Eccelstone makes sexist remark

VilleneuveTracy · 20 Jun 2005, 05:47 (Ref:1334062)

He couldn't have picked a better weekend to make such comments.

I can't believe he holds such backwards views. Surely F1 could find a better person to lead it than him.

Link to the article

ESPN.com news services

All the attention that Danica Patrick has received on the Indy Racing League circuit has not made Formula One president and CEO Bernie Ecclestone a fan.

Ecclestone, in Indianapolis for the United States Grand Prix, was asked about Patrick's success Friday.

"Yep, she did a good job, didn't she? Super. Didn't think she was going to make it," Ecclestone said.

Before leaving, Ecclestone made one more assessment about women racing with men.

"You know I've got one of those wonderful ideas ... women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances."

It isn't the first time Ecclestone commented on women in racing, telling Autosport racing magazine in Feb. 2000 that women would never excel in Forumla One. He added that if a woman did make it, "she would have to be a woman who was blowing away the boys. ... What I would really like to see happen is to find the right girl, perhaps a black girl with super looks, preferably Jewish or Muslim, who speaks Spanish."

Kicking-back · 20 Jun 2005, 05:51 (Ref:1334066)

A throwaway remark - hardly a staunchly held sexist opinion!

And his Autosport comment is a marketing man's ideal.

No harm done.

macdaddy · 20 Jun 2005, 05:52 (Ref:1334067)

Bad timing?

The worst!

Especially in North America, where Danica has been "the talk of the town".

Give shovel... Will dig...

(BTW - A story on ESPN is generally "national news")

VilleneuveTracy · 20 Jun 2005, 05:58 (Ref:1334070)

KB, I don't know how his comments will be received in other parts of the world but such remarks will be very damaging for F1 in the US and also Canada, two nations that do not take offensive comments lightly, especially if they are aimed at 51% of the population.

The autosport comment was unwise, although not necessarily sexist or bigoted but it being revived still will hurt. However, what will really hurt is this, which I believe is sexist: "You know I've got one of those wonderful ideas ... women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances."

macdaddy · 20 Jun 2005, 06:09 (Ref:1334077)

You just don't say things like that over here.
It don't go over well.
With a buddy over a beer, perhaps. But not to strangers, especially the media! They latch a hold of something like that and run with it.

Give shovel... Will dig...

VilleneuveTracy · 20 Jun 2005, 06:26 (Ref:1334092)

Quote:

They latch a hold of something like that and run with it.

That is exactly what will happen. Given what happened today, it will just add more fuel to the fire and give the media two negative stories to run about F1.

MRJUCY · 20 Jun 2005, 07:27 (Ref:1334159)

I was reading a thing quoting him of saying that several weeks ago so i wonder if he is repeating himself or the media is talking crap again

ensign14 · 20 Jun 2005, 07:55 (Ref:1334179)

Jeez, he was taking the ****. No wonder American comedies are almost all unremittingly toe-curlingly humourless.

VilleneuveTracy · 20 Jun 2005, 08:05 (Ref:1334183)

Without seeing video footage of him how can we determine his attitude? Even if he was joking (a frequent excuse used by public figures who make such remarks. I highly doubt he actually was joking), it was still an idiotic and tasteless remark and certainly not one the president of F1 should make. Also, it means he is a terrible comedian. Did anyone laugh at his comment???

Real comedy does not need to resort to bigotry for laughs.

ensign14 · 20 Jun 2005, 09:15 (Ref:1334221)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VilleneuveTracy

Without seeing video footage of him how can we determine his attitude? Even if he was joking (a frequent excuse used by public figures who make such remarks. I highly doubt he actually was joking), it was still an idiotic and tasteless remark and certainly not one the president of F1 should make. Also, it means he is a terrible comedian. Did anyone laugh at his comment???

Are you really suggesting that someone who refers to women as "domestic appliances" is being serious?

Especially one married to a 6'2" model? A Lec fridge-freezer. Ay thenk you.

**ghinzani** · 20 Jun 2005, 10:28 (Ref:1334313)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensign14

Are you really suggesting that someone who refers to women as "domestic appliances" is being serious?

Especially one married to a 6'2" model? A Lec fridge-freezer. Ay thenk you.

Ans she doubtless married Bernie for his good looks, physique and caring nature.

Off topic but is that a syrup he wears?

thejester · 20 Jun 2005, 20:36 (Ref:1335060)

It wasn't very clever

That's basically it, IMO. Stop the idiotic trans atlantic bickering boys. Don't defend it as a british sense of humour, as that's an insult to a long tradfition of clever and funny british comedians.

It was dumb.
I don't know what he was thinking....
He probably doesn't care.

Lead balloon of a joke Bern...

Magical Trevor · 20 Jun 2005, 21:18 (Ref:1335112)

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejester

It wasn't very clever

That's basically it, IMO. Stop the idiotic trans atlantic bickering boys. Don't defend it as a british sense of humour, as that's an insult to a long tradfition of clever and funny british comedians.

It was dumb.
I don't know what he was thinking....
He probably doesn't care.

Lead balloon of a joke Bern...

Nice post jester-I think you're right.
What's the point in arguing anyway? It's not like _this_ comment cost thousands of fans their tickets or anything like that....

joe rossi · 20 Jun 2005, 10:02 (Ref:1334285)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VilleneuveTracy

Without seeing video footage of him how can we determine his attitude? Even if he was joking (a frequent excuse used by public figures who make such remarks. I highly doubt he actually was joking), it was still an idiotic and tasteless remark and certainly not one the president of F1 should make. Also, it means he is a terrible comedian. Did anyone laugh at his comment???

Real comedy does not need to resort to bigotry for laughs.

No doubt some American lawyer will currently be looking at a way of suing Bernie for "severe emotional distress" that his joke caused and claiming few million each for every on of the 51% of the population. Another great reason to go to law school. It was a joke. get over it. Agreed, slightly tasteless, but then the best jokes are. Ask Bill Hicks or Woody Allen, or Lenny Bruce. Maybe some Americans do understand humour after all!

Xpunk75 · 20 Jun 2005, 08:06 (Ref:1334184)

I couldn't believe he said that at Indy where she is so popular lol was he trying to get Shot?

It goes to show you that we have a Raceist running the commercial side of F1 and a Moron as in Mosely as the President of the FIA. F1 future does not look very bright until these two ether retire or die from old age. Maybe some fresh people with new ideas would help the sport.

Kicking-back · 20 Jun 2005, 09:39 (Ref:1334255)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xpunk75

I couldn't believe he said that at Indy where she is so popular lol was he trying to get Shot?

It goes to show you that we have a Raceist running the commercial side of F1 :

There's no evidence to suggest Bernie is a racist.

**GTRMagic** · 20 Jun 2005, 10:10 (Ref:1334295)

Well if you wanted to get technical... perhaps Xpunk75 is actually correct.. the word was spelled...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xpunk75

...Raceist....

... and it is arguable that Mr Ecclestone has been against racing for many many seasons now... making him perhaps anti-racing or indeed a Race-ist

JohnSSC · 20 Jun 2005, 09:45 (Ref:1334262)

K-B I would disagree with you here. Based on the article, BE makes no attempt to say: "just kidding boys!"

He certainly needs to think before speaking. This falls into the story David Hobbs was telling yesterday during the "race" where BE this past week criticized the USGP people for "underpromoting" the race. Of course it is only the 2nd or 3rd best attended GP on the tour and he was saying this in downtown Indianapolis surrounded by people wearing F1 team regalia.

This guy thinks he is more valuable to the world than he is it seems.

Kicking-back · 20 Jun 2005, 09:57 (Ref:1334276)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

K-B I would disagree with you here. Based on the article, BE makes no attempt to say: "just kidding boys!"
.

Sexist maybe, John.

There's no evidence he's racist.

ensign14 · 20 Jun 2005, 10:01 (Ref:1334283)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

K-B I would disagree with you here. Based on the article, BE makes no attempt to say: "just kidding boys!"

He is guilty only of failing to appreciate that Americans believe "irony" is something you* do to flatten clothes.

* I would have said "women" but fear that that may have been misinterpreted.

Menelaos · 20 Jun 2005, 13:01 (Ref:1334480)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensign14

He is guilty only of failing to appreciate that Americans believe "irony" is something you* do to flatten clothes.

* I would have said "women" but fear that that may have been misinterpreted.

VilleneuveTracy · 20 Jun 2005, 13:07 (Ref:1334485)

KB, it may be acceptable humor but not when a person in a position like Eccelstone makes such a comment. It simply is not going to help F1's cause and will only hurt it. Can you imagine a CEO of a "traditional" company, such as GM or Microsoft, making such a comment?

It is difficult to determine whether he was joking because we have not seen video footage of him and the article makes no comments regarding the context it was made in, other than that the Danica Patrick issue was raised. Right now it seems that he meant it (there are still many people with such views in the world. It is not inconceivable that Ecclestone is one of them) and it is telling that no apology has been issued thus far pointing out that he was merely joking.

At any rate, even if he was joking he, as F1's president, should not have made such a comment publicly.

Rennen · 20 Jun 2005, 14:04 (Ref:1334549)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VilleneuveTracy

KB, it may be acceptable humor but not when a person in a position like Eccelstone makes such a comment. It simply is not going to help F1's cause and will only hurt it. Can you imagine a CEO of a "traditional" company, such as GM or Microsoft, making such a comment?

It is difficult to determine whether he was joking because we have not seen video footage of him and the article makes no comments regarding the context it was made in, other than that the Danica Patrick issue was raised. Right now it seems that he meant it (there are still many people with such views in the world. It is not inconceivable that Ecclestone is one of them) and it is telling that no apology has been issued thus far pointing out that he was merely joking.

At any rate, even if he was joking he, as F1's president, should not have made such a comment publicly.

BE is no mere employed head of a public Company...he's is a self made man who was bold and smart enough to 'TAKE' control of F1 when no one else had the vision to.
BE didn't become successful or one of the wealthest men in the UK by saying things people want to hear!...Which doesn't make him wrong!

No one has proven yet that women have the physical requirements (neck) to withstand the G forces as regards to the braking and constant direction changes of modern F1, otherwise they would be participating already.
None of which detracts from DP's historic result or her sheer guts!
I've meet her loads of times, and would like to see her get a test at least...Barcelona would be a good place at the end of the season.

Hip Priest · 20 Jun 2005, 13:48 (Ref:1334528)

I tend to agree with VilleneuveTracy on this one. Although i don't believe that it is a major issue, i do think that anyone making recycled Bernard Manning jokes in this day and age shows themselves to be slightly out of touch and in possession of a rather woeful sense of humour

Formula1Fanatic · 20 Jun 2005, 15:01 (Ref:1334627)

Oh dear.

I'm a fan of Eccelstone but he's hit own goal after own goal this weekend.

The only goal was seeing his gorgeous wife

Wonder if she's with him for looks

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