“New seaside resorts on our Belgian coast: Knokkerokko and Kloppenberge”, former ‘Home’ actor Frank Van Erum (42) joked on Facebook this weekend. Not everyone liked his humor, some followers thought the joke was racist. That is why the actor posted a solid answer to his profile on Monday evening. “I am not racist at all, on the contrary.”
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In his answer, Van Erum addresses one specific, unnamed person. “My post about Knokkerokko and Kloppenberge has been shared 1,400 times,” the actor begins. “I thought it was a great joke myself. However, I also received some comments that this would go ‘too far’. I also got one personal message from someone with Moroccan roots, who felt that I should be a role model as a BV and that this is racist. I just wanted to post my answer for everyone. That way all misunderstandings will be eliminated, I think. ”
“I have to tell you that your message made me a little angry,” he continues. “I am incredibly pro diversity. I even have a performance about that that I have been playing in schools for years, together with Youssef El Moussaoui. I am not racist at all, on the contrary. But this message from you proves once again how wrong our society is. ”
Shared 1,400 times
Van Erum continues: “I post jokes every week. The one time that group is targeted, the other time another group. What I find really tiring is that when you make a joke with the slightest reference to immigrants, you immediately go too far? Immediately they throw ‘you are a racist’? Why anyway, why? This time I could determine – together with you – that it was mainly our colored fellow human beings who were running amok. Another time it will be a white person. ”
So there is no question of racism in his post, the actor says. “This time it was mainly different colored people, that’s just a fact. So now I have the right to post a good joke that sums up the whole situation in a pun. It also says Kloppenberge. Do you think that one resident of Blankenberge is calling me to do this? I didn’t mean that every person from Blankenberge is a fighter? The joke has been shared more than 1,400 times. Apparently a really good joke. ”
Freedom of speech
Van Erum is therefore well aware of the impact that an innocent intended joke can have. “I know very well the sensitivities around this theme and that is why my size is: you can only make a joke that targets a group or place if it is really a good joke. And yes, humor can objectify you somewhere. In this case, you can see that in the number of likes and the number of times it is shared. And no, they are not all racists. But an anti-reaction like ‘oops oops, don’t make fun of this’ is so wrong. It is even a deprivation of liberty. Freedom of speech. If you take that away from people, only then will you feel the countermovement. ”
In the last paragraphs of his answer, Van Erum calls on the person not to stir up polarization. “If people like you really want to make a difference in these kinds of situations, you should post that you think this is terribly bad. That you are ashamed that some different colored people are screwing up again for you. Because 95% of the immigrants, the first, second, third generation Belgians or whatever you want to call this group, are wonderful people. They really add something to our country, to our culture, to our society. ”
Easier communication
“I firmly believe that we need people like you to make a difference. You often have much easier communication with them. If only because your name doesn’t sound Flemish. I also don’t know what you look like, but if you have a little southern tint, that can often make these people more at ease to discuss difficult topics like this. ”
“Do me a favor and come and have a look at my performance about diversity,” the actor concludes. “I have been helping out for tolerance for years. But also do me another favor: don’t take away our freedom of speech. ”
In the responses someone asked Van Erum if he had received a response afterwards. Yes, was the answer. “And he was very respectful. very respectful. After her answer, I also understand where her comment came from. Happy that we understood each other. ”
Read Frank Van Erum’s full answer here:
I really wanted to say this: (only for people who want to read to the end, please!) My post about Knokkerokko and …
Placed by Frank Van Erum on Sunday, August 9, 2020
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