Simply Red face backlash for ranking cultures and ethnicities in order of ‘coolness’ on Twitter

Simply Red are facing a backlash for a tweet that ranked several ethnicities and social groups by how “cool” they are.

The band’s official social media account, which is often manned by frontman Mick Hucknall, wrote: “Top 5 coolest cultures on planet Earth. 1. African Americans (they invented cool) 2. Working Class British Musicians. 3. (A close 3rd) Jamaicans 4. Jewish Americans 5. Flamenco Gypsies.”

After the post was met with derision, the band’s account added: “I. Do. Not. Care. What. You. Think.”

One hour later, that message was followed up with: “Btw... The Irish made our top 10.”

A recent tweet from the same account was signed off with Hucknall’s initials. However, considering they are absent from the tweets that have provoked outrage, it is unknown whether he was the one who posted them.

People reacted to the tweets with a mixture of shock, confusion and anger.

“Hello and welcome to Mick Hucknall’s Race Review,” one person tweeted, with another adding: ”Ranking races/cultures. Totally not imbecilic, embarrassing, and a little bit dangerous.”

One tweeter posted a photo of Alan Partridge alongside the message: “Simply Bred: an appraisal of the relative quality of the world’s races, with Mick Hucknall.”

Another tweeter pre-empted a backlash, writing: ‘“I did not mean to cause offence, I just love to celebrate diversity!’ – You later today.”

The Independent has contacted a representative for Simply Red and Hucknall for comment.

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