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Today Show host Karl Stefanovic has apologised for asking an Indian cricket fan “Who’s going to be manning 7-Elevens today?” and for calling New Zealand cricket fans a “dole bludger army” on breakfast television.
How has he shown that he’s truly sorry and proved that this will never happen again? He’s eaten a spicy curry, watched a performance of the Haka and given a slightly racist apology, of course.
Gaffe-friendly Stefanovic caused a storm on social media after making the racist comments on Wednesday, as the 2015 Cricket World Cup continued to play out both at home and in New Zealand.
During this morning’s edition of the Today Show, though, Stefanovic began an apology by saying, “For those watching yesterday I made two remarks that got plenty of you hot under the collar… The comments were only ever intended to be taken in the most light-hearted possible way but as most of you know… I have a wayward, misguided sense of humour.
“In fact as plenty of you say and have pointed out – I have no sense at all,” he added.
“Firstly to those members of the Indian community, our guest yesterday Kartik gave as good as he got and that banter continued in the true spirit of the World Cup after the show. We had a great conversation. He owned me on air and he owned me off air.
“It was thought to be fun, it was fun, I enjoyed, he enjoyed it, but some of you didn’t. For anyone interpreting the comments in a different way my sincere apologies.”
Stefanovic probably could have just left it at that and moved on, but decided not to.
“I love India and I love the contribution Indians make across many different vocations in this great country. Our country is richer for having you and so are our sauces,” he said.
“For my Kiwi brothers and sisters, calling you dole-bludgers was an awful, cheap stereotype and just not true,” Stefanovic added. “As we all know, you can’t get the dole in Australia. Again though, my sincere heartfelt apology to anyone across the ditch or in Bondi who took offence.
“Just because you’ve got a cool, happening and effective government and a really, really attractive lot of livestock doesn’t mean I should take the sheep out of you,” he said.
“I love all of you in New Zealand. I love your wine. I lived there for two years. I count two Kiwi blokes amongst my best friends, in fact, my only friends.
“So what I want to say to all of you this morning in Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud is this: whack on a pair of jandals and get across the ditch. It’s my shout Sunday no matter what happens. All of you, four million of you, let’s go.”
Relive Stefanovic’s antics, below, and head to the 9 News website for his curry and Haka footage.
"For my Kiwi brothers and sisters, calling you dole bludgers was an awful cheap stereotype and just not true" - Karl#Today9
Posted by TODAY on Thursday, 26 March 2015
