Russell Brand Says The Paralympics Have ‘Novelty Value’
I, for one, think Paralympians are absolutely right to find these remarks offensive. I’m not a Paralympian, but as a disabled person, I find them quite offensive myself! I wouldn’t be surprised if all disabled people do.
He’s no stranger to causing controversy over the things he has said.
But Russell Brand was today accused of going to far when he called the Paralympics ‘novelty value’.
The comedian was slammed by paralympic athletes after he poked fun at them during a recent stand-up gig.
‘At least the Paralympics have some kind of novelty value or something.’
Brand, 36, made the comment earlier last week, during a gig at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington, north London less than 48 hours before International Paralympic Day, to promote the 2012 games, took place in Trafalgar Square.
And today, leading Paralympians slammed the star for his comments and said they were patronising.
Veteran former Paralympic athlete Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, 42, said his remarks were both careless and irresponsible.
Wheelchair athlete David Weir, who won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze at the 2008 Beijing games, said: ‘Calling the sport a novelty is offensive.
‘Brand obviously hasn’t met any Paralympians. If he did he certainly wouldn’t call any of us a novelty.’
And swimmer Chris Holmes, who has a haul of nine gold medals, said Brand was out of touch.
He added: ‘It’s important to enable every disabled person, particularly the young, to access sport as easily as their able-bodied counterparts
‘The Games are still in their youth phase, but have moved on and are no longer seen as a Cinderella event.’
Same Difference 