Shame Difference

By Justin Cohen - Friday 21st December 2007


Community and music industry figures have expressed sorrow after singer Sean Smith, half of X-Factor's Same Difference, labelled himself a “jewboy” for being careful with money.

The duo won the hearts of thousands of young fans with their family-friendly performances, helping to propel them to last Saturday night’s live final. But last weekend, as they lost out in the televised finale, that clean-cut image suffered a blow when it emerged that Sean had made an anti-semitic gaffe during a radio interview in the sibling’s home city of Portsmouth.

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“I used to work behind the bar at this venue (Portsmouth Guildhall) only a year ago so I cannot believe I am now appearing here,” he told Quay Radio. “We used to charge about £3.00 a pint which is expensive because I am used to only paying about £2.50.

“I do not like paying that much for a beer. Those are London prices and I do not expect to pay that – I suppose that makes me a bit of a jewboy.”

He immediately expressed shock at the comment and asked for it to be cut from the interview to be broadcast, which the station agreed to do.

Board of Deputies Chief Executive Jon Benjamin – who warned that the comment provided a bad example to the group’s newly-acquired army of young fans – said: “This can’t be passed off as an innocent slip, because he immediately realised the offensive nature of his comment. Once again it reminds us of the subtext of bigotry that forms a part of the everyday speech of many people.”

Music impresario Jonathan Shalit added: “I think it sad people still associate Jew with tightness with money as Jews are some of the most generous people I know. That Sean can have a thought like this can only have resulted from the kind of views he experienced in his upbringing. In religions studied perhaps schools should educate children that all religions preach a similar moral and ethical code which includes generosity.” But he added that he didn’t believe the comment would have an impact on his prospects in the industry. “I don't think a young man should be condemned for life by a comment born out of ignorance,” he added.

An X Factor spokesman told the Jewish News: “Sean and Sarah are two of the last people who’d ever want to upset anyone. It was an unfortunate slip of the tongue and he in no way meant any offence and apologises to anyone who has taken offence.” While Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman described the original comment as “foolish, ignorant”, she said his apology should be accepted.











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