Frank Skinner admits to using racist and homophobic slurs but has evolved

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Frank Skinner says using slurs in the West Midlands where he grew up was the norm (Picture: Getty Images)

Frank Skinner has insisted hes evolved after using offensive language both racist and homophobic in his younger years.

The Room 101 comedian attributes his behavior to growing up in the West Midlands in the 1960s and 70s.

He lived on a council estate in Oldbury during a time when economic strife and high unemployment levels led to social unrest across the country.

Skinner, 65, has said that it was normal to use slurs about peoples ethnicity or sexuality where he grew up.

Speaking at the Hay Festival in Wales, he said: Ill be straight with you now, I grew up in the West Midlands in the 60s and 70s. I used racist language, I was sexist, I was homophobic.

I completely own up to that. I have evolved and thats a good thing. When I look back, I’m ok with that.

Skinner believes society has better representation and is improving (Picture: Rex Features)

Skinner believes representation in society has improved and compared how different his outlook was when he was younger to the open-minded nature of his 10-year-old son Buzz, who he shares with partner Cath Mason.

My kid, I can learn from him. He’s fine with gender politics, he’s fine with race. He doesnt even question it. We talk about those things. The future is going to be a lot better, he claimed according to The Telegraph.

Skinner previously found himself at the center of controversy when he compared Nottingham Forest footballer Jason Lees hair to a pineapple in a sketch on Fantasy Football League in the 1990s.

Skinner controversially compared footballer Jason Lees hair to a pineapple in the 1990s (Picture: Getty Images) The comedian says hes learning a lot from his open-minded song (Picture: Getty Images)

The comedian addressed his past comments last year, telling the iPaper: Im happy to keep on apologizing because I do know that not everyones seen the latest apology. You make statements, and not everyone sees them, they often just fizzle in the air.

Youre trying to explain that you made a mistake and that there are things you didnt understand, but some people want to be able to say, youre a terrible person, and I think theres a thrill to anger too.

In 2020, Lee said he was yet to receive an apology from Skinner, telling PA: Baddiel and Skinner: did they realize the impact of what they were saying, how it affected so many people?

More: LGBTQ+

Especially a hairstyle, youre talking about ethnicity, a lot of black people would wear dreadlocks and feel deeply offended by someone whos getting mocked for a similar hairstyle. The implications were far wider, and it wouldn’t happen today.

Skinners joke led to Lee being subjected to abuse at future games, with many making reference to offensive remarks.

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