Andy Grey sacked (Merged)

[Ninja Elephant]

Of course he bloody was.

He ASSUMED that a particular match official was going to be shit, before the game had even commenced, BECAUSE she was a woman.

What part of that do you not think belittles women in general?

No, he wasn't. He was talking about football. He was saying a female linesman wouldn't be up to the job because she is female. That's wrong, you won't hear me argue with that. But he didn't say a woman shouldn't be operating a camera, or shouldn't be involved in the sound mixing, or the editing, or the directing, or anything else because he wasn't slagging off women. He was specifically saying he didn't think a female linesman was right, and he was stating an opinion that she shouldn't have been there. I've read a lot of your posts on this issue, Edna, and I have to say I think you've taken a stance I completely disagree with. I understand why and I understand what you're saying, but I think you've allowed your prior disliking of Andy Gray and/or Sky Sports to distort what has actually happened.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

The funny thing is, I have to say that personally I probably wouldn't have been bothered about the microphone comment that he made. That sort of thing, while misguided, was presumably meant to be Gray's idea of a joke, albeit an extremely crap and unfunny one. I doubt it would bother me unduly if I'd been in Charlotte Jackson's position, and I say that from the perspective of someone who works as the only female on a team of about fifteen guys, so I know how to hold my own. I suppose it would depend on the context: if he regularly goes around making similar comments to female employees, it would be creepy and unpleasant. If he doesn't, then it's just a bit of office banter. But that said, I would defend the right of one of his colleagues to feel offended by it.

The comments about Sian Massey, on the other hand, really did piss me off, because they quite clearly weren't just "banter", but displayed a deeply ingrained prejudice towards women in general.

I suspect SkySports realised quite late on the impact of his comments and have been very grateful for the clip with Charlotte Jackson surfacing, as it has provided the catalyst to get rid of him- if they had done it only on the basis of the Massey comments, he might have contended that he was binned for his first offence and sued them.

So, in conclusion, I am delighted that he has been fired, and I hope he festers away in washed-up-TV-presenter purgatory. It just makes it all the more amusing that he's officially been binned for something that I probably wouldn't consider that offensive in its own right, compared to a simple warning for the (IMHO) far more offensive comments of this week.


PS did anyone hear Rodney Marsh's take on the whole saga on Five Live earlier? Astonishingly, he backed SkySports' decision and criticised Gray/Keys. I really didn't expect that from him, as someone known for his somewhat medieval views on society.

And we all lived happily ever after

 

[trueblue]

Whatever your views on the rights and wrongs of the sacking, there will be very few people who've worked at Sky upset by it. While I don't know Keys or Gray personally I've had lots of contact with people that do and, given some of the stories I've heard, it's no wonder their downfall has been greeted with outright joy. 'What goes around comes around' is the apt expression here. While the sacking may seem over the top outside of the industry, it's not really a surprise given the allegations about how production staff have been treated through the years... and those would include plenty of people with the ability to record conversations or make sure 'off-air' nuggets didn't get lost...

 

[Lord Bamber]

He was on £1.7M per year

That is one mistake (or three)

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

I don't like either of them particularly but neither do I feel the need to jump on the bandwagon and get all politically correct and offended at what they said, I'm not remotely offended by anything they said even though I don't agree with their opinions. People need to get a grip, they gobbed off about a woman lino just like any other bloke or woman saying similar things about men, big f***ing deal who really genuinely can say they are deeply offended, if you are you need to get a life.

I'm not remotely offended by what Gray and Keys said. However, they broke the rules, they face the consequences. It's as simple as that.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

No, he wasn't. He was talking about football. He was saying a female linesman wouldn't be up to the job because she is female. That's wrong, you won't hear me argue with that. But he didn't say a woman shouldn't be operating a camera, or shouldn't be involved in the sound mixing, or the editing, or the directing, or anything else because he wasn't slagging off women. He was specifically saying he didn't think a female linesman was right, and he was stating an opinion that she shouldn't have been there. I've read a lot of your posts on this issue, Edna, and I have to say I think you've taken a stance I completely disagree with. I understand why and I understand what you're saying, but I think you've allowed your prior disliking of Andy Gray and/or Sky Sports to distort what has actually happened.

I don't have SkySports, only because I have better things to spend £45 per month on, and I never watch the Premier League games unless it's in the pub where you can't hear the commentary, so I honestly have no particular feelings one way or the other about Andy Gray/Richard Keys. Or at least I didn't prior to this.

They were saying that a particular woman should not be officiating at a football game, purely on the basis that she is female. Can you REALLY not see why I, as a woman, might find that just a tiny bit condescending? I can't understand what that has to do with camera operators or sound mixers, so I have no idea where you were going with that. I'm not sat here imagining Gray hates women in general (God knows he seems to have married enough of them), or that he doesn't think we should be allowed out without a chaperone. Just that I utterly resent the suggestion that we aren't capable of officiating at a football game, a job that requires no brawn or muscle, just a decent eye, a sharp brain and a touch of common sense.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

He was on £1.7M per year

That is one mistake (or three)

You are kidding?! No wonder these 'experts' don't wish to try their hand at management.

 

[The Camel]

The second offence Gray was sacked for is obviously and totally worse than the first.

Making sexual overtones and belittling a female colleague is bullying pure and simple.

Whether or not he made the first gaffe, this behaviour was definitely more than enough to get him fired.

 

[Lord Bamber]

Great review of the morning papers on Sky News at the moment.

Their view of Andy Gray and the whole story......"a dirty randy white man who get's what he deserves"

No disguising that opinion.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

The comments about tucking into his trousers is all to do with the balance of power. Was it a joke amongst peers ? Not really. He was taking advantage of his seniority.

No loss.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Whatever your views on the rights and wrongs of the sacking, there will be very few people who've worked at Sky upset by it. While I don't know Keys or Gray personally I've had lots of contact with people that do and, given some of the stories I've heard, it's no wonder their downfall has been greeted with outright joy. 'What goes around comes around' is the apt expression here. While the sacking may seem over the top outside of the industry, it's not really a surprise given the allegations about how production staff have been treated through the years... and those would include plenty of people with the ability to record conversations or make sure 'off-air' nuggets didn't get lost...

Paul Hayward has alluded to his treatment of others. Personally I'm glad he's gone.

 

[The Spanish]

Great review of the morning papers on Sky News at the moment.

Their view of Andy Gray and the whole story......"a dirty randy white man who get's what he deserves"

No disguising that opinion.

whoever come out with that quote should be right behind gray in the dole queue. you have to be winding me up someones just said that.

 

[Lord Bamber]

whoever come out with that quote should be right behind gray in the dole queue. you have to be winding me up someones just said that.

I swear not, have just rewound it and it is Daily Mail columnist Dame Ann Leslie

 

[Giraffe]

Completely agree

Although I'm no fan of Gray this does seem to be one massive ado about nothing. Much like the Russell Brand/Jonathon Ross saga, it's a load of people getting offended becase they feel they should.

I'm sure Keys and Gray's comments were completely tongue-in-cheek, no different from those made by millions of football fans at the weekend, and no offence was meant whatsoever.

FFS, in today's Mirror alongside their 'Off Off Off!' article about them, there's a women's guide to the offside rule using LIPSTICKS.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

PS did anyone hear Rodney Marsh's take on the whole saga on Five Live earlier? Astonishingly, he backed SkySports' decision and criticised Gray/Keys. I really didn't expect that from him, as someone known for his somewhat medieval views on society.

Yes indeed, I caught it when I got in from the footie. I heard his name mentioned & I must admit I thought he was gonna spout forth a heap of old guff in defence of Gray. But hey - how wrong could I have been? Not a lot wrong-er, I can tell you! You could've knocked me down with an extremely light thing.

Toon Army!

 

[The Spanish]

I swear not, have just rewound it and it is Daily Mail columnist Dame Ann Leslie

daily mail eh says it all

 

[Lord Bamber]

daily mail eh says it all

I make no comment

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Great review of the morning papers on Sky News at the moment.

Their view of Andy Gray and the whole story......"a dirty randy white man who get's what he deserves"

That would seem a slightly questionable description given the context of the overall situation?

Fat twat, perhaps, but "dirty randy white man"?

 

[Lord Bamber]

That would seem a slightly questionable description given the context of the overall situation?

Fat twat, perhaps, but "dirty randy white man"?

She did start by saying she didnt know who he was, great daily mail research!

 

[The Spanish]

That would seem a slightly questionable description given the context of the overall situation?

Fat twat, perhaps, but "dirty randy white man"?

brilliant isnt it please please let this be true. it is far too funny. the nsc received wisdom o meter must be going all bermuda triangle right now.


this whole country needs a good long talking to at some point.