Foxtel's CEO Patrick Delany Unintentionally Insults Emilia Clarke In Front Of 'Game Of Thrones' Fans
Foxtel’s CEO, Patrick Delany is in hot water (fire?) for his recent offhand remarks last Tuesday disclosing that, when viewing HBO’s former hit show, Game of Thrones for the first time, he initially thought of actress Emilia Clarke as a “short, dumpy girl.” Mr. Delany, CEO of Foxtel, an Australian television company, was widely thought to be making a tasteless joke at the well-regarded actress’ expense.
Nobody who was in the room with him while he was speaking was laughing. In fact, most of the crowd appeared shocked by his remarks, many of whom publicly criticized Mr. Delany for his comments. Many fans further scorched him on social media as well:
Legendary author Joyce Carol Oates wrote: “Every man who insults a woman by commenting on her physical appearance should be very closely scrutinized by masses of people, his likeness magnified, every flaw & cruelty exposed for commentary. It’s like police brutality–they will do it, as long as they can get away with it.”
Mr. Delany delivered his remarks before screening the new Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, which is based on George R.R. Martin’s 2018 book of the same title, about the dragon-riding members of House Targaryen who ruled over the mythical land of Westeros for several centuries. The series is set approximately 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and the birth of Clarke’s character, Daenerys Targaryen, one of the main protagonists in the series. By Wednesday, Foxtel was engaged in damage control, desperately attempting to backpedal on Mr. Delany’s poorly chosen remarks:
“The aim was to convey that for him, ‘Games of Thrones’ was something very different for television in 2011 and that Emilia Clarke went from relatively unknown to one of the most recognized and most-loved actors in television and film,” the statement read, according to The Wrap. “On behalf of Mr. Delany, the Foxtel Group apologizes if his remarks were misunderstood and caused any offense.”
Clarke’s representatives have not yet commented on the remarks, nor Foxtel’s subsequent apology. Mr. Delany has also not commented further on his remarks nor the apology issued by his company.
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Sources: Huffington Post, TV Showcase, The Wrap