THE Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday
said the British Broadcasting Company has apologized for the
derogatory portrayal of a Filipino maid in an episode of its
comedy television series "Harry and Paul."
The DFA said the apology was received by the
Philippine Embassy in London on Oct. 19.
The September 26 episode of the TV sitcom
showed an actress playing the role of Filipina maid being
ordered by his employer "Harry Enfield" to "mate" with his
friend Paul Whitehouse while lasciviously gyrating.
The scene has earned the ire of a number of
sectors, especially Filipinos based in the UK, who described the
episode as offensive and racist.
An online petition was also launched by OFW
groups in protest of the show, gathering almost 2,000
signatures.
Ambassador Edgardo Espiritu sent a letter to
BBC on October 3 expressing dismay over the episode.
The show’s producer, Tiger Aspect Productions, has also
issued an apology to the Filipino community. "We’re sorry to
anyone who was in any way offended by the program. This
certainly was not our intention," said Tiger chief executive
officer Andrew Zane. – Gerard Naval
