Johannesburg - Shock jock Gareth Cliff has once again put himself at the centre of controversy.
The founder of CliffCentral.com apparently sided with the now well-known Penny Sparrow whose racist statements have sparked revulsion around the country - only to do a complete turnaround on Tuesday.
On Monday, Cliff retweeted a poll on Twitter that asked whether racist social media posts like Sparrow’s should be criminalised.
With his retweet he wrote: “People really don’t understand free speech at all.”
This angered many users of the social media platform, who then questioned him.
@charnengwane asked him: “Would you use Monkey to us Blacks Gareth?”
To which Cliff responded by saying: “Nope, because I understand the ugly historical context, but ultimately we’re all monkeys - thanks, Charles Darwin.”
In his apology less than 24 hours later, he said: “I’ve been an insensitive a**hole many times. This whole saga with the idiotic comments of Penny Sparrow has upset me but I must acknowledge the pain and anger of so many on Twitter who thought I'd in any way condone the things she said.
“If you thought I was on the side of a racist, I thought we were already in agreement about how you can't stand up FOR racism. If I didn't make it clear, I apologise - sincerely. With regard to free speech and hate speech, I need to continue my education.”
On Monday, though, he had been much less diplomatic. In a series of tweets, he said: “Freedom of speech means having the right to hear things you don’t agree with, not just things you do... Hate speech is very specifically defined in law. Free speech is something we agreed to as a modern, open society... Free speech means you can say F**k you’ to me. I can just as easily dismiss you as a moron.”
@LesetjaMasalesa asked: “@GarethCliff you simply meaning it is okay to say things that insult other people?”
“Yes it is. You don’t have a right NOT to be insulted. Who has been lying to you?” he wrote in response.
Cliff’s sentiments led to him trending longer than both Sparrow and another person who was chastised for racist statements, Chris Hart.
Former EFF MP Andile Mngxitama tweeted: “Why are blacks angry with Gareth Cliff? I called this guy the poster boy of white supremacy a few years ago? I don’t wanna say told * so.”
The Star
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