Harry is a hypocrite of the highest order, typical shallow celebrity with double standards, do as i say, not as i do," wrote one user, AussieOz007.

The video was also posted on Australian TV blog TV Tonight, where a debate has erupted about whether the MADtv skit was racist.

Many pointed out that Connick jnr was not wearing "blackface make-up", as last night's Hey Hey performers had.

"Harry isn't painted with a 'black face' and heis doing the skit among african americans," wrote Jenny on the blog.

"The problem with the hey hey skit is that the performers had painted black faces and black wigs on which are errily similar to the blatant racist images used in America many years ago."

Another user, Jack, said those equating the Madtv video to last night's performance did not understand what was offensive about the "blackface" skit last night.

"By people comparing this, it's apparent that many Australians don't get what blackface is. No wonder why they are left scratching their heads about the whole incident. Get yourself informed folks!"

User Ro wrote: "This is hardly 'blackface'. No exaggerated racial images black shoe polish faces and wollywigs. Obviously people still don't quite understand that it's not about impersonation..." (Fairfax Media)






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