Hey Hey It’s Saturday: Daryl Somers blackface video resurfaces

The Hey Hey It’s Saturday host is the latest star to be embroiled in a blackface controversy after an old clip resurfaced online.

A video of Daryl Somers performing in blackface on Hey Hey It’s Saturday has resurfaced online.

The clip, which was widely circulated on social media last night, shows Somers singing Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World alongside New Zealand jazz singer Ricky May.

It was part of a tribute package that aired on the show in 1988 after May’s death, and it is still available to view on the show’s YouTube page.

Daryl Somers performing with Ricky May.

RELATED: Jimmy Fallon responds to blackface sketch controversy

Hey Hey It’s Saturday later made headlines in 2009 when five men performed in blackface during the Red Faces segment in a Hey Hey Reunion Special.

The men, who were pretending to be the Jackson Five, received a score of zero from guest judge Harry Connick Jr who said he was offended by the performance.

Somers apologised to the singer at the end of the show, saying: “I think we may have offended you with that act and I deeply apologise on behalf of all of us – because I know that to your countrymen, that’s an insult to have a blackface routine like that on the show, so I do apologise to you.”

Jackson 5 act The Jackson Jive.

Connick Jr said he would not have appeared on the show had he known about the performance.

“I know it was done humorously, but we’ve spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see something like that we take it really to heart,” he said.

“I feel like I am at home here and if I knew that was going to be part of the show, I probably, I definitely, wouldn’t have done it.”

RELATED: Comedian Josh Thomas apologises for “racist” comments

Harry Connick Jr was offended by the skit.

SOMERS’ LEGAL STOUSH

A messy legal battle is brewing between Daryl Somers and his former manager Alex Mathey.

In a statement, Mr Mathey said: “I consider that the Somers (Daryl and his wife Julie) have treated me appallingly and, in fact, cruelly.”

Mr Mathey, who until recently was the chief executive and group legal counsel for Daryl Somers, Julie Somers and their production company Somers Group Australia, said the Somers have been “unwilling and unable to even listen to and acknowledge my concerns let alone entertain any sensible, reasonable or fair resolution to address them”.

Hey! Hey! It's Saturday presenter Daryl Somers. Picture: Craig Borrow

He will give them one final opportunity to resolve their issues before taking the Somers’ to court.

“It is unfortunate that all the various issues are likely to be ventilated, argued and fought out in the public domain because all along it has been entirely avoidable and, I think, are likely to cause significant distress and embarrassment and lasting collateral damage to all concerned,” Mr Mathey wrote.

According to entertainment reporter Peter Ford, if the matter goes to court Mr Mathey will be backed up by some Hey Hey It’s Saturday stars.
“My information is also that he (Mr Mathey) has been in touch with various other members of the Hey Hey regular gang who have decided to back him and are willing to assist him with any evidence that is needed,” Mr Ford said on 2GB.