Devoy talks tough on Real Housewife

''If it happens again, how will we react?" Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy

The Human Rights Commission confirm they’ve fielded a lawyer’s letter from Real Housewives of Auckland star Julia Sloane – but they’re not apologising.

Sloane’s lawyers say the Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy, defamed Sloane when Devoy called her a ‘‘bully’’ in the wake of an incident on the reality TV show where Sloane used a racial epithet to refer to another character.

Asked about Sloane’s comments before the episode went to air, Devoy said other New Zealanders need to call out those who say ‘‘ignorant, offensive and racist things’’ – like Sloane’s use of a ‘‘hateful racist word’’.

Sloane called fellow Housewife Michelle Blanchard a ‘‘boat n .... ’’.

Sloane’s letter, according to the National Business Review, said she was both ‘‘defamed and bullied’’ by Devoy. ’’I do not think that ignorant, overt racist behaviour is part of Kiwi culture so we all need to call it out when it rears its very ugly head,’’ Devoy said. ‘‘People like Julia need to understand that using words like that is not how we roll here. That is not us.’’

Devoy said the episode was an opportunity to educate New Zealanders about casual racism.

‘‘I’m sorry for Michelle (Blanchard) but this episode will educate a lot of people about socalled casual racism – the thing about casual racism is it never feels casual when it’s happening to you or your loved ones.’’

‘‘If we watch this episode this week we need to think back on our own lives. Have we faced or witnessed this kind of racist abuse? What did we do? Did anyone challenge the abuser? If it happens again, how will we react?’’ Devoy said.

When news broke on September 17 that the slur would be included in the episode, Sloane and investment banker husband Michael Lorimer sought legal representation.

The couple hired one of the public relations industry’s heaviest hitters, Deborah Pead of Pead PR, to defend their public image.

Pead has gagged her new clients from speaking directly to media.

In an article in The Press yesterday, the names in a caption for a picture of Michelle Blanchard and Julia Sloane were mistakenly transposed.