Andy Gray fired by Sky

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:30 pm

I'd link to a story, but it's literally "breaking news" with no actual worthwhile links yet.

Okay, it's about 12 years later than it should have been, but it's something.

The ****. Good to see Sky showing some backbone.

Post by **Kaylee** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:34 pm

Good job

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:01 pm

Turns out this has been retroactively used as his final crossing of the line. Just discovered footage from December:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cS8OkAi ... e=youtu.be

Can't say I'm stunned that the two figureheads of Sky's flagship footie program are sexist twats, given that the sport's coverage on SSN is fronted by women blatantly chosen for their looks over journalistic talent.

But it does of course mean that they can't stand idly by whilst the face of their coverage says that half their staff don't understand the rules of the game.

Good riddance to bad commentary.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:17 pm

Also, this.

To play the fool for a second: England, you may prefer classism, and we may prefer racism, but we'll always, always have sexism to share.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:19 pm

Shanti418 wrote:Also, this.

Nah, that just got him a final warning. The discovery of the other bit of footage is what's got him the actual sack today.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:40 pm

Oh man, what a load of overblown bull****.

Let's step back and look at the big picture for a second, shall we?

Back in December, Andy Gray, who commands a £1.7m salary from Sky Sports - a channel owned by Rupert Murdoch - brought a suit against the News of the World - a newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch - over alleged phone hacking. This phone hacking business is an issue that has vexed Rupert of late, because through it his ties to government have been examined, and in some cases severed, and the cosy relationship his newspapers enjoy with the police is also under scrutiny. Not only that, but he's also had his bid to buy up all of our satellite television stalled in Parliament. So, on Monday Rupert landed in London to put his house in order.

On Tuesday, unbroadcast footage of Andy Gray being sexist somehow found its way from the Sky Sports offices to youTube. There was the predictable ****storm in the British press - in which Murdoch has no influence whatsoever - and then Gray was sacked.

This whole sexism thing is a complete smokescreen. Shout "SEXIST!" in a public place loud enough and enough people will unthinkingly leap to your defence that the ensuing clamour will last for days and before you know it, we're having a "national debate" in the media about the role of sexism in football while stories about phone-hacking and outrageous bids for ownership of the media slip off the front pages.

Oh, and Karren Brady? Do me a ****ing favour, love, you work for David Sullivan who made his £500m fortune through that well-known bastion of women's rights, the Sunday Sport, and charmingly cashed in on the publicity surrounding the suicide of his girlfriend by posthumously releasing two porn films naming her in the title role.

Brend wrote:Good to see Sky showing some backbone.

ROFL.

Brend wrote:Just discovered footage

Ahahaha.

"Just discovered" by some News International hack trawling hours of off-camera out-takes for anything they can use, more like.

Er, sexism is bad, mmmkay?

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:51 am

No idea to what extent there is or isn't a conspiracy (though I would have thought Murdoch has the resources to find a way to get an excuse to sack Grey in disgrace without making his own TV station look like a bastion of sexism and stupidity), but I do think these two gave anyone who did want them out enough rope to hang them with.

One of the most basic rules of working with microphones is that you always, always watch what you say when you're either wearing one or there's one about. Even if they're supposed to be off anyone in the control room could be listening as you talk "privately" about your erectile dysfunction, what you really think of Clive in accounts or coming out with stuff that if made public could get you sacked for bringing your employer into disrepute (which is a fairly standard work contract clause, technically I'm not supposed to piss on pensioners in my Tesco uniform for that reason).

To be honest, it's just as likely a female member of staff (most likely a runner, they're they people you really don't want to get on the wrong side of because they know everything) who had had enough of listening to all his sexist crap made sure to let the recording leak to the press just to get rid of the little toad.

Though again, that doesn't mean the Dark Forcestm theory isn't plausible, I'd just never automatically blame on a conspiracy what could be put down to good old fashioned incompetence.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:55 am

Well yeah, of course it's a Sky-looking-for-a-way-to-push-them-out stitch up. The godawful attempt to do the same to Keys with the Redknapp footage illustrates that even before you realise nobody's investigating the leak.

Godawful in the sense of "christ, is that it?", before you say.

I just think it's funny, as I've never liked him. I am full of moral fibre. Sacking him for it is scandalous, but meh. Don't like him so wooha.

Interesting that Sky learnt quickly with how to handle Keys though. Don't give him the boot, but don't intervene when he offers to go on t'radio and explain/apologise. That interview did a far better job undermining him than any clip of some blokes sat around chatting about Redknapp Jr's ex.

[EDIT] - all written without Dalek's post.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 4:19 pm

inflatable dalek wrote:I would have thought Murdoch has the resources to find a way to get an excuse to sack Grey in disgrace without making his own TV station look like a bastion of sexism and stupidity

http://www.socceram.com/soccerettes/0,2 ... 74,00.html
It's a TV station aimed at people who like football - of course it's a bastion of sexism and stupidity. That was never in doubt.

Dalek wrote:To be honest, it's just as likely a female member of staff (most likely a runner, they're they people you really don't want to get on the wrong side of because they know everything) who had had enough of listening to all his sexist crap made sure to let the recording leak to the press just to get rid of the little toad.

Right...because runners are often granted access to the archives and allowed to upload their contents to YouTube.

Dalek wrote:Though again, that doesn't mean the Dark Forcestm theory isn't plausible, I'd just never automatically blame on a conspiracy what could be put down to good old fashioned incompetence.

One clip leaked to YouTube would be incompetence. Two is coincidence, three is a trend.

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:12 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote: http://www.socceram.com/soccerettes/0,2 ... 74,00.html
It's a TV station aimed at people who like football - of course it's a bastion of sexism and stupidity. That was never in doubt.

Stupid segment (and that's with the sound off on my computer, I dread to think what the interview is like), but there is a world of difference between well paid models (hell, of any gender) doing their job of standing there and looking good and being disparaging towards towards either your colleuges or people who you in your job as commentator are supposed to have views upon just because of their gender. Or indeed their race or sexuality.

Indeed, based on the reaction to (IIRC) Ron Atkinson's comments if it had been "A black linesman... they'll have to explain the offside rule to him" there wouldn't be anywhere like the same amount of "Hey, football's just like that" style defences people seem to be making for him [Not that I'm suggesting you are doing this mind, that's more general rambling on the situation].

One of the leaked clips isn't even a few guys talking privately during down time but Grey making lecherous comments at a woman to her face whilst trying to do her job, the fact this happened without comment at the time and that these two have been working there for the best part of twenty years and therefore could have theoretically been behaving like this all that time makes the company as a whole look bad. And whatever else he is ( and he's a whole lot of things), Murdoch is smart, he's not a cut his face to spite his nose guy. If he wanted Grey out on purpose, he could have easily found another way with both his resources and the fact Grey seems to be a giant cock who could likely have been tricked saying something stupidly offensive on the record away from work .

Right...because runners are often granted access to the archives and allowed to upload their contents to YouTube.

Their tape security for old shows is hardly going to be Fort Knox, if you know the right place to look and your job involves going in the right room it's a piece of piss. For the first soundbite all whoever it was would have needed to be was just up in the gallery at the moment it happened.

Runners are the last people on TV shows you want as an enemy, they know all the secrets and where all the bodies are buried and have to work stupid hours for not very much pay (or frequently none at all as they're often "encouraged" to do lengthy amounts of work experience when starting out and trying to get their foot in the door). They don't like you and can see a way of making some cash from the tabloids anonymously they will.

One clip leaked to YouTube would be incompetence. Two is coincidence, three is a trend.

But not anywhere near as impossible as being presented.

On the other hand, a possible middle ground between the two ideas is that it started out as just one (or a small number) of people taking advantage of Grey's cock up to make some cash and then when he didn't play ball with Sky's damage limitation attempts then they dug through the archives to make sure they'd have enough grounds to sack him according to the terms of his contract.

Has he actually formally apologised yet? Last time I saw a paper he was still going "Well, I said sorry to her privately and wanted to do it publically but Sky wouldn't let me" rather than "It was completely unintentional but I apologise for any offence".

An Apology can make all the difference in TV terms, refusing to was ultimately what lost Carol Thatcher her One Show gig (and, IIRC, she was stiched up by someone who didn't like her just reporting what she'd said without a recording. Wasn't the rumour that it was Childes himself? Which makes karma a bitch). The "I'm so sorry statement" kept Anton De Burke on Stricktly after his "Paki" comment (which unlike Thatcher, was made directly to the person in questions face) and saw Jonathan Ross get to serve out the rest of his contract after Sachsgate, and earlier probably saved him from a more severe telling off after that joke that basically boiled down to telling parents they should put for kids up for adoption if they're gay (though that was clearly a genuine case of him not thinking through how it could be interpreted rather than any ill intent on his part, especially as his own daughter's gay).

Though again, the active Murdoch sponsored conspiracy to get Grey out is perfectly possible, it's just surprisingly inelegant for him to stitch someone up so it reflects badly on him. Though I suppose it could be over keen flunkies doing it wrong. Indeed, it would seem that the current head of Sky Sport has, since they took over, very much been throwing their weight around to overturn some of the dead weight at the station so it could even be them just wanting the two twerps out on their ear by any means.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:53 pm

This 'lets take a step back and it's all very obvious booga booga' conspiracy seems to be awfully reliant on there happening to be a female lino and Key's and Gray happening to comment on it.

It seems far more likley to me that they are just widely disliked at Sky and someone or someones saw a chance to get them in hot water and then pour oil on the fire (and possibly get some press bungage at the same time). To mix metaphors.

Plus if Sky had been mandated to find a way to get rid of them then why not react to the initial offence? Initially dropping them from one game seems more like an attempt to hope the problem goes away.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 12:36 am

Did anyone see the top gear presenters at the TV awards?...

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:26 pm

No, but your comment is giving me (presumably false) hopes that they'll be the next for the axe.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:36 pm

If we could fire probably 80-90% of the people on TV I'd be happy.

Especially if we then take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:26 am

The scary thing is, Jim Davidson is doing the comedy for Prince William's stag night. So being a sexist , racist git needn't stop you earning top money. And every gag he makes on that night will be paid for by the British taxpayer.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:19 am

Do royal families serve any purpose what so ever?
We have that **** in sweden as well, and all they do is wave to people, get married (a total nightmare. The wedding totally dominates the media - and on top of it all they release the ******* thing on DVD), and ask for MORE money. Yes, every ******* year it's "We need more money". For what?!

Post by **Kaylee** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:00 pm

Do royal families do anything?

AFAIK their main purpose is to remind the prolateriate that 'All animals are created equal... but some animals are more equal than others'.

Lucky really, I'd have forgotten otherwise.

I wouldn't mind them (quite) so much if they managed to sit quietly, appear for the odd museum ribbon-cutting and not blurt out racist/ill thought out/batshit crazy ideas which our politicians are apparently obliged to listen to (but which we will never hear the text of).

Whilst the idea of 'President Blair/Cameron/Honeymonster' may be repellent, at least you can vote the buggers out!

[/bile]

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:05 pm

Best First wrote:This 'lets take a step back and it's all very obvious booga booga' conspiracy seems to be awfully reliant on there happening to be a female lino and Key's and Gray happening to comment on it.

Or, Mr. Gray pissed off his superiors at News Corp and along came the perfect opportunity to drop him in it?

Dalek wrote:Indeed, based on the reaction to (IIRC) Ron Atkinson's comments if it had been "A black linesman... they'll have to explain the offside rule to him" there wouldn't be anywhere like the same amount of "Hey, football's just like that" style defences people seem to be making for him [Not that I'm suggesting you are doing this mind, that's more general rambling on the situation].

I thought football *was* just like that; it certainly has been on those few occasions I've been to watch a match. In fact, if I want to listen to some casual racism, I just head down the pub when a match is on and I'm 100% guaranteed to hear some.

I think the Thatcher case is the perfect example - someone wanted her fired, she revealed unpleasant attitudes during a personal conversation and that was used against her. If my boss wanted me fired and had a record of all my personal conversations I'm sure they'd be able to find something in there to use against me pretty quickly.

Karl wrote:If we could fire probably 80-90% of the people on TV I'd be happy.

Maybe then we could get rid of the 80-90% of the population that enjoy their output too?

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:55 pm

I'd be alright with that

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:23 am

The office I work in decided that we should all be fired for sexist banter. Men and women alike...
In fact, I've put this question to my GF my friends her friends and my mum, and they all come to the same conclusion:

Men and women are both sexist in the work place and we should all be fired because we can't seem to behave!

Mind you, Andy Gray can [composite word including 'f*ck'] off as he used to bash Utd something cronic!

P.s I'm not sexist but the birds love it really

Post by **Best First** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:39 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote: Mind you, Andy Gray can **** off as he used to bash Utd something cronic!

Did he ****!

He sucked MUFC dick like a pro - at every available opportunity.

Ah, the deluded world that the average man u fan lives in...