Williams sisters in Cornwall

[Gob]

The mate who ‘blacked up’ with a pub landlord to take part in Truro City Carnival has rubbished critics - saying it was "PC gone mad".



Publican of the Miners Arms Kevin Stevens has apologised after prompting offence by their actions, which included ‘blacking up’ and donning an afro-style wig.

But his friend Jason Luke, 31, who went along to the carnival dressed as Serena Williams, has defended the costumes and branded the reaction to their appearance as “PC gone mad.”

Mr Luke, a builder, said: “I don't get it at all. It's just as well I didn't go as Boris Becker and upset the gingers.”

Friends and staff at the pub in Redruth decided to dress up as tennis stars from across the world as part of their ongoing charity work.

But the inclusion of the two men dressed as the famous American sisters has sparked controversy.

The father-of-one from Redruth said the group was raising money for charity at the event - but their efforts had been ignored because of the uproar.

"We've got an ongoing thing at the Miners Arms and we're trying to raise for CLIC, a charity for children with leukaemia.”

"I've seen us in the local papers this morning - I'm mortified really but it takes away from a good cause. Over the years we've raised thousands for the charity. I'm gutted

"Like Kevin said the last thing we wanted to do was upset anyone but I don't think what we did was racist. I don't see the big issue - it's PC gone mad.”

He added: "One of the reasons we went to the carnival as well was because it had been struggling recently.

"We wanted to get the thing going again. And this is what's happened. What can you do?"

Hundreds of people across Cornwall have leapt to the defence of the men but the Council for Racial Equality in Cornwall said the performance was offensive to all ethnicities.

Dean Harvey, from the Council for Racial Equality in Cornwall, said: “The whole concept of blackened face is steeped in racial prejudice and stereotype from minstrels to golliwogs and so on.

“It is not just a bit of fun, it is offensive to people of all ethnicities and it’s time we moved on from this.

“These two guys were not representative of Cornwall, only unfortunately serving to remind us of times gone by that we should acknowledge and move on from.”

The pub’s governor Mr Stevens has already apologised, declaring their intention was never to offend anyone.

The 50-year-old said the pub prides itself in being the friendliest in Cornwall and was a very open-minded watering hole.

Read more at http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Man-centre- ... Euf2aCZ.99

[Joe Guy]

Okay, I see the picture of Serena Williams. It would be nice to see a picture of the guy who dressed up like her for comparison...

[Gob]

ROTFLMFFAO!!!!!

[Lord Jim]

But his friend Jason Luke, 31, who went along to the carnival dressed as Serena Williams,

Yeah, and I once went to a party dressed as Diana Ross....(That's a mental image I want you to never be able to get rid of... )

[rubato]

Okay, I see the picture of Serena Williams. It would be nice to see a picture of the guy who dressed up like her for comparison...

This is the actual Serena Williams:





The only people who would find your comment funny are people who have either never seen her or are suffering from dementia.


yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

Okay, I see the picture of Serena Williams. It would be nice to see a picture of the guy who dressed up like her for comparison...

This is the actual Serena Williams:





The only people who would find your comment funny are people who have either never seen her or are suffering from dementia.


yrs,
rubato

A perfect example of how rubato and humour are total strangers.

[Joe Guy]

rubato humor...

[Gob]

Now you should know Joe, that cats cannot actually speak, therefore anyone finding this funny are people who have either never seen a cat or are suffering from dementia.

[Lord Jim]

I think you guys are being unfair to rube...

There's nobody around here who's even half as funny as rube, and he's hysterically funny without even trying...

In fact it's when he's not trying to be funny that he's at his most hilarious...

Ain't nobody funnier; he's a natural...

I like to think I have a good sense of humor, but I have to work at being funny...

I have to think about it...

Meade, Sue, Joe, you guys are funny, but again you have to be intentional about it...

Not so our rube...

He can be hysterically funny without giving it a second thought...

He doesn't have to think about it; it's just what he does...

Like I said, the guy's a natural...

[Crackpot]

Besides he'd much rs rather kill that cat.

[Lord Jim]

Yes, when he's not busy unleashing swarms of bees on his neighbors, he's dedicated to the task of gassing the neighborhood cats...

He's a very attentive and focused fellow...

[BoSoxGal]

Beekeeping is very good for the environment and cats running loose outdoors - whether feral or domesticated - are not.

The outift's awful, but I think if the premise was men dressing as tennis stars, it is PC gone mad to make a big stink.