Ethics Committee

 

Public and Unrestricted

October 18, 2011

Person of Interest:

-A member of a 3rd Place (Tied) Toronto ON. Team
-A registrant of Bhangra Idols “The Best of the Best” Championship-Sunday October 9th, 2011

Re: Complaints against a member of a Toronto, ON. Bhangra team and a registrant of Bhangra Idols, “The Best of the Best” Championship, which took place on Sunday October 9th 2011.

Background

On behalf of the attendees/online viewers of Bhangra Idols, “The Best of the Best” Championship, numerous individuals including ticket holders, staff, sponsors and volunteers filed and voiced a complaint against a member of a Toronto ON. Bhangra team. The incident occurred during the announcement of the 3rd place winner at Bhangra Idols, “The Best of the Best” Championship held at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in Coquitlam B.C on Sunday October 9th 2011.

All individuals jointly alleged that a member of a Toronto, ON. Bhangra team made an obscene “WWE-Degeneration-X suck it” gesture towards the attendees/online viewers which was deemed extremely inappropriate for the team member to enact.  The complainants further alleged that this individual’s behavior was out of the professional norm for a registrant and that it brought disrepute to a 3rd place (tied) Bhangra Team and to the Bhangra Idols, “The Best of the Best” Championship.

Investigation into this joint complaint rendered “Sunny Sidhu” (a member of S.G.P.D. Toronto ON. Bhangra team, a team who tied the Bhangra team- Nachdi Jawani of Toronto, ON. for the 3rd place trophy) did the “WWE-Degeneration-X suck it” gesture towards the attendees/online viewers for a total of 13 times.

Pictured Description #1:

 

Pictured Description #2:

Video coverage of the incident:

Courtesy of: “killerbhangra”

Note:

“Sunny Sidhu” a member of the S.G.P.D. Toronto ON. Bhangra team and a registrant of Bhangra Idols agreed to the Pajiguys Entertainment Inc. Code of Conduct and Ethics before being registered with the Bhangra Idols “The Best of the Best” Championship on Sunday, October 9th 2011.

An investigation was conducted with regard to the above complaint pursuant to Pajiguys Entertainment Inc. Code of Conduct & Ethics principles and rules which have been in effect since August 25th, 2011.

“Pajiguys Entertainment Inc.’s commitment to the community is to provide the highest standards of professionalism at all times. Compliance with the Code of Conduct and Ethics is a mandatory requirement for all staff members to abide by in order to take any position delegated by Pajiguys Entertainment Inc. to the individual.”

Note: In this particular case, the delegation given to “Sunny Sidhu” was a registrant.

During the investigation, “Sunny Sidhu” was questioned about the above incident, and he apologized for his gesture.

“Sunny Sidhu”, wrote the following in a personal message:

• “it wasn’t towards your crowd or towards your committee/organizers”

 “Sunny Sidhu”, wrote the following on the Bhangra Teams’ Forum:

• “i actually did congratulate the teams that did win:). but i am sorry for my gestures:).”

• I dont need to further explain myself to you. My captain has nothing to do with it, these were my actions not his. If someone apologizes to you, take it for what it is. I've already talked to the organizers about the issue , so i dont feel the need to explain myself to you.

• “nobody can win every competition which is true, but than again emotions do run pretty high whether it be bhangra, sports or any competitive game. so i guess i let my emotions get the best of me haha and Bharathi, you seen me at the after party but had nothing to say. if you had such an issue with it you should've talked to me about it there:) but i guess now you have BTF to turn to when you have nothing better to do with your time. Sorry once again , and i would like to clarify AGAIN..that these were my actions..not the actions of my CAPTAIN.”

• “lol i can sense the sarcasm:)..im done responding back..and i think im actually more sorry i responded back to this. just know that your not the bhangra police. just cause i made the "suck it" gesture, i dont think bhangra went down the drain. RELAX..:)bye”

Note:  “Sunny Sidhu”, said he was “sorry” for a total of 2 times which ensures his acceptance of his mistake.

However, then “Sunny Sidhu” changed his Facebook profile picture to the “WWE-Degeneration-X suck it” descriptive picture.

Screen Shot:

Decision

It is the decision of the Pajiguys Entertainment Inc.’s Ethics Committee that the registrant “Sunny Sidhu” was in breach of the ethical principles and rules in practice.

Reason

Registrants have a fundamental responsibility to safeguard and advance the interests of their team and the Bhangra Idols Championship. This implies acting with respect, trustworthiness, integrity and objectivity. This responsibility extends beyond a registrants own behavior to the behavior of fellow registrants and to the standards of the Bhangra Idols Championship.

Conclusion

• “Sunny Sidhu”‘s behavior did not adhere to the vision and core values of the Bhangra Idols Championship or to the expectations of the organizing administration and the Pajiguys Entertainment Inc.’s Management. 

• “Sunny Sidhu” knew, or ought to have known, that his behavior was contrary to the vision and core values of the Bhangra Idols Championship. Rather than empower the attendees/online viewers, “Sunny Sidhu” actions have resulted in the attendees/online viewers now feeling uncomfortable and he has clearly failed to conform to the expectations of professionalism.

• “Sunny Sidhu” knew, or ought to have known, that his behavior was contrary to the expectations of the Ethics Policy. “Sunny Sidhu” was expected to be a role model. He did not ensure that his behavior was respectful and appropriate when he did the unfortunate gesture to the attendees/online viewers.  “Sunny Sidhu” did not consider that his conduct might have been unwelcome to the organizing administration and/or attendees/online viewers, that he placed himself, his team, fellow registrants and the organizing administration in an awkward position.

• As a result of the above, “Sunny Sidhu” failed to comply with the spirit and the letter of the Code; and, “Sunny Sidhu” failed to guard the interests of the principals and the organizers, whose trust he held. “Sunny Sidhu” knew, or ought to have known, that his actions would likely be of a nature to discredit and, therefore be detrimental to, the Bhangra Idols Championship.

Discipline

It is the decision of the Ethics Committee, in accordance with Pajiguys Entertainment Inc.’s Code of Conduct and Ethics Practice that “Sunny Sidhu” be:

• Required to improve his conduct by: reviewing the responsibilities set out in his registration description for ensuring he complies with same.
• Reviewing the Ethics Policy; and ensuring he complies with same.
• Not permitted to register for any Bhangra Idols events (or related events) hosted in (Metro) Vancouver, B.C. for a period of 1 year commencing today October 18th 2011 to October 18th 2012 inclusive.
  • Sending formal letters of apology to:
    • Pajiguys Entertainment Inc. Management,
    • The Bhangra Idols Administration,
    • S.G.P.D.’s Leader(s), and
    • posting an apology on Bhangra Team’s Forum addressed to the Bhangra Community that were effected by this gesture,
      • by November 18th, 2011
• Required to improve his competence by completing the Pajiguys Entertainment Inc.’s Online Ethics course by March 31st, 2012.

Failure to comply with the requirements of this decision, in the time period specified, will result in “Sunny Sidhu”‘s indefinite lifetime ban on ever attending (and/or registering for) any Bhangra Idols Events or related events.

Regards’

____________________________________________

• Pajiguys Entertainment Inc. Management
• Pajiguys Entertainment Inc.’s Ethics Committee
• Bhangra Idols Administration

 

Response

Sunny Sidhu
Toronto, Ontario

November 18, 2011

Dear:

1. Pajiguys Entertainment Inc. Management - Vancouver, B.C.
2. Pajiguys Entertainment Inc.’s Ethics Committee - Vancouver, B.C.
3. Bhangra Idols Administration - Vancouver, B.C.
4. The Leader of S.G.P.D.-Toronto, Ontario
5. The Bhangra Community via www.bhangrateamsforum.com

The purpose of this letter is to convey to the all of effected individuals my sincere apologies for my gestures at Bhangra Idols “The Best of the Best” which took place on October 9th, 2011. The only possible explanation I can give is I let my emotions take over my professional conduct. I feel horrible as to what I did and how it affected the Bhangra Community. I hope my apology can be accepted and then I can be given another chance by the organizers of Bhangra Idols to make up for this unfortunate incident. I’ve attended Bhangra Idols twice now and they’ve shown nothing but respect to the teams competing at their competition. My gesture was not at all directed towards the organizers or the crowd. Moving on from this, I hope I will be able to compete at a Bhangra Idols event in the near future.

Yours Truly,


Sunny Sidhu

Dancer
S.G.P.D. Bhangra Team
Toronto, Ontario