Butlin’s apologises for “race hate-filled” wrestling show
Categories: Latest News
Wednesday April 06 2016
BBC News reports that holiday firm Butlin’s have apologised for featuring a wrestling show that was described by one visitor as “A horrific race hate-filled ten minutes of everything wrong on racial stereotypes.”
The Lincolnshire Echo reported the complaint aired by Christian Ceriso who took his children to a Butlin’s camp in Skegness for a weekend family break. In a series of tweets, Mr Ceriso described his horror at the format of the Superslam Wrestling show.
He wrote: “I felt I was dropped into the middle of a Britain First rally. Out came ‘Hakim’. The Islamic flag waving baddie. ‘BOOOOO’, we were told.
“Then came Union flag trunk wearing ‘Tony Spitfire.’ Yes Tony Spitfire, ladies and gents. ‘En-Ger-land!’ he thumped over and over.
“A horrific race hate-filled ten minutes of everything wrong on racial stereotypes. How did this get past the sense checkers?”
Butlin’s have since issued a statement claiming the show was a deviation from agreed content and that the show seen by Mr Ceriso was not approved by the holiday firm.
Butlin’s stated: “Yesterday’s wrestling was a deviation from the agreed content and we’re conducting a full review with our supplier as to why.
“We’d like to assure you and all guests this was a totally unacceptable one-off which is contrary to Butlin’s values.”
Resort director of Butlin’s Skegness, Chris Baron reiterated the company’s rejection of the changed content saying the firm’s “entertainment manager picked it up straight away.” He said Superslam Wrestling would continue at Butlin’s but would perform material from the agreed format.
Brian Dixon, managing director of All-Star Wrestling, the company that provided the entertainment to Butlin’s affirmed the show’s content had not been pre-checked by Butlin’s and apologised for the offence caused to visitors as a result of the change made by the company. He said, “Saturday’s wrestling show was different to the agreed content, and Butlin’s were not made aware of the change.
“We regret this clear error of judgment, as well as the obvious offence and upset caused.
“We wish to apologise to Butlin’s and their guests, and stress that this will not happen again.”