Parents upset by joke about gene disorder
COMEDIAN Tumi Morake is struggling to deal with the backlash after she made an insensitive comment about Down Syndrome on a comedy show that was broadcast recently.
On the Roast Comedy Battle, Morake told Schalk Bezuidenhout: “You are two p*** klaps away from Down Syndrome.”
After it aired again last week‚ people roasted her on Facebook.
She issued an apology on Wednesday‚ revealing that she had a family member with the genetic disorder and promised that she would “make it right”, but many parents are still hurt.
Warda Hill, from Cape Town – who has a four-year-old daughter with Down Syndrome – said not only was Morake’s comment hurtful but it was difficult to watch people laugh at the joke.
“An apology is not enough,” Hill, who had to leave the job she loved because her daughter had a serious heart condition, said.
“If you had a niece with Down Syndrome you would never use that as a punchline.
“I feel she should not just apologise on Facebook, she should go out into the community and show [how apologetic she is] because actions speak louder than words.
“Does [Morake] know how it feels when the doctor tells you your child has Down Syndrome and there is nothing they can do?”
Another mother‚ who asked not to be named‚ said Morake and South Africans should be educated about the disorder. “The comments were very hurtful,” she said. “People need to understand that comments like this do not only affect the individual with Down Syndrome‚ but the whole family – siblings‚ grandparents etc.
“It angers me that my child has to grow up in a world where I constantly have to defend her or turn a blind eye to the ignorant comments.’’
Morake’s manager‚ Osman Osman‚ said the comment had been taken out of context.
“She never really spoke about Down Syndrome children. From her statement you can gather that she was very remorseful. She has apologised as well‚” Osman said.