Entertainment
Dr Ranj urges British Curry Awards to ‘do better’ after lack of Asian representation and ‘racist’ joke-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro
‘We are better than this. We are a magnificent people. We have done so much and still have so much to offer. Let’s do better together.’
Dr Ranj shared his thoughts on Twitter, after saying he ‘could not stay silent’ (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Dr Ranj Singh has urged the British Curry Awards to ‘do better’ after their annual awards – branded the ‘Curry Oscars’ by David Cameron – had a white host and judging panel, alongside the majority of its performers.
He also criticised a ‘racist’ joke he said was made by a white person about Indian corner shops and the ‘problematic’ inclusion of a Winston Churchill piece in the auction.
The NHS doctor and TV presenter was a guest at the glitzy do on Monday night but felt compelled to speak out publicly on Twitter to encourage better representation from the organisers.
During the ceremony, he shared a quick clip of his table, the stage and panned around the room to other guests, commenting: ‘It’s so wonderful being at the #BritishCurryAwards tonight… celebrating the best of Asian cuisine! However, how is it that the entire judging panel, host, and even most of the performers on stage so far have all been white? We can do better!’
He added the hashtag ‘representation matters’ and tagged main sponsor Just Eat.
Following the event, the former Strictly Come Dancing star had further thoughts to share, returning to the platform with an open letter to the British Curry Awards as he claimed he was ‘not the only person that felt uncomfortable tonight’.
The doctor and TV host took particular issue with one of the jokes made, as well as a lack of Asian representation (Picture: David M. Benett/Alan Chapman/Getty Images)
He continued: ‘I was honoured and privileged to be invited as a guest for the British Curry Awards tonight. Firstly, thank you to this brilliant organisation for doing their best to celebrate our Asian community.
‘However, when the host is white, the judging panel is entirely white, the performers onstage are over 90% white, are we really representing our community fairly? And to top it off, we have a racist joke on stage, and are auctioning off a piece by Winston Churchill whose relationship with India (and Bengali people specifically) is problematic?’
It’s been argued that former British prime minister Churchill bears ultimate responsibility for the Bengal famine of 1943, alongside the British government at the time, and the estimated deaths of up to four million people in the province.
Dr Ranj added: ‘We are better than this. We are a magnificent people. We have done so much and still have so much to offer. Let’s do better together.’
In the caption, he wrote: ‘I cannot stay silent… Dear @BritCurryAwards… please, let’s talk about this. I’m not berating you as I know you have good intentions and are doing your best. And you have raised so much for charity. But we are better than this.’
The This Morning star then added in a later post: ‘I am so proud of my heritage, my community and those who have come before me to allow me to do what I do. That’s why I cannot be silent on things that really matter.
‘We are not beyond criticism (and that includes me). But we are open to learn and grow.’
He also shared the joke that had made him uncomfortable in the early hours of Tuesday morning, tweeting: ‘Paraphrased slightly, but this is a joke made on stage at the @BritCurryAwards by a white person tonight: “Why has India never won the World Cup? Because every time they get a corner, they build a shop on it.”’
‘I’m sorry but how is this OK?’ he asked.
The 43-year-old received plenty of agreement in the comments from his friends and colleagues, with former Crimewatch host Rav Wilding replying: ‘Ranj that’s just made me so angry. That’s not ok at all.’
Many agreed with his observations of the event (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
‘Bloody hell. It’s not clever. It’s not funny. It is hella racist though,’ responded another person while several others pointed out its dated origins from decades ago.
Another reply read: ‘This ‘joke’ was around in the ’70s/80s & should have stayed there. Not ok then, not ok now [sic].’
According to the website, the host of the event this year was Outnumbered actor and Mock the Week star Hugh Dennis, but it is unclear who made the joke that was considered offensive.
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The 2022 British Curry Awards gave out 13 gongs on Monday, including regional prizes for the beat restaurants, a newcomer award, a best takeaway award and a personality of the year award.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also sent in a video message for the bash, voicing his support for the industry.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the British Curry Awards, Just Eat and a rep for Hugh Dennis for comment.
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