BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

Summary  

[This summary does not form part of the decision.]

The Authority has declined to determine a complaint about the comments something was ‘hated with the passion of a thousand Christs’ and ‘for the love of God’. The Authority has found on numerous occasions the use of ‘Jesus Christ’ or similar terms as an exclamation does not amount to a breach of standards.

Declined to Determine: Good Taste and Decency (section 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989)

The broadcast

[1]  On 30 September 2021, during the ‘Daily Dose’ segment on The Project, a host said:

• ‘Golf is a sport that is close to my heart. It's also a sport that occasionally I hate with the passion of a thousand Christs.’
• ‘Please, for the love of God someone buy that house quickly.’

The complaint

[2]  Nikki Joubert-Buys complained the comments ‘hating something with the passion of a thousand Christs’ and ‘for the love of God’ breached the good taste and decency standard:

• The comments make ‘a mockery of the suffering that Jesus has gone through on the cross. “The Passion of the Christ” movie is about God’s love for people. Not about hate.’
• The comments are ‘totally unacceptable and offensive’ for ‘National Television at prime time’.
• ‘This is not decent to make a mockery of the foundation that Christianity is built on.’

The broadcaster’s response

[3]  Discovery NZ Ltd (Discovery) did not uphold the complaint, responding:

The Broadcasting Standards Authority recently released guidance about complaints that are unlikely to succeed, with one section focussing on blasphemy.  It says the Authority acknowledges that when broadcasts feature exclamations of words associated with ‘God’, ‘Jesus’, ‘Christ’, ‘Hell’ and the Christian faith, some people might find this offensive. However, these words are not considered to be coarse language and in our modern secular society have become widely used as part of everyday speech. The Authority has consistently found variations of ‘Jesus’ and ‘Christ’ used as exclamations do not threaten widely shared community standards of good taste and decency.

Outcome: Declined to determine

[4]  Section 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 authorises this Authority to decline to determine a complaint if it considers that, in all the circumstances of the complaint, it should not be determined by the Authority.

[5]  The decisions of the Authority issued over time provide guidance to broadcasters about what is acceptable under the broadcasting standards. We have consistently found the terms complained of do not breach the good taste and decency standard when used as exclamations or emphasis, as they were used in this broadcast.¹ 

[6]  Given this consistent approach, the Authority considers it appropriate to exercise its s 11(b) discretion in this instance. The broadcaster’s response appropriately directed the complainant to BSA guidance which addressed the point raised and acknowledged any offence caused. There is no need for this Authority to address the complaint any further.

For the above reasons the Authority declines to determine the complaint.
Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Susie Staley
Chair
16 February 2022    

Appendix

The correspondence listed below was received and considered by the Authority when it determined this complaint:

1  Nikki Joubert Buys’ complaint to Discovery – 1 November 2021

2  Discovery’s decision on the complaint – 24 November 2021

3  Joubert Buys’ referral to the Authority – 9 December 2021

4  Discovery’s confirmation of no further comments – 6 January 2022

¹ See for example Stark and Discovery NZ Ltd, Decision No. 2021-080; Ten Hove and MediaWorks Radio Ltd, Decision No. 2020-044A; and Bruce-Phillips and TVNZ Ltd, Decision No. 2020-092