It was to come as he introduced Rag’n’Bone Man to the stage.
Jack Whitehall was supposed to make a sickening joke about Rag’n’Bone man at last night’s BRIT Awards, only to swerve it at the last second, according to a tweet by the Telegraph’s entertainment editor Anita Singh.
Ahead of the 33-year-old being brought to the stage, the comedian was supposed to have described him as having the ‘beard of a hate cleric’, with the phrase reportedly being shown on the ITV’s subtitles for the programme. In the end he changed it to ‘wizard’.
I can see Jack Whitehall’s autocue from my seat. It said Rag’n’Bone Man has ‘the beard of a hate cleric’ but he changed it to ‘wizard’
— Anita Singh (@anitathetweeter) February 21, 2018
The comment was to come ahead of the bearded singer taking to the stage to perform ‘Skin’ with Jorja Smith. He later picked up the award for British Single of the Year, beating Dua Lipa, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik.
But people on social media couldn’t get over the fact Whitehall was scripted to make such an insensitive joke:
No way , really ?
— Lily Allen (@lilyallen) February 21, 2018
…really?
— Tom Chivers (@TomChivers) February 21, 2018
I can confirm @jackwhitehall was supposed to say ‘hate cleric’ if you were watching at home and using subtitles!
— Melanie Coppins (@Melaniesawyer1) February 22, 2018