Janey Godley
(Picture: YouTube/ Scottish government)A Scottish comedian is the latest figure to be embroiled in a cancel culture debate after she apologised for historic tweets which were deemed offensive.
Posting on Twitter, Janey Godley, who is famous for doing voiceovers of high profile figures like Nicola Sturgeon, apologised after old tweets resurfaced on social media in light of her being featured in new coronavirus safety adverts.
Hello everyone. Please have a read. pic.twitter.com/IhL35XSmcR
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) September 7, 2021
She said: “There are tweets from my past social media that are horridly offensive, I believe in progress not perfection and I am far from perfect. People have every right to go through my social media and see what values I hold and to find hurtful phrases and statements is shocking, I am deeply sorry to everyone I offended.
“Comedy is no excuse to use disgusting and hurtful words that affect people and I know many of you expected better of me. I apologise for every single word that upset people, I should have blocked and reported the accounts that threatened me and not replied with abhorrent heckles.”
The comedian added: “There are fake tweets created to damage my reputation but the ones I wrote I take responsibility for.
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“During this pandemic, I tried to keep everyone’s spirits up and I will continue to do my best to keep that going.”
The tweets in question concern language Godley used to describe disabled people and victims of Chernobyl victims. However, in May, she also said she called the police after reportedly receiving death threats because of “fake tweets” mocked up to look like she was insulting Jewish people.
In light of the news, some people thought the comedian should be “cancelled” and that her apology was not good enough:
Oh I see Janey Godley has been rumbled for “horribly offensive tweets”. Why am I completely unsurprised by this. Delighted to say she blocked me a couple of years ago.
— Mr Demos of Pnyx (@gem_ste) September 8, 2021
I am not normally a great fan of cancel culture...
— Facundo Savala (@FacundoSavala) September 8, 2021
But then I remembered that Janey Godley tried to suspend me from Twitter only yesterday...🤬
She deserves all that she gets. 👍#cancelJaneyGodley #CancelCulture #Chernobyl pic.twitter.com/nZMbzyUc79
A Conservative MSP also wrote to an Aberdeen theatre that Godley is due to appear at, as part of a pantomime show, raising concerns about her appearance.
Douglas Lumsden wrote: “I have been contacted by many constituents who do not feel Ms Godley is an appropriate ‘star’ of a family pantomime and will be avoiding the show this year.
“Given these concerns, I would ask what checks Aberdeen Performing Arts made as to her suitability for hiring, and its position on her unacceptable references to the disabled.”
Maybe linked to my letter to @APAWhatsOn pic.twitter.com/0xQUiSDbzW
— Douglas Lumsden MSP (@dlumsden) September 7, 2021
Others, however, showed Godley their support and suggested some people were being hypocritical in calling for her to be cancelled.
Have to say I disagree. As much as I can't stand Janey Godley,this cancel culture pish over hurty words is beyond a joke.
— YuriBezmenovWasRight (@JockRighteous) September 8, 2021
Freedom of speech is well and truly dead
I see there are a very small number of pro free speech anti cancel culture hams trying to take away Janey Godley's right to free speech and to cancel her because they are threatened by funny and intelligent women. Hope @JaneyGodley knows the haters are the (vile) minority
— Duncan Lindsay (@DuncanLindsay) September 8, 2021
The kind of people who are always complaining about “cancel culture”are using the #cancelJaneyGodley hashtag to demand Janey Godley is cancelled. How does that work, then? 🤔
— Billy Misanthrope 🌒 (@BillyVacant) September 8, 2021
You kept my family going during the pandemic with your voice-overs of FM Covid statements. Often you made us smile when we wanted to cry or crawl under a duvet. I don't know how you did it, as we had no energy for much. For this alone you deserve a medal. 👏🏆
— Els Nicol 🎶🇳🇱🏴🌍🕊️ (@elswhen) September 7, 2021
One of the most grown-up apology tweets I've read. Most of us have tweets in our history we're not proud of. Life's a learning experience. Janey Godley is awesome and that those who berate cancel culture are trying to cancel her - literally using that word - is hilarious. https://t.co/2XPGjBwT5o
— Dicky Moore (@dickymoo) September 8, 2021
Godley later tweeted her thanks to those who had supported her:
What an amazing out pouring of love for me, thanks - we have to put our hands up when we use offensive language that upsets people and I am willing to do that - many many people were rightly offended at stuff I said and you have to own it- comedy or not
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) September 8, 2021
Meanwhile, Godley is not the only comedian currently under fire for potentially being offensive. Roy Chubby Brown’s upcoming Sheffield gig was recently cancelled over concerns about his material. While some people have praised this decision, others have spoken out against it and a petition to reinstate it has been signed by 32,000 people.
