New Zealand’s Broadcasting Standards Authority has fined Television New Zealand (TVNZ) ordering it to pay $3000 costs for former Breakfast host Paul Henry’s remarks about Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit on October 1 last year.
Henry had repeatedly mispronounced the Chief Minister’s last name and added derisive comments amid hysterical laughter. He said the name was “so appropriate because she's Indian, so she would be dick in shit” when walking the streets.
The remarks caused a stir in not just Indian but in global media circles. The Indian government reacted strongly enough to elicit an official apology from the New Zealand government.
"We consider that Mr Henry's repeated ridicule of Ms Dikshit's name amounted to a sustained and deliberate attack against the Chief Minister personally.
"His subsequent comment, which associated the words "dick shit" with people of Indian descent was not only derogatory but entirely dissonant with common decency and a clear breach of the discrimination and denigration standard," the authority has ruled.
The authority’s decision said Henry's manner, which included sneering and uncontrollable laughter during the segment, worsened his offence.
“In our view, the breaches called for a firm and unqualified acceptance that the comments were unacceptable, and for a prompt and unequivocal statement and apology broadcast on Breakfast.”
The authority agreed with the complainants that an order requiring TVNZ to broadcast a statement containing a comprehensive summary of its decision was warranted.
Also read:
He's had his breakfast now put him out to pasture