Isat Buchanan Under Fire After “Ugly Jamaicans”, Monkeypox Remarks
There appears to be no letting up any time soon on Reggae artist-turned lawyer Isat Buchanan after he made statements considered disparaging on national television about “ugly Jamaicans” with acne and the monkeypox disease, which evoked the ire of his compatriots.
During CVM Television’s morning programme CVM at Sunrise, on Tuesday, Buchanan is seen telling co-host Raymond Pryce, a former Member of Parliament, that he wanted to know why some Jamaicans are worried about monkeypox and they already “look a certain way”, including being “ugly”.
“Raymond, listen. I have to say this… I want to know why are some Jamaicans so worried about monkey pox when they already look a certain way? That’s all I wanna know… you neva notice is ugly people always worried bout pretty tings. Den here comes monkey pox,” Buchanan had said.
“You want to respond or should we move on? And I am saying that some a the spots look like acne and people walking around and dem face bumpy-bumpy like dat. Suh fix it Jesus, fix it,” the Unbreakable singer had added.
But even after a contrite-sounding Buchanan stated earlier today, that his comments were “satire taken out of context” and that he was “apologising to all those who were offended, as it was never his intention to hurt or harm anybody”, Jamaicans on Twitter, responded mockingly, saying that they cannot be hoodwinked as they know what satire is.
https://twitter.com/charltonave/status/1548016021067288576
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describes monkeypox as a rare disease of unknown origin, caused by a virus from the variola virus family which causes smallpox and which was “discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research”.
In its Monkeypox Outbreak 2022: Situation Summary, which was updated on Tuesday July 12, the CDC noted that people with monkeypox in the current outbreak generally report having close, sustained physical contact with other infected people. It notes as well, that while many of those affected in the current global outbreaks are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness.
Government Member of Parliament and Olympic sprint queen Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, was among the first to rebuke Buchanan, who is also Vybz Kartel’s lawyer and son of Dancehall veteran Big Youth.
“Isat Buchanan is supposed to be the Human Rights face for the PNP and here he is describing some Jamaicans as “ugly already” and therefore shouldn’t worry about Monkeypox. As a race we have already endured being called monkey. What a disgraceful comment,” she had stated on Twitter.
Isat Buchanan is supposed to be the Human Rights face for the PNP and here he is describing some Jamaicans as "ugly already"and therefore shouldn't worry about Monkeypox. As a race we have already endured being called monkey. What a disgraceful comment. https://t.co/f0TqpA9cJO
— Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn MP, OLY (@julietcuthbert) July 14, 2022
“We must not allow an audience or a mic to take control of us & our utterances. Self-control is a key ingredient for leadership of any kind. Always RESPECT fellow Jamaicans. Never make fun of acne problems as it is often tied to one’s self-esteem,” NatsCR said in chiding Buchanan.
CVM has since issued an apology verbally and in writing on behalf of itself and the Puts it Down, singer, noting that the comments had been intended to be a joke, and, that among other things, “CVM apologizes for any discomfort the remarks in yesterday’s Sunrise programme may have caused and that “it takes it’s role seriously” in providing appropriate information and entertainment to its audience.
However, the onslaught has not subsided, as both the TV station and Buchanan have come in for more bashing from peeved Jamaicans. According to them, the statements issued by CVM did not amount to an apology, and in fact, ought to have come directly from Isat Buchanan himself.
“This doesn’t sound no way genuine and yes he meant what he said from his heart. He needs to apologize but then again even if him apologize what he said still remains,” honey_bee stated.
“The same way him come out strong and talk big and bold live on national tv, it’s the same way him must come back out stronger and come apologize in person boldly on national TV,” kameika_fraser stated, while realkandid added: “Mek him come apologize…him to brite. Any suh yu mek joke, or the joke neva fit fi deh sunrise!”
“Doesn’t work like that. Let him apologise. Uno a behave like say him a 4 and him do something and the mother apologise on the child behalf. But whatever,” dahnica_said.
Others declared that Buchanan’s statements were condescending, sand that nobody cares about his “joke intent”, as it has not been received as such.
“Hear yah: “So Sorry about that”. First of all you cannot apologize for the man! How you can know that his intent was to be a clown? The man can be very serious & he seemed like he meant that shit. Might as well dem tek whe the world “professionalism” out of the vocab because a buttu behavior some of these so call professionals possess,” audi_ayana said.
“So him dumb now????? Why him cah come apologize himself???? Kmt,” one woman said.
As the rebuke of CVM continued, some said they find it odd that the comment had escaped the ears of the programme producers, and as a consequence the station should be blamed for not apologising until the national outcry.
“This is a sorrow attempt at an apology. What is this? How do you know what he intended? Acne is not something u joke about, it affects people’s self-esteem & u people want us 2 believe the statement was an attempted joke? The man is a lawyer, who’re trained 2 think b4 they speak,” Nivlac Rrac said.
“He should be the one to apologize. Why is it always someone speaking on the culprit’s behalf? What he did was disgusting, note this now is a joke this 🙄,” banapetite said, while dnvn1960added:
“The comment was very inappropriate & shows his insensitive to a human strategy. The attempted apology should be withdrawn. The apology should come from him and it should not be couched in phrases like “may have caused” or “any discomfort” because the comment inflicted damages,” dnvn1960 said.
“It was very distasteful to watch and goes to show that even those who should advocate for the well-being of each other whether it’s mental health, physical appearance or any other sickness should never be thought of as a joke. We the people are our worst enemy,” dswu2 said.
Others said that the verbal statement which was also made by the two female presenters on behalf of Isat was “insincere, diplomatic and robotic”.
“As much as I appreciate the intent of the apology as a media company, the presenters who made the comments and laughed should be the ones to apologize. Leaving your female colleagues to apologize for their poor judgement is unacceptable,” unlikelysquire said.
“You cannot use these ladies to apologize for his comments. Kindly instruct him to issue an apology to the Jamaican people. If you are not able to do this, then advertisers should flee to the exit,” said forties_dale.