I suppose this was inevitable. But he's not leaving the network. Instead, he'll be staying with the early AM show and fronting special events like the Oscars. 

His words read like they've been vetted by a PR team:

"Last Saturday, I watched on CTV as my colleagues led a national conversation about how we can take action against systemic racism. That conversation showed me, more than ever, we need more Black voices, more Indigenous voices, and more People of Colour in the media… And that is why I have decided to immediately step away from my role as an anchor at ETALK to create a space for a new perspective and a new voice."

"It is my hope that the new anchor is Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour who can use this important platform to inspire, lead, and make change." 

Hands up anyone who thinks this was really totally his decision.

You can watch the statement here.

"It is my hope that the new anchor is Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour who can use this important platform to inspire, lead, and make change." 

seriously?  just how important is the "platform" of etalk ? Should we really be looking to an entertainment / navel gazing / gossip / fluff filler show to provide "inspiration" , "lead"(ership) , or "make change" ?

Really???

If Bell Media / CTV / and Ben think that installing a person who is Black, Indigenous, or of Colour will solve these serious problems, then I'm sorry.... they are just delusional...  and that in itself is part of the root of the problem to begin with.









 

Hansa wrote:

Hard to see how he could have stayed at etalk after one of his co-workers there posted this: 

https://www.laineygossip.com/how-jessica-mulroney-used-white-privilege-and-white-fragility-against-sasha-exeter/66442

My thoughts too.  I read her post last week and there is nothing ambiguous about saying you are "scared of the Mulroneys".  Whether you agree with her or not,  there is no way an employer would keep the two together.
 

Maybe they should hire a Lesbian Folk Dancing, Black Woman Stutterer in a wheelchair, as was suggested back in 2000. 





 

Last edited by Peter the K (June 22, 2020 2:44 pm)

Meanwhile, CityLine's Tracy Moore will begin hosting a YouTube only series about race relations.

From the Canadian Press story:

"LIVE: #CitylineReal" premieres Tuesday afternoon and will see Moore speaking with guests every week about race and inequality in Canadian society. Topics that will be discussed over the next five weeks include performative allyship and microagression."

Citytv Reveals Limited Fall Line-up

Hansa wrote:

Ben Mulroney definitely benefits from white privilege but he also benefits from not only class privilege but elite privilege (as does Justin Trudeau). Ben Mulroney's first media gig was as a columnist for the Toronto Sun - Brian Mulroney was (and is?) on the board of Quebecor which owned the Sun at the time. I don't know if Brian has any links with people on the board or in senior management at Baton or Bell (which took over CTV around the time Ben joined) but I'm sure the connection didn't hurt, just like Chelsea Clinton being the daughter of the Clintons gave her an entry into NBC. Would Ben Mulroney, who unlike most people who entered television in the 2000s, never went to either journalism school or to a post-secondary radio-tv program or had any background that I know of in student media, have gotten either a column in a major newspaper chain or a gig as an entertainment reporter if he hadn't been a Mulroney? Unlikely. 

What you are saying is true.  However even today, and often in media, it is often who you know, who knows you, or can vouch for you that determines if you get the interview and ultimately the job. 

Ben landing the job years ago at CTV wasn't really a surprise.  And initially he wasn't on air very much and no doubt was being trained. The fact that he didn't go to broadcast school or take journalism isn't that big a deal since personally I think the quality of our broadcast schools and journalism is lacking, and too many in the field seem to have the same viewpoint and style.  He does have a law degree and a BA with a major in history, and this would have served him well in media.

Also within the industry, Ben has a good reputation and this is evident since he is able to interview some performers and artists that don't talk much to the media. They usually mention him by name on the red carpet and virtually nobody walks by without speaking to him. So you can argue he got the job because of his name (anyone can do that) but he survived 18 years because like him or not, he is good at his job.

Was this totally his decision?  Of course not, it never is. Naturally Bell/CTV have a lot of input in the statement and final outcome since it also concerns them and they are directly involved.  Should he have stepped down from the morning show, Oscar coverage, and CTV?  No, not unless he wanted to or the network thought it was necessary. I agree it wasn't necessary for him to leave everything, similar to his wife.

I watched the statement tonight on eTalk and I think it was about as good as could be expected. This whole situation was much more about his wife and Ben did what any good spouse would do, support and try and help her.   And it is hard to fault anyone for that.

Hansa wrote:

Ben Mulroney definitely benefits from white privilege but he also benefits from not only class privilege but elite privilege (as does Justin Trudeau). Ben Mulroney's first media gig was as a columnist for the Toronto Sun - Brian Mulroney was (and is?) on the board of Quebecor which owned the Sun at the time. I don't know if Brian has any links with people on the board or in senior management at Baton or Bell (which took over CTV around the time Ben joined) but I'm sure the connection didn't hurt, just like Chelsea Clinton being the daughter of the Clintons gave her an entry into NBC. Would Ben Mulroney, who unlike most people who entered television in the 2000s, never went to either journalism school or to a post-secondary radio-tv program or had any background that I know of in student media, have gotten either a column in a major newspaper chain or a gig as an entertainment reporter if he hadn't been a Mulroney? Unlikely. 

According to John Doyle,  the Quebecor connection did come into play later, over the Sun's (then) TV Critic's coverage of Ben.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-ben-mulroney-knows-all-about-power-and-privilege-in-canada/
 

what?  still no comment from Jess Allen.....  

RadioActive wrote:

More political correctness running wild. 

Just two weeks after the group Lady Antebellum announced they were changing their name to "Lady A," the Dixie Chicks have decided to alter their famous moniker and will now be known only as "The Chicks." (And no, I'm not making that up.) 

 

I guess the next move will be to change the name of Dixie Road in Mississauga despite the fact that it was named after a Welsh doctor who settled in the area and has nothing to do with the Confederacy.

Charlie wrote:

Tq345 wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

More political correctness running wild. 

Just two weeks after the group Lady Antebellum announced they were changing their name to "Lady A," the Dixie Chicks have decided to alter their famous moniker and will now be known only as "The Chicks." (And no, I'm not making that up.) 

 

I guess the next move will be to change the name of Dixie Road in Mississauga despite the fact that it was named after a Welsh doctor who settled in the area and has nothing to do with the Confederacy.

Is there a statue of him in the area?  Tear it down for good measure.
 

 
I'm not sure about a statue, but he did found the church and cemetery at the corner of Dundas and Cawthra. Ripping up the graveyard is always an option. 😁

And now authors who write outside of their own culture are cancelling themselves:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/83691-upcoming-ya-novel-ember-days-canceled-by-author.html?fbclid=IwAR0sN7NC4PJtr0DyEtBNcjbVDTUGeHHL6Sp2F4a3zM0MXnTnmQpQRfkTRM0

Upcoming YA Novel 'Ember Days' Canceled by Author

I have to wonder how much time she already put into researching and writing out this novel before chucking the entire thing.