BBC Star Faces Backlash for Alleged Use of Racial Slur on Set

If you’re unaware of Mrs. Brown’s Boys, consider yourself fortunate. This show is often regarded as one of the least humorous offerings from British comedy, yet it has somehow gained a significant following. The series catapulted Brendan O’Carroll, the actor who portrays the drag character, into stardom—but currently, his name is making headlines for a far more contentious reason.

O’Carroll is accused of delivering a highly inappropriate joke during a rehearsal for the Christmas special of the show. The Mirror reported this controversy on Monday, although the specifics remain unclear. The BBC has temporarily halted production and initiated an inquiry, but it appears to have been rather superficial as rehearsals have resumed.

In a statement provided to the Mirror, O’Carroll remarked, “During a read-through for the Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas specials, there was an awkward attempt at humor involving a character named Agnes [Brown], in which a racial term was suggested. It fell flat and resulted in offense, for which I sincerely regret and have extended my apologies.” However, this apology has been criticized for lacking a direct expression of “sorry.” The exact nature of the joke has since been revealed by British media.

As cited by the Daily Mail (noted for their controversial takes), O’Carroll purportedly made a joke involving the N-word, stopping just short of fully articulating it. He also reportedly used a term that, despite being benign in certain contexts, was clearly intended as offensive. According to the Mail’s report, O’Carroll allegedly stated, “I don’t call a sp*de a sp*de, I call a sp*de a-” and began to say the N-word before actress Jennifer Gibney, who played his daughter, cut him off while in character, apparently following the script. It’s questionable why such a line was included in the script in the first place, given that O’Carroll is a co-writer.

The efforts to defend O’Carroll’s actions have been fervent. A spokesman for the actor told the Mail, “We want to emphasize that the ‘n’ word was not articulated; it was merely suggested. Agnes (Mrs. Brown) began the term but was halted by her daughter, Cathy [Gibney], knowing she would be.”

This response hardly qualifies as an apology! Moreover, the situation escalates. As reported by the Mirror, a Black crew member was present during the joke and was understandably horrified, leading to their resignation from the production. An insider commented to the publication, “Why is it that they are off the show … while Brendan remains? The entire situation feels wrong.” Their sentiment is shared by many.

The BBC is under increasing pressure to take appropriate action against O’Carroll for his comments. Their response to the Mirror indicated, “The BBC is treating this matter with utmost seriousness, and Brendan is also fully aware of its severity. We have communicated the ramifications of any future infractions.” However, this raises the question of what actions are being taken regarding the current controversy. Many observers are outraged, recognizing that if O’Carroll were an everyday individual, he would likely face termination from his job, which many would argue is justified.

The Mirror highlighted the possibility that the BBC may hesitate to act due to the substantial viewer numbers drawn by O’Carroll and Mrs Brown’s Boys. The show even clinched the Best Comedy award at the TV Choice Awards this year—an outcome that feels perplexing to many. An insider explained, “Their commitment to the show for the foreseeable future is strong … removing him is not on the table.” If this is indeed the case, it’s profoundly disappointing.

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