UNBELIEVABLE

Sunday Mirror, Jul 11, 2004 by MAEVE QUIGLEY

D'UNBELIEVABLES star Jon Kenny has fallen victim to a racist hoax circulating on the internet.

Funnyman Jon, who recently returned to the stage after beating cancer, has nothing to do with a comedy song attributed to him.

The skit on Eminem's Stan song contains racist comments, blue language and attacks on music promoters.

The song is being circulated as an MP3 attatchment to e-mails.

But the 46-year-old star's fans are unaware the foul-mouthed comedy sketch is NOT Jon and is a HOAX.

During the sketch, the mystery comedian accuses Ireland's ticket agents of being "robbing b******s".

During the song, "Stan" complains when he is charged an extra EUR4.50 booking fee for tickets for his son to see a fictitious Eminem concert at the Point Theatre.

"What's the f******g fee for?

"I'm outside in that cold for 17 and a half f******g hours - I booked nothing, I have no credit card, nothing.

"F******g robbing b*******s making money off everyone.

"Robbing b*******s - I'll pull their f******g brains out through their eyeballs, the stupid b******s.

"They've nothing better to do with themselves.

"But I tell you one thing - you've met your match lads."

But Kenny has used booking agents himself and although the email circulating bears his name, it has nothing to do with the funnyman.

A spokesman for the star said: "It has absolutely nothing to do with him."

An insider said: "Jon is out of the country at the minute but he was contacted by someone in a firm of booking agents who heard the sketch and he wasn't best pleased.

"Because he's such a well-known comedian and the name on the email is 'John Kenny' people think it is him.

"But it has nothing at all to do with him."

In the foul-mouthed rant the mystery comedian uses language offensive to black people.

Philip Watt, chief executive of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism said offensive and racist emails were becoming increasingly common.

He said: "They are often treated as a joke by those who send them and those who receive them.

"But things like this have serious consequences, particularly in offices where people of ethnic minorities work.

"This shouldn't be tolerated by employers of any shape or form and wouldn't be tolerated if it was overtly sexist."

Mr Watt said employers should take action to make sure emails such as this were not circulated.

He said: "In America and in rap circles the term 'nigga' is used by black people and it is part of culture.

"But that is very different to using the word outside of that context and it is still a very offensive word to black people.

"It does depend very much on the context that it is used but certainly the ones we have seen recently have not been used in this context.

"Sometimes they are misguided attempts at humour or satire and they are sent round out of ignorance as much as anything.

"But nevertheless they shouldn't be tolerated."

In the song, 'Stan' has to travel with his brother Matthew on Bus Eireann to the show and has a few complaints about that company too.

"Bus Eireann man - there's another shower of right muppets altogether.

"Two seats I had to get for myself and Matthew, EUR20 each and I'm standing the whole way from Limerick.

"When was it ever eight and a half hours? I'd swim to New York quicker."

Jon Kenny's agent said she had no knowledge of the email.

She said: "I really can't give you any information - this is all news to me.

"There are lots of people called Jon Kenny."

When asked if she was looking into the racist email she said: "Absol-utely not. It is totally being ignored."