Another squeeze for Jiffy

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The commentary style of controversial pundit and television chat show host, Jonathan ‘JiffyDavies, has again been condemned on social media during a hugely important rugby league game, with one fan saying he was the worst aspect of it, and another declaring that he was Welsh but even HE found him a hard listen.

Welsh Giants’ said on Twitter: “I’m Welsh and I still find Jonathan Davies hard to listen to on commentary (hashtag) ChallengeCup (hashtag) nailsonablackboard”. In reply another proclaimed: “I glad it’s not just me then haha  COME ON FARTOWN”.

A further rugby follower announced: “Even if Wigan put fifty against St Helens, the worst thing about this game is Jonathan Davies being on commentary. (hashtag) CCWigStH (hashtag) ChallengeCup”.

Nathan Bonner-Evans branded Jonathan Davies ‘annoying as fuck’

These remarks about Mr Davies’ commentary of The Challenge League Cup semi-finals, come hard on the heels of other critical observations, on the same social media site. He was damned as “annoying as fuck”  by Nathan Bonner-Evans (who was appointed forwards coach of Swansea RFC, and has played for the Ospreys as well as Sale Sharks). During and after a recent game against France, Mr Davies was also described on Twitter as “dire”, that he can’t be ‘beared’, “makes this game unwatchable”, his “commentary is horrendous”, with one fan declaring: “I fucking hate Jonathan Davies”

One writer called Ben Nurse also used Twitter to say: “The game has changed…”, but in response, Mr Davies said: “Ben is trying to make a name for himself.  Pathetic”. Mr Nurse was then forced to say ‘sorry’, stating on the social media site: “I’d like to formally apologise for some of the words in my recent article”.

In the past Mr Davies has also been called on Twitter a “moron” “total disgrace”“awful”, and a fan said he wanted to rip his ears off “every time (he) opens his mouth”.

Another television viewer of one match said:  “@BBCSport can you please stop Jonathan Davies from having an input into ANY rugby commentary! It’s painful! I’ve had to turn the sound off and listen to Radio commentary of the game”. Before a previous game he said live on air:  “…the referee’s French, so anything could happen”.

Jonathan Davies’ commentary was described as ‘painful’

In a Wales rugby union game against Ireland The Eye showed how Mr Davies had then been dubbed on Twitter, “awful”“biased”“insufferable”, spouting “bullshit” and sounding as if he was “masturbating”, with the BBC being urged to “get rid” of him.

Recently he said on the YouTube podcast ‘Jiffy and Stubbsy’ that he was “saddened” another contributor was not using social media, adding:  “I don’t give a monkey’s about the bell ends…”. In another episode of the podcast, Mr Davies said:  “If I say something, all of a sudden, people write a tweet and go ‘he should be sacked’ and copy in the BBC”.

Jonathan Davies said: ‘fuck you and your lads’ cock..’

Earlier he had told a rugby fan on Twitter: “fuck you and your lads’ cock”. After seeing this tweet and comment by Mr Davies on YouTube, a leading sports journalist who supplies material for UK publications, told The Eye:  “He (Jonathan Daviesreally is a disgusting individual”.

These are set against an alarming backdrop because Mr Davies’ bosses at The BBC have also come under fire, over controversies when neutrality was emphasised.

It was alleged that Jonathan Davies talks ‘some shit’

Yet he appears to be nervous about some of the reaction he receives on social media, although it seems that much of the criticism may be valid, and Mr Davies, who is an extensive user of Twitter, has rarely been far from the news.

He has been publicly condemned by television viewers for talking “some shit”, as well as being “so so thick”. On social media Mr Davies has, too, sent a picture of himself with no clothes on to TV and radio star Carol Vorderman. He has also faced huge criticism following statements which have included calling the Rhondda MP Chris Bryant a “knob” on Twitter, for asking about childcare during a House of Commons debate.

The fury of Mr Davies has been directed at journalist Marcus Stead on social media, after Mr Stead had criticised what he views as the Welsh establishment. He engaged in an extraordinary spat with him, again using Twitter, in which he branded Mr Stead, an “attention seeking nobody”, a “sad pathetic waste of time” and ‘hashtagged’ the words “absolute bell end”.

From Jonathan Davies to Carol Vorderman on social media with the caption ‘just for you Carol’

Mr Davies posted on social media, as well, a fake picture of one rugby fan, a well-known Welsh supporter, wearing a Pontypridd RFC shirt, but he was then slammed for “essentially fat shaming someone because they disagree with them”, and the observer linked the comment to @BBCSport @BBCNews @5liveSport and @BBCWalesNews, saying they should be “embarrassed”, and that it was a “Dick move”.

But Mr Davies has said on social media that The Eye’s reporting of all this was “negative journalism”, and a backer of his, Marc Winchester, wrote on the Twitter thread:  “I’ll whack him (The Eye Editor Phil Parry).

Marc Winchester – ‘I’ll whack him’

This threat was described as a ‘joke’ by Mr Winchester, who has proclaimed he was a multi-millionaire but ran a convenience store, yet it was still reported to the police who mounted an investigation.

A further shocked viewer of another of Mr Davies’ recent ‘re-tweets’ of one message that “lockdowns are unnecessary”, told our journalists:  “This seems close to being a Covid conspiracy theory now”.

Apart from during Saturday’s semi-finals, Mr Davies has also faced a barrage of online criticism for his commentary of the Castleford v Leeds match in the same tournament, and was accused of being “Absolutely awful”.

Jonathan Davies wearing a face mask upside down – he was described as ‘so thick’

In the final last year, there was again great dismay about Mr Davies’ appearance with a microphone.

Huge protests on Twitter had greeted news of his original inclusion in the rugby league presentation team, with remarks such as: “Jonathan Davies ruins these games for me”. During the competition, there were complaints on social media about his mispronunciation of ‘Salford’, he was described as a “dipshit”, and one rugby league fan said “Why do we have 2 have Jonathan Davies on rl 4BBC” with a picture of an upset emoji after the comment. On this occasion a distraught supporter asked why sport executives could not have found someone: “more relevant than Jonathan Davies” with another upset emoji following the remark. A different fan said Mr Davies “chats so much shite” while another said it was “Time to hang the mic up!”.

Jonathan Davies was accused of ‘ranting’ on social media about controversial plans to re-develop a Cardiff cancer hospital

Mr Davies has also been accused of ‘ranting’, after stating on social media that controversial plans to reconstruct a Cardiff cancer hospital would leave 60 per cent of a meadow available to walkers, when campaigners say surveys have indicated all will be destroyed.

Contradicting him, one campaigner declared about the project to re-develop Velindre Hospital: “The whole area will be bulldozed, £27 million of public money just to access this unsuitable site…”  Another cautioned:  “Let’s talk Jonathan, not rant.”

New cancer centre site – it has been claimed the whole area will be bulldozed and plans have been confirmed to destroy 122 trees

Mr Davies (one of whose Twitter accounts is @JiffyRugby and includes ‘OBE’ after his name) is President of Velindre Fundraising, and demanded of one of the campaigners:  “Have you or anyone close to you ever been unfortunate enough to have cancer?”. But the advocate for a green space in that part of the city hit back, and said:  “Absolutely yes, many of those opposing the site are current patients at Velindre”.

Warnings were repeated as well, about the hazards involved in the misuse of fire extinguishers after experts were shown shocking pictures from a video of Mr Davies using one to spray into the face of his friend, former international rugby referee Nigel Owens, as he sat in his car while another person filming the dangerous stunt laughed. This too was posted on the internet.

Jonathan Davies sprayed a fire extinguisher INTO the face of former international rugby referee Nigel Owens

The escapade with a fire extinguisher was in the car park of an independent TV facilities house near what was then the headquarters of BBC Cymru Wales (BBC CW) in Llandaff, Cardiff, in 2014, and was condemned as “incredibly dangerous”.

It prompted a series of outraged comments at the time on a sports Facebook (FB) site. One critic said:  “…did he give any thought to what injuries he may have caused?…We all like a good laugh sadly this isn’t it”. Another declared that Mr Davies was a “fucking prick”, a further detractor stated that he didn’t think “people realise how dangerous CO2 extinguishers are”. In the clip now on YouTube, Mr Owens escapes from the car running, but Mr Davies uses the fire extinguisher again, as the person filming it exclaims in Welsh “OH, NO!”, and Mr Owens then shouts “IDIOT!” at him pointing.

Nigel Owens shouted that Jonathan Davies was an ‘idiot’

Behaviour like this, though, along with Mr Davies’ observations, sit uncomfortably with the guidelines emphasised by BBC Director General Tim Davie, which tell presenters: “…don’t express a personal opinion on matters of public policy, politics, or ‘controversial subjects’”.

However, perhaps it’s not deemed ‘controversial’ if a rugby fan says publicly: “I’m Welsh and I still find Jonathan Davies hard to listen to…”. 

 

The memories of Phil’s astonishing lengthy award-winning career in journalism (including sports stories) as he was gripped by the rare, incurable disabling condition Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), have been released in a major new book ‘A GOOD STORY’. Order the book now! The picture doubles as a cut-and-paste poster!

Book poster

Publication of another book, however, was refused, because it was to have included names.

Tomorrow – why during a 23 year career with BBC Cymru Wales (BBC CW), and 38 years in journalism, (when he was trained to use clear and simple language, avoiding jargon), Phil, has always tried to hold true to certain principles, and in that context, after once more refusing to be interviewed by China’s state controlled media, will look again at the country’s role now in washing clean away the crimes in Ukraine caused by Russia, as it’s reported that media freedom there is declining at ‘breakneck speed’.