Gala furore over Lidl Wayne ‘absolutely ridiculous’

Many people took to social media to voice their anger and concern at the reaction and coverage in the national and regional press following the appearance of the character on Saturday night.

Around 90 per cent of the responses were positive and supportive. Some said the reaction was “political correctness gone mad”, while others claimed it was not offensive but simply “harmless fun”.

However, it was also described as “grossly insulting” and “an embarrassment to the gala and to Caithness”.

Lidl Wayne – a play on American rapper Lil Wayne – was blacked up and wearing a Lidl plastic bag. He was part of a satirical group which included caricatures of American president Donald Trump as well as his Russian and North Korean counterparts Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.

“It was poking fun at celebrities,” according to one gala onlooker. “There was nothing racist about it. If this is seen as offensive then we are pushing the boat too far out on political correctness.

“It will get to the stage where you can’t express any kind of political protest or satire.”

Wick gala committee, which organises the week-long event, was reluctant to get involved in the row.

A spokeswoman said: “We were disappointed it was the national and regional press which got in touch on the issue and not the public.”

The committee members, she pointed out, attend meetings starting in January to organise the gala and this week have been at events “all through the day and night”. One member was counting money until the early hours of yesterday morning.

It is understood a complaint about Lidl Wayne was made by a Wicker living in Edinburgh and triggered the negative coverage.

But there was a backlash from local people. James Macmillan stated: “Edinburgh obviously dilutes the sense of humour and common sense. Political correctness gone mad.”

Myra Blake wrote: “This is absolutely ridiculous the fuss over this, it is all harmless fun. What about when people dress up in tartan bunnets and ginger hair? I could get offended as I’m a Scottish redhead. Don’t people think there are more important things in this world to be getting annoyed and angry about?”

Elspeth Durrand said: “You wouldn’t dress up as the Hulk without greening up so how can you dress as Lidl Wayne without an authentic tinge? It’s not offensive... it’s simply authentic and in character.”

Roselle McNeill wrote: “For goodness sake it’s a gala... What has gone wrong with this country if people can’t have a laugh without being criticised or made to feel as if they have offended people when it’s all in fun?”

John MacLeod said: “I very much doubt the costume was designed to be overtly offensive, although the Donald Trump costumes undoubtedly were.”

But there were some voices of dissent. Drew Macleod said: “Blacking up and wearing frizzy wigs is grossly insulting. This sort of thing belongs in the last century, if it ever belonged anywhere at all.

“It is an embarrassment to the gala and to Caithness.”

North MSP Gail Ross said: “Wick gala has a long and proud tradition of raising much-needed money for local causes. It is run by committed volunteers who are unaware what people are going to dress up as.

“I am certain that no-one in Wick plans their costume with the intent to cause offence but we do need to be mindful of other people, races and cultures.”

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