Comedian Tumi Morake has issued a public apology. This comes after insensitive comments she made about down syndrome earlier this year.
A mother whose child suffers from down syndrome called Tumi out on social media, labelling the comments “hurtful”.
“Dear Tumi‚ last night on Comedy Central Africa‚ they played your roast battle. I was very very disappointed to hear you say your opponent was two p***y klaps away from having down syndrome. As a parent of a child with down syndrome this was hurtful and just unacceptable‚” the woman said on Instagram.
Because of this, Tumi issued a statement, apoligising for her remarks.
“A while ago we did the roast comedy battle and in the height of insulting each other I used down syndrome in a punchline. I apologise unreservedly for my comments. I do not condone in any way the discrimination against or the ignorance around people with DS‚” she said.
The comedian admitted that her joke was insensitive and not well-thought out.
“My niece also has down syndrome. It was a comedy environment‚ I wasn’t thinking‚ we were just going for the punch‚ I apologise unreservedly. It won’t make it right but I hope you hear that I acknowledge the insensitivity of it. I hope you can forgive me. I have just watched the clip back and you have every right to be upset. Again‚ it really was not out to discriminate or hurt.
“I will do whatever it takes to make it right‚ I was not out to harm‚ and I own up to how hurtful‚ thoughtless‚ harmful and ignorant it was. I will do my best make it right‚ and it will be as public as the way the offence came.”
According to reports, early this year, media personality faced the wrath of parents after he said he was feeling ‘Down syndrome-ish.’ This was during his afternoon drive show on East Coast Radio. The station had to pay R30,000 as fine to the BCCSA.