In a discussion with guests about the Greek economy on Wednesday night’s program, Jeremy Paxman said, “So the rest of the Eurozone now contemplates something we were being told wasn’t conceivable recently, that, like a bad kebab, Greece is vomited out of the single European currency.”
Appearing live from Athens during the debate, Greek Minister Giorgos Papakonstantinou responded with, “Can I take issue with your ‘bad kebab’ analogy, which I find offensive?
“The Greek economy is in a crisis and the Greek people are going through a lot, and deserve some respect, and I really did not find that very appropriate.”
However, the BBC has refused to issue an apology for the comment, claiming that it was in keeping with Paxman’s “provocative style and use of humor.”
Nobel-prize winning economist Paul Krugman, also appearing on the program, shared the minister’s disapproval. “I think that was, actually, quite inappropriate, to say that the Greeks have done something terribly wrong,” Krugman said.
The BBC confirmed that it had received complaints about Paxman’s comment, but ruled out taking further action.
“Regular Newsnight viewers will be aware of Jeremy’s provocative style and use of humor,” a spokesman told The Daily Telegraph.
Last October, the European Commission demanded an “unqualified apology” from the BBC over what it claimed was the “disgraceful” treatment of one of its spokesmen by Paxman on Newsnight.
(source: RTE)
