Paul Hollywood’s ‘Thoughtless’ Joke on ‘The Great British Baking Show’ Episode Won’t Be Seen in the U.S.
A joke about diabetes from Paul Hollywood won’t be seen by U.S. viewers of The Great British Baking Show. Love Productions has cut the ill-thought-out quip from future airings of the episode, which was broadcast in the U.K. on October 22, Deadline reported. Only the edited episode will be available on Netflix in the U.S.
This bad joke caused a backlash
In the latest episode of the popular baking competition show, judge Paul Hollywood described a contestant’s Chelsea buns as looking like “diabetes on a plate.”
The remark sparked a swift backlash in the U.K., with many people taking to social media to school Hollywood on the reality of diabetes.
“On #GBBO semi final watched by millions @PaulHollywood just called a dessert ‘diabetes on a plate’ which is deeply hurtful for all with Type 1 diabetes an autoimmune condition,” tweeted one person.
“Please go to https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/contact-us … to complain about Paul Hollywood’s comment about diabetes on a plate. This is disgusting. I am type 1 diabetic, this is factually incorrect and offensive. You’re spreading false beliefs about a serious condition,” tweeted another outraged viewer.
The non-profit Diabetes UK tweeted that it had “been in touch with the producers and @Channel4 to explain how remarks like this can lead to misunderstanding, and be upsetting for people affected by diabetes.”
Apparently, producers got the message. They quickly edited the joke out of the patisserie week episode. When the episode arrives on Netflix in the near future, American audiences won’t hear Hollywood’s remark.
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes
Hollywood’s flip remark rubbed some diabetes sufferers the wrong way. They argued that it reinforces the idea that the main cause of diabetes is a diet high in sugary foods.
There are two major types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the immune systems attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, according to the Mayo Clinic. As a result, people with this type of diabetes produce little or no insulin. That causes sugar to build up in the blood, leading to potentially dangerous consequences. The condition often emerges in childhood and is not linked to weight. Sufferers require regular insulin injections. What causes type 1 diabetes isn’t clear, but doctors suspect it might be related to genes and environmental factors.
Type 2 diabetes might also be linked to genetics and environmental factors, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, being overweight and having an inactive lifestyle are also risk factors. It’s more common among older adults, though the incidence is increasing in young adults and children. Having a family history of type 2 diabetes can also increase a person’s risk of developing the disease. So can being being black, Hispanic, American Indian, or Asian.
There is nothing a person can do to prevent getting type 1 diabetes or to reverse the disease. However, eating healthy foods, exercising more, and losing weight can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or halt the disease’s progression in those who have prediabetes.
Hollywood apologized for his comments
Hollywood has also heard the complaints of viewers. He walked back his comments on diabetes after the outcry, apologizing for making light of a serious condition.
“A remark re:- diabetes I made on tonight’s show was thoughtless and I meant no harm, as both my grandad and my own mother suffer/ suffered from diabetes … apologies X,” he wrote on Instagram.
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