Ami Winehouse on CBBC
Posted in Idling on 02/11/2008 10:38 am by foolhandy
As soon as someone says “I’m not a rascist but…” you know they read The Daily Mail. Despite this, I’m going to start by saying I’m not a prude. I don’t believe that someone who takes drugs should be condemned and/or ignored. But I don’t think that the drug taking itself, or the consequences, should be ignored either.
Newsround was on CBBC this morning and they featured an article on Ami Winehouse winning five Grammys. Fair enough. However the reason she wasn’t there in person was given as this :
It’s the same on the CBBC Newsround website (from where the above quote is taken).
It’s all very Auntie Beeb isn’t it? I obviously wouldn’t expect them to explain in detail that the Visa problems were caused by her arrest in Norway late last year, or the fact that she’s in rehab, or that she’s had to be moved to a hospital because she’s in such a bad state that rehab can’t cope with her medically, or that police are currently investigating a video or her using a crack-cocaine pipe, but some mention of the fact that if she wasn’t a drug addict there wouldn’t be any visa problems would surely have been a good idea. It’s not just a joint every so often is it?
How about this?
“Amy had trouble getting the paperwork, called a visa, to fly to Los Angeles because of the problems she is having with drugs. Although she was later allowed to fly to Los Angeles, she decided not to go.”
It’s not heavy handed, but it makes a point. It was continued heavy duty drug use that caused the Visa problems, not just because she forgot to date the form…
She’s a troubled lady and I hope she gets better soon, but isn’t it also a good opportunity to point out to children that with drugs there are consequences unless you’re very careful? Or am I being a prude?
Ami Winehouse (pictured) is 24.
02/11/2008 at 2:45 pm
I think you make a very good point here. Not too heavy-handed, and at least not lying!
02/11/2008 at 2:56 pm
Thanks. It’s not just me pushing mid-30s is it…
02/25/2008 at 6:29 pm
CBBC are not USA govermental policy spokesmen to begin with. It is about Ami Winehouse talents and achievements, not about the policies of USA immigration department… or what ever department it is. The reason that she wouldn’t be allowed to visit L.A. on the grounds of her being an addict is prepostorous .. and wrong to boot.
02/25/2008 at 11:09 pm
No CBBC aren’t USA governmental spokesmen, and I’d hate it if they were.
But as much as I love the BBC I do think they are in denial about their role in promoting positive attitudes to alcohol and drugs. Employees on air glorify drunkenness between news items giving ’shocking’ figures on teenage binge drinking. And if there had been any other reason for Ami Winehouse being barred from the US they’d have mentioned it. But they come over all prudish and over-protective as soon as famous people and drugs are concerned. I wouldn’t want them to condemn Ami Winehouse, as you correctly point out the article was about her receiving a music award, but to not mention the reason she wasn’t there at all…it smacks of a snobby aunt being euphemistic about a wayward niece - not a public broadcaster providing the news.
And as for it being right or wrong that she was barred from visiting L.A., well if she seemed to make any effort not to be an addict I might have some sympathy but all she seems to do is revel in the infamy, so frankly I don’t mind them following the letter of the law in her case.
07/22/2008 at 11:05 am
For someone with such an excellent voice its a shame she has chosen the wrong road! However it doesnt get away from the fact that she is receiving more publicity due to her habbits. She needs help before she ends up 6ft under!