Complaints made against Jack Whitehall’s ’dwarf’ routine from Live at the Apollo have been upheld by the BBC.
The broadcaster received two complaints relating to a story Jack told about meeting a dwarf at a pop concert on the stand-up show.
It confirmed that the material will not be broadcast again.
The BBC has released a statement saying that while the comedian was allowed to exaggerate stereotypes ‘for comic effect’, he cannot ‘take a stereotypical view of dwarfism itself’.
It read: ‘When it is within audience expectations, we may feature a portrayal or stereotype that has been exaggerated for comic effect, but we must be aware that audiences may find casual or purposeless stereotypes to be offensive.’
The statement also made clear that while Whitehall is known for his ‘self-deprecating’ comedy’, ‘there were occasions when it seemed a stereotypical view of dwarfism itself, rather than Jack Whitehall’s own ineptitude, was the source of the humour, which took the routine beyond the expectations of audiences in relation to material of this kind.’
Jack is known for his successful standup career, as well as for presenting the Brit Awards and appearing in TV shows such as Fresh Meat and Bad Education.
