Rape Joke: Basketmouth Still in Troubled Waters 

 

6th January, 2014

In spite of an apology and an explanation, Bright Okpocha, popular Nigerian comedian, better known as Basketmouth, has continued to receive flaks from his fans for what they considered to be an offensive rape joke he posted on his Facebook wall.

On Sunday, the humour merchant posted a comment on his wall in which he portrayed dating scenarios involving white girls on the one hand and African girls on the other and how both scenarios could lead to sex.

In the controversial joke, he wrote, “White girls: 1st date: Coffee, 2nd date: Kiss, 3rd date: sex.” For the second scenario he wrote, “African girls: 1st date: Fast food, 2nd date: Hug, 3rd date: Chinese restaurant, 4th date: kiss, 5th date: Attempted sex but failed, 6th date: Shopping, 7th date: Cinema, new phone, more shopping, 8th date: Attempted sex but failed, 9th date: RAPE.”

Shortly after he made the joke public, it went viral on the internet, with many criticizing Basketmouth for encouraging rape.

Ostensibly stunned by the torrent of comments, the joke generated, Basketmouth later apologized, saying that it was misunderstood. The comedian also said he would never encourage any act of violence against women. “I would never in a thousand lifetimes encourage rape, I broadcasted a joke that many clearly misunderstood and have found offensive and I sincerely apologize, the intention however was to highlight an unfortunate trend and the ridiculously flawed comparison between money & the worth of a woman,” he wrote.

Rather placate them, the comedian’s apology further drew the ire of those who considered it belated. Barbara Mhangami, a Zimbabwean gender activist, writer and blogger based in the United States said the issue was not whether a joke was misunderstood or not but that it existed. “An apology that blames me for being at fault because I did not get the joke with rape as the punchline is not an apology but rather a paternalistic slap on the face. I don't like being slapped. Neither do I like non-apologies that are designed to mollify me. Mr. Basketmouth that non- apology stings and it hurts. Because you are telling me that you are only sorry that I misunderstood your joke, you are not sorry for telling it,” she explained. Mhangami’s reaction was a sequel to a long letter he had written to Basketmouth entitled, Mister Basketmouth, Rape is NOT a Joke!

Ikhide Ikheloa, literary critic and essayist, however called for a stiff punishment. “If anyone knows of any and all of the companies that Basketmouth does endorsement deals with, share on Twitter and on Facebook. Let them explain to us why they are feeding someone who believes it is cool to rape our sisters and mothers. He is about to get paid! Nonsense,” he averred.  Abimbola Adelakun, a United States-based Nigerian writer and journalist, noted that it was not an original joke.

Chika Unigwe, a Belgium-based writer and winner of the Nigerian Prize for Literature, said Basketmouth had a predilection for cracking sexist jokes. “Basket mouth is a repeat offender. First and last time I watched him, he told a ‘joke' about a woman begging to be raped like the others had been because no one had slept with her in a long time for whatever reason. There were women in the audience laughing at that very offensive joke.’ Being a comedian isn't about every topic being fair game. It's about talent and discernment,” she noted.

Evelyn Ukamaka Olisakwe, a writer, said Basketmouth’s apology did not only smack of arrogance but was also appalling. “I read the 'joke' and I am left shaken. Here is a celebrity, a 'model' who has almost become a household name. He has over a million followers. So who says he won't negatively influence some naive minds out there?! There are young boys wanting to be like him, talk like him, dress like him and walk like him. And we think they won't also swallow this shit?” she asked rather rhetorically.

However, as the joke continues to generate vitriolic reactions, there are fears that Basketmouth, an A-list comedian who had performed in local and international concerts alongside acts such as Sean Paul, Wyclef Jean, Akon, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Chris Brown may lose his multimillion naira Globacom deal as a result of his controversial joke.

culled from http://www.tellng.com/entelltainment/rape-joke-basketmouth-still-troubled-waters