Wayne Wright, co-founder of The Platform.
the moneyman. That email went to the Wright Foundation (an organisation that aims to advance education and promote family wellbeing) and then made its way to Wright himself.
The mother, whose child has chromosomal abnormalities, received more feedback on her complaint than she ever expected.
She had contacted the foundation over what she described as “appalling” views expressed on The Platform last Monday, in a segment where Plunket told listeners Ma¯ui dolphins were like the “Down Syndrome kids of marine mammals”.
“They’re cross-bred and they deserve to die. Not Downs people, don’t start that, I’d be in big trouble,” he said of the dolphins, which had caused a day of SailGP racing to be called off.
In response to the complaint, Wright emailed the mother to say he wouldn’t be bullied into “cancel culture hypocrisy” and that NZ had developed a culture where opposing views could not be tolerated.
Although Wright said he and Plunket did not always agree, neither the complainant, nor anyone else, had the right to dictate what he should be comfortable with, he said.
“The real test of your outrage will be in how you accept the unconditional apology of a man that knows he was in the wrong and admits it. Do you have the strength and character to forgive him?
“Personally I don’t really care but I hope you keep listening to the show.”
Two days after the initial broadcast an apology came, in Plunket’s own words, “largely in response to . . . a kind of pile-on cyber-attack by some people who don’t get on with me”.
He said his comments may not have been taken in the “humorous way” they were intended, and in hindsight, his words weren’t “that funny”.
“Using a group of people who face unique challenges to make a joke isn’t actually very cool, so I’m just going to take that on the chin — it was a dumb thing to do, it was insensitive.”
Wright told Media Insider his email “said it all” in terms of his position, “forthright, candid? Yeah maybe, but I think straight talking with people really gets the message across.
“I saw the video of him and his comments and I thought it was a little bit weak but you know, Sean has a right to his opinions and he is the editor and the buck stops with him really at The Platform.”
He emphasised Plunket’s on-air apology, which Wright said he did not ask him to make.
“Wayne doesn’t tell me what to do, that’s part of the deal, that is why The Platform can truly be independent,” said Plunket.
In light of this independence, Media Insider asked Plunket why Wright sent the email.
“He felt the need to respond, and as much as he doesn’t have to do with the decisions I make, I’m not the boss of him.”
Times Media administrators in talks with ‘interested parties’
Times Media creditors are scheduled to meet at 11am today as the Monday deadline for an offer from any interested buyers creeps closer.
The publisher of the reputable Howick & Pakuranga Times and a range of other titles was placed in voluntary administration two weeks ago after talks fell through with potential purchasers.
Administrator Ben Francis confirmed to Media Insider this week that they were in discussion with interested parties, however, any offer needed to be submitted by Monday.
When asked what would happen if no offer came through, Francis said it was “confidential”.