The words we use could worsen stigma

Model and radio presenter Refilwe Modiselle was left fuming over a reference to people living with albinism on Sunday night’s episode of Date My Family‚ which she believed could perpetuate stigmas around the condition.

Refilwe is a model living with albinism and a proud advocate of the condition.

The star was watching as Tumelo‚ who has the same condition‚ was looking for love on Sunday’s episode, but was touched when one of the girls on the show referred to people living with albinism as “albino people”.

Refilwe immediately jumped on to Twitter to question why the show’s creators had not corrected her.

The Dispatch reached out to Mzansi Magic for comment on the backlash but had not received a response by the time of publishing this article.

Refilwe’s comments sparked a debate in the comments section

The star told fans last year that she was tired of being seen only because of her condition

of the post‚ with the star adding that too many people were getting the description wrong and it was annoying.

But some people took Refilwe on‚ asking her how they should refer to people with the condition.

Refilwe responded to each hater and explained it was not a joke when the stigma could do more harm than good.

The star, who is an advocate for people living with albinism, told fans last year that she was tired of being seen only because of her condition.

“In light of my observation there seems to be a growing trend of people being fascinated by those they see with albinism as models, and I understand that because of a lack of representation in such spheres it becomes news‚ and as beautiful a notion as this is‚ people seem to get really extra.

“It also creates the wrong idea for those with albinism – that to be acknowledged as handsome or beautiful you have to become a model‚” she said.