October 23, 2007 11:52

BBC criticised for Iggy Pop's racist remark

Organisation 'failed' to react properly at Glasto

The BBC has been criticised after Iggy Pop used a racist term during coverage of Glastonbury Festival.

During a live BBC2 interview, Pop recounted an anecdote about visiting “Paki shops” in Camden.

The BBC issued an on-air apology the following day but broadcasting watchdog Ofcom received two complaints from viewers about the incident.

Ofcom ruled that the BBC "failed in its responsibility to ensure the offence caused was justified by the context".

It said the BBC could have lessened the impact of the word by issuing an on-air apology "as soon as possible after the incident occurred".

The BBC said the US singer was probably unaware that a term commonly used 30 years ago had now passed out of "polite usage".

A BBC spokesman added: "Iggy Pop is one of the wildest men in rock music and, as such, he has a built-in content advisory warning."