Racist abuse poured over Perth comic

Jan 27 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PERTH stand-up comic Bruce Fummey was subjected to vile racist abuse on popular website YouTube.

Bruce, currently counting down to a Burns Supper engagement in Singapore tomorrow, was attacked for an internet clip of his kilted rendition of Tam O’Shanter at the city’s AK Bell Library.

While most reviews gave him top billing, one low-mark racist rant impacted adversely on his YouTube popularity ranking.

But Bruce, a veteran of the Scottish comedy circuit and the Edinburgh Festival, has been bowled over by the support he’s received since the row erupted.

“Up until that sad nutter marked it down as a zero, the clip was getting five star ratings. On the plus side, there have been any number of subsequent posts supporting me and taking the guy to task,” said Bruce, whose 250th anniversary Burns commitments included top table spots in the Black Isle and Plockton over the weekend.

Yesterday, the 44-year-old comedian and supply teacher was packing his bags bound for glamorous Burns Suppers in the British Consulate and British Club in Singapore.

Reflecting on the YouTube war of words, Bruce said: “The guy was raving on about a black man wearing a kilt paying tribute to Burns. Ironically he admitted it had been a good rendition - before he started going on about non-whites wearing kilts, wanting me to justify my half-caste existence and sending me back to Africa.

“When I first started out on the comedy circuit I reflected on being a black kid growing up in Perth. You draw on what you know and experience.

“But it’s been a long time since I was subjected to racism. I grew up in Perth, the son of a Scots mum and a Ghanaian dad who was at AST in Scone. But we have come a long way from the sixties and seventies.

“Things in Scotland have changed and very much for the better. I’ve only been to Ghana once. And I couldn’t get into a museum for the rate paid by Ghanaians because I was British!

“As a youngster I always felt I had to be more Scottish than any of the other kids and that probably started my interest in Burns.”

For an international audience at the Edinburgh Festival, Bruce combined his stand-up with a light-hearted introduction to Burns poetry, and a flawless rendition of the epic Tam O’Shanter.

“One poster on YouTube hoped the racist comments wouldn’t reflect badly on Scotland, especially in the Year of Homecoming. Fortunately there were plenty more in a positive vein, otherwise it could have painted a bad picture.

“We’re in a different world from 40 years ago. A black man is now president of the United States. But incidents like this show you have to remember there are still racists out there.”

Bruce, whose teaching nowadays is largely centred on Perth High School, pioneered a successful “Just Laugh” comedy club and his dvd is available at The Concorde. He will be at Perth Theatre on May 8.

Bruce said: “As soon as I come back from Italy I’ll be embarking on my tour of this year's show about Robert the Bruce.

“So in spite of the racist abuse I’ll continue to celebrate, educate and entertain people about Scottish history and culture.”

And yesterday Bruce stressed his regard for the Burns legacy was genuine.

“There might be jokes along the way but Robert Burns appeals to everyone. Last year I had to turn down invitations to Burns Suppers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. But this year it’s Singapore and next month Rome for a Homecoming event. Burns takes me all over the world.”