Strictly Come Dancing star flared with rage after confessing that he had never tried curry before because his dwarf called it a “foreign department”.
Appearing on the BBCthe Platinum Jubilee Event program, Len Goodman was seen shaking his face because he confessed to never eating the dish.
The professional dancer and Strictly judge said he was “always worried” about the food after his dwarf’s comments.
Chef John Torode was seen laughing immediately after the 78-year-old’s remarks.
READ MORE: Sky News removes Scottish history with false “nonsense” monarchy
BBC presenter Kirsty Young was silent while Goodman explained his thoughts on the dish, admitting that he had only tried Coronation chicken for the first time on Saturday.
Asked if he’s a great cook, Goodman said, “My wife made Coronation chicken yesterday for our tea and I’ve never eaten it before.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman confessed to never attempting curry or curry powder
“No, I’ve never eaten curry and curry before and all that before. No.
“My creature used to call it a whole foreign department, so I was always worried about it.”
After that, Goodman quickly confessed to enjoying Coronation chicken.
He said, “But I have to admit, it was delicious. It was so delicious.”
Len Goodman’s old-fashioned British Empire xenophobia clip on the BBC’s Jubilee coverage:
“Curry and curry power … my dwarf used to call it all foreign stuff.” pic.twitter.com/osDXEgIQJD
– Adam Schwarz (@AdamJSchwarz) June 5, 2022
The remarks sparked outrage on the internet, with political commentator Adam Schwarz saying: “Len Goodman’s old-fashioned Kenophobia British Empire in the BBC’s Jubilee coverage: ‘Curry and curry power … my dwarf used to call it all foreign stuff.’
“Yes, Goodman quoted his dwarf, who was probably born in the 19th century. But if you share a racist quote, doing it while physically swinging at the target of racism and telling it as a supposedly humorous anecdote is not a way to do it. ”
Another Twitter user encrypted: “A petition for the BBC and Len Goodman to apologize for their choice of words calling Coronation Chicken a ‘foreign department’ in the words of their dwarf, apparently. Terrible and NO excuses for his age.
“We forgive older generations too much for such things.”
Len Goodman on BBC1 talking about how his grandmother called lime powder a “foreign department” laughing. It’s a coincidence, just plain normal, to talk like that. Not even a shred of self-awareness.
– Liz Tray (@LizTray) June 5, 2022
User Claudia Boleyn said: “Not Len Goodman lovingly quoting how his dwarf called curry a ‘foreign department’ and that’s why he’s nervous about it now. This in the BBC Jubilee coverage.”
READ MORE: Crowds wave to a “hologram” Queen in a golden carriage during a £ 15m jubilee parade
One user suggested that Goodman should deepen his story.
She said: “Someone should tell Len Goodman that Coronation chicken is a British recipe created for the coronation of two English chefs. It is based on a dish created for George V in 1935 called Jubilee Chicken. Curry is an accepted part of our national diet. for over 200 years.
“I was wondering if Len Goodman ever ate pasta or something bought at a bakery. And no, he’s not just reporting what his Nan said, he’s telling us why he never tried anything. At no point did he say, “Wait, ‘foreign’ doesn’t mean something is ‘mud’ …”
Some point out that Goodman himself was on a BBC program with Ainsley Harriet seven years ago in which he toured Britain to “educate his palate”.
Funny how Len Goodman still pushes that line 7 years after literally doing a show where Ainsley Harriott goes around tasting “foreign department”
Ffs. #Jubilee pic.twitter.com/iaHkF7ofCQ
– Ginger Pirlo 🇧🇷 (@TheGingerPirlo_) June 5, 2022
And another added: “Len Goodman proving another ‘British tradition’ of random racism and they all laughed! The arrogance and perceived superiority over other nations are really sick! He should apologize!”
READ MORE: Concern as a “Nazi symbol” appears on a float during a Jubilee parade
After Goodman’s comments, co-host Torode said “it was interesting or not”, adding that his own grandmother would never use lime powder and did not know what pasta is.
Host Young replied, “Changed days. Changed days.”
