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GMB viewers slam ‘snowflakes’ who want to block Enid Blyton commemorative coin over claims she was ‘racist, sexist and a homophobe’ – saying they’re ‘rewriting history’
- Enid Blyton was denied a coin and was called ‘racist homophobe’ by Royal Mint
- GMB viewers have slammed ‘snowflakes’ who feel the author has dated views
- Professor Kehinde Andrews feels Enid isn’t ‘worthy’ of a commemorative coin
- Journalist Amanda Platell has hailed the writer a ‘great female British character’
Social media users criticised ‘snowflakes’ for blocking an Enid Blyton commemorative coin, accusing them of ‘rewriting history’.
The late children’s author was denied the honour of a commemorative coin after Royal Mint bosses branded the creator of the Famous Five and Secret Seven novels a ‘racist homophobe’, in documents released last week.
Birmingham-based professor Kehinde Andrews appeared on Good Morning Britain to argue that the author isn’t ‘worthy’ of the honour while journalist Amanda Platell felt Enid was a ‘great female British character’ who deserves to be deified.
Viewers argued Blyton still deserved to be recognised, with one telling Andrews to ‘get a life’ and suggesting ‘snowflakes’ who are against the idea are too easily offended.
Birmingham-based professor Kehinde Andrews (left) appeared on Good Morning Britain to argue that the author isn’t ‘worthy’ of the honour while journalist Amanda Platell (right) felt Enid was a ‘great female British character’ who deserves to be deified
Viewers were quick to take to Twitter to share their views and many felt Royal Mint was too harsh on the author
Kehinde said: ‘The reason why Enid isn’t worthy …it’s just widely inappropriate, she was racist her books were racist.
‘What the committee said was yeah she’s popular but [it’s] because of that racism, it’s the 21st century. ‘
The author went on to argue that children’s books are ‘still really conservative’ and feels parents should give their children other material to read.
He said: ‘If you look at children’s books, they still are really conservative. We shouldn’t be deifying Enid Blyton there’s other things to read just move on.’
Amanda insisted she doesn’t ‘at all’ feel uncomfortable with the idea of Enid receiving the honour and thinks individuals should not be judged on dated views which were deemed acceptable at the time.
Enid Blyton was denied a commemorative coin after Royal Mint bosses branded the creator of the Famous Five and Secret Seven novels a ‘racist homophobe’
She said: ‘I don’t feel uncomfortable at all, I feel like it was generational it was a thing of the past.
‘I think we have to accept that the world was different then we had different views about racism sexuality different things.’
Amanda argued that Enid’s books could be used to ‘teach children’ what is no longer acceptable to say.
She said: ‘You would explain to a child, then it was okay but now it’s not the kind of word you would ever use…I would use Enid Blyton to teach children.
‘Part of what we are today is what we’ve been in the past and some of that is not great.
‘As a woman I have huge admiration for her, she was a prolific writer she introduced millions of children to reading. She’s a great female British character and I salute her.’
Viewers were quick to take to Twitter to share their views, with many arguing that Enid’s views were simply a product of her time, with one slamming ‘snowflakes’ for being too sensitive.
One said: ‘Enid Blyton wrote for the audience in HER era I’d hate to think about what we are going to be judged on in 50 years!!#GMB (sic)’
Professor Kehinde Andrews went head to head with Australian journalist Amanda Platell to discuss whether the late author should receive the accolade
Kehinde felt the author isn’t ‘worthy’ of the honour and urged parents to give their children other material to read
Another said: ‘I grew up reading Enid Blyton. Famous five, Mallory Towers, Naughtiest Girl in the school. Classic books.#gmb (Sic)’
A third fumed: ‘The snowflakes are out in force this morning. It seems we can offend pretty much anyone these days.#GMB (sic)’
Other viewers argued that it’s unfair to blame Enid for her views when other authors who shared a similar outlook are still revered while one even told Kehinde to ‘get a life’.
One said: ‘Ian Fleming was an outspoken racist. Shall we ban James Bond books? Absurd. Reflections change over time and the information available to you at the time. We are more self aware of right and wrong this generation then we have ever been. We should celebrate Enid Blytons books#GMB (sic)’
Another said: ‘@kehinde_andrews get a life. People like you are begging to live in a 1984 state. Enid Blyton is not rascist. Only thing being scarily rewritten and disrespecred is history#gmb (Sic)’.
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