A transgender comedian stripped entirely naked on live television before playing a keyboard with her penis, provoking a strong outcry against Channel 4.
The move, which has been deemed’misogynistic’ and ‘offensive’ and has prompted complaints to Ofcom, was broadcast live on the relaunch of Friday Night Live.
Jordan Gray, who was designated male at birth and has been vocal about her transition, began her sketch with a song loaded with expletives about her experience as a trans woman.
Many viewers, however, deemed Gray’s performance ‘offensive.’
Helen Joyce, a journalist, expressed her disapproval on Twitter, writing, “Absolutely awful.” A sexual offense captured on camera. While idiots cheer and applaud.
Another user commented, “I was so looking forward to seeing Friday Night Live, a highlight of my youth.” Always a hit-or-miss performance, but this is the first time I’ve ever been humiliated as a woman by an act. A song that is vile and bigoted towards women.
Critics urged one another to report the incident to Ofcom, the government-approved television regulator.
One user wrote, “I’d like to know how Ofcom will handle this.” This type of misogynist perversion should not be permitted on television.
Another posted a screenshot of their Ofcom complaint submission with the message, “If anyone else wants to do the same…”
“I am difficult to offend. This succeeded. I could care less about him having his knuckles out; what I object to are his comments.
“Submit a complaint to Ofcom”
The dramatic performance was part of the one-time return of the popular 1980s standup show, formerly known as Saturday Live, which Channel 4 broadcast as part of its 40th birthday festivities.
Ben Elton hosted the show, which featured comedians from the previous version of the show, such as Jo Brand and Harry Enfield, as well as new talent, such as Gray and Rosie Jones.
Before the performance, Gray, who in 2016 was the first transgender singer to appear on The Voice, tweeted: “Tonight we make history.”
She began her act by saying, “I haven’t had a Yorkie bar in five years,” a reference to the chocolate brand’s original motto, “it’s not for girls.”
Gray donned a bright pink outfit and announced to the audience, “This is the coolest night of my life, and you’re witnessing me have the coolest night of my life.”
She began the song with the lyrics, “I gaze out at the faces in this room and wish I were still in the womb.”
And begin anew, contrary to God’s will, with different glands and smaller hands.
The dark-haired, curly-haired comic continued, ‘I wish the world could finally see that I am not merely a female Russell Brand.’
She then began the humorous song, echoing the Chuckle Brothers’ “to me to you” routine, before announcing, “Now back to me – this song is about me.”
Her rendition of Do-Re-Mi is followed by progressively furious keyboard playing.
As the song comes to an end, she informs the crowd, ‘What’s the nicest thing about live television? I can do such foolish things!’
She then leaps off the piano and, after counting down “one, two, three,” rips off her costume and reveals her complete body.
After dancing around the stage, the naked comic returns to the keyboard and plays a few keys with her penis while saying “see you on Friday at the London Palladium, b*****s”
The audience applauds wildly as she leaps onto the piano bench before departing the stage.
Following the sketch, host Ben Elton remarked, “Now that’s what I call a knuckle joke!”
Friday’s 9 p.m., 90-minute program featured appearances by Julian Clary, Stephen Fry, Dawn French, and Jennifer Saunders.