The Guardian newspaper has issued a formal and public apology to the Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle after publishing an incorrect statement about his professional engagements. The error appeared in an opinion piece discussing the geopolitical influence of sportswashing.
The Erroneous Claim and Its Retraction
In an article titled 'Silence over Sudan shows the power of sportswashing', published on the 8th of November in the Sport section, the publication mistakenly claimed that Frankie Boyle had performed at a comedy event in Dubai earlier this year. This assertion was factually incorrect.
Following the publication, representatives for Mr Boyle contacted the newspaper to clarify the record. They confirmed that the comedian has not performed in Dubai for more than 25 years, making the claim of a 2023 performance impossible. The Guardian has since acknowledged this significant error and the unfounded implication it carried.
A Full Apology and Wider Context
The publication's correction explicitly apologises for the mistake and for any suggestion of hypocrisy or double standards on the part of Mr Boyle. The original article's context, which focused on the ethical compromises sometimes associated with high-profile events in certain Gulf states, made this incorrect detail particularly damaging to the comedian's reputation.
This apology to Frankie Boyle was featured in the newspaper's regular 'Corrections and clarifications' segment, which also listed other recently amended articles. These included updates on a US Senate funding bill, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cuts to airline traffic, and the devastating impact of super typhoon Fung-wong in the Philippines.
The Guardian has reminded its readers that they can submit editorial complaints or correction requests via email to guardian.readers@theguardian.com, by post to the Readers’ editor in London, or by leaving a voicemail on +44 (0)20 3353 4736.
