Comedian Patrick Kielty’s description of Sinn Féin as “traitors” on RTÉ’s Late Late Show was “miles away from satire” and should prompt an apology from the national broadcaster, a party TD has said.
Host Kielty made the comment linking the republican party to the hit show The Traitors during the opening monologue of the RTÉ flagship entertainment programme on Friday.
He joked that the hunt was on for contestants for the Irish version of the reality show, before images of Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and former party member Brian Stanley appeared on screen.
Ms McDonald and Mr Stanley have been embroiled in an exchange of claims and counter claims after he quit the party last weekend amid a controversy relating to a complaint made against him.
Before the images appeared, Mr Kielty said: “If you haven’t actually seen the show, trust me, you’re in for a treat, folks. It’s so good. It’s full of deception, betrayal, everybody keeps changing their stories. Well, all we have to do is work out who’s telling the truth.”
When the pictures of Ms McDonald and Mr Stanley appeared on screen, he added: “I think that’s the first two contestants there. The Sinn Féin Traitors – the show we’re all wanting to see.”
The remark drew a mixed reaction from the studio audience, with some boos amid laughs. Mr Kielty then went on to make a joke linking the show to the British royal family.
Sinn Féin criticised the comments, highlighting that the far-right has used the term traitors to denounce the party, including in a death threat to Ms McDonald.
It claimed the remarks, which the party has raised with director general Kevin Bakhurst, amounted to “election interference” given the general election is expected to be called imminently.
However, the broadcaster has defended Mr Kielty, saying the monologue was “satire”, which it said was a “core part of freedom of expression”.
Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly told RTÉ’s Week in Politics programme on Sunday: “Satire is a core part of freedom of expression, but that wasn’t satire.
“Using a far right trope, and one, by the way, that was cited in a death threat that was made against my party leader, Mary Lou MacDonald, using a trope like that, I believe, is highly inappropriate.
“It is miles away from satire, and most definitely is not a joke. I think it is a serious matter. We shouldn’t joke or mess about the far right, or indeed, the language that they use and the tropes that they wheel out.
“So, yes, RTÉ should apologise. I think it was very ill-judged on the part of Patrick Kielty to try to knock a bit of sport out of what is a very, very serious issue, a very serious issue in my community, and indeed in communities the length and breadth of this state.”
Government minister Charlie McConalogue told The Week in Politics: “I think it was satire.
“I’ve watched the Late, Late Show on many occasions since Patrick Kielty took over. I think he’s doing a really good job overall, but certainly he’s been starting the show with satire. I don’t think it was his best joke, certainly not.”
RTÉ said: “Under Patrick Kielty’s tenure, The Late Late Show has become more satirical and this is evident with an opening monologue based broadly around topical issues.
“This is now a well-established part of the format and there is an audience expectation that the show will open with a satirical take on events of the week.
“In this instance, the presenter joked about recruitment for the new television series Traitors which is based on a group of people facing, and being tested by, various challenges.
“That was the satirical context, given the recent controversies involving Sinn Fein.
“The comedic and satirical aspect of this section was further re-enforced with an implicit joke about the House of Windsor. The audience understand this and the comedic nature is clearly evident in the tone and delivery of the monologue.
“Satire is a core part of freedom of expression and its targets are prominent figures, institutions, etc making the news and this has been the template for the opening monologue with Patrick.
“Aside from the entertainment and comedic aspects of the show, it also deals with serious issues and human-interest stories.
“These are clearly differentiated in the show format and the past year featured interviews with political leaders, including (Sinn Féin) First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
“Sinn Féin is entitled to bring a formal complaint and information has been provided to assist with that.”
