Crusaders star's 'racist' comment causes uproar in New Zealand
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Crusaders scrumhalf Bryn Hall has caused a massive uproar after he labelled Jack Goodhue a ‘Jew’.
According to the New Zealand Herald, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has described a Super Rugby star’s comments made on a Sky Sport programme Kick Off show as racist.
A regular segment of the sports show sees guests give out a ‘red card’ to a player of their choice while reviewing the previous week of rugby action.
During the episode on June 13, Hall, who was a guest, handed a ‘red card’ to Goodhue because he was allegedly too cheap to pay for his wedding.
“I’m red-carding…Jack Goodhue for his mullet…the real reason why he’s running a mullet at the moment is that he’s engaged…doesn’t want to pay for his wedding,” said Hall.
“So he’s actually looking for Women’s Day or Women’s Weekly to try and get behind and pay for his wedding, so red card for being a Jew, Jack, so there you go mate.”
BSA released a statement where they labelled this remark as ignorant and a clear example of casual racism.
“We consider Hall’s comment to be ignorant and disrespectful. It is an example of casual anti-Semitism and such comments can contribute to the normalisation of racism,” a statement from the BSA read.
“There is no room in New Zealand for casual racism and it is important that we all work hard to move away from this type of language. ”
However, the BSA ultimately concluded that the slur was not serious enough to warrant a breach of broadcasting standards.
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Meanwhile, Stuff reported that Jewish Council has slammed the broadcasting watchdog’s decision not to uphold a complaint.
Jewish Council spokeswoman Juliet Moses revealed to Stuff that the decision was “extremely disappointing and quite shocking”.
She said being labelled a “Jew” was a stereotype that had caused a lot of harm to Jewish people for centuries.
“If New Zealanders had learnt anything this year with the March terrorist attack, it was the danger of stereotypes.
Moses added: “It is unacceptable that the broadcaster should not be [held] accountable for saying such a thing,”
Sources: @NZHerald & @NZStuff
