'Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier' advertising campaign used by British TV Channel  for its wedding series to be investigated for 'racism'



We read:

"The Advertising Standards Authority is to formally investigate Channel 4's advertising for Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, after the Irish Traveller community successfully appealed the regulator's original decision.

Adverts used to promote the show have been criticised for using the words: 'Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier' in large letters across images of travellers, including one of young children.

The London Travellers' Unit and two members of the London Assembly have likened the word 'gypsier' to other terms deemed racist and abusive.

In March the ASA dismissed more than 370 complaints against the campaign, but decided that an investigation was unnecessary as Channel 4's TV and billboard ads were not likely to cause widespread offence.

But now the ASA has made an embarrassing climb down and admitted its decision not to review the complaints was 'flawed.'

The green light for the investigation to commence was given after a meeting between Lord Smith and independent reviewer Sir Hayden Phillips, a former senior civil servant.

The decision to investigate the series ,which has pulled in up to 8 million viewers, is damaging to the show's sponsor Honda and the car company admitted some viewers had rang them directly to lodge a complaint.

Source

If Gypsies think it is racism to call someone a Gypsy, that doesn't say much for their self-esteem, does it.  Do they themselves think being a Gypsy is discreditable?  If so, why criticize others who appear to think likewise?