Fox says sorry for ‘racist’ show segment
Australian broadcaster Fox Sports has apologised after criticism that a segment on one of its rugby league shows was racist, and has removed it from replays of the show.
Fox Sports came under fire on Saturday after Ana Tagataese, wife of Cronulla Sharks prop Sam Tagataese, criticised the Matty Johns Show for a ‘‘disrespectful’’ segment called ‘Footy Kids in Cars’ that asked children ‘‘what is the funniest name in the NRL?’’
Children were given names of Pacific Island players and asked to try to pronounce them with one parent heard saying: ’’There’s no easy names in there, is there? Nothing like Ben Smith.’’
In a statement to Stuff yesterday, Fox Sports apologised for the segment.
‘‘It was never the intention to upset or disrespect anyone, particularly the Pacific Islander community. We apologise to anyone who may have taken offence. The segment was removed from additional replays,’’ the statement said.
Former Samoa and New Zealand international Nigel Vagana supported Tagataese’s stance against the segment on Saturday.
He said ignorance was no excuse for the ’’offensive’’ script.
‘‘It’s actually pretty disappointing that the script was screened; that someone came up with an idea that went through the processes and actually made it all the way to air without any thought that it might have been offensive to Pacific communities, people, players and their families,’’ he said.
Ana Tagataese turned to Facebook to highlight her issues with the segment.
‘‘As a mother of two Samoan daughters, it is vital that I teach them to be proud of their culture and the origin of their surname,’’ she said on the Matty Johns Show’s Facebook page.
‘‘Although I believe no malice was intended during the Kids in Cars segment on your show, I do believe that having parents laugh with their children because they are unable to pronounce Pacific Islander surnames is completely disrespectful.
‘‘CASUAL RACISM is not ok and I do not want my daughter, who goes to school, to have to tolerate it. I don’t want her to go to school and have other kids thinking it is ok to laugh at or mock her surname.’’