David Fane Broadcaster and comedian David Fane has been suspended for a week and has sent the New Zealand AIDS Foundation a written apology, after making a joke that HIV-positive people deserved to be 'roasted'. The comment came at a 'Radio Roast' event in Auckland, where Fane is also reported as saying "Jews were expendable" and "Hitler had a right". Fane is also sending a letter of apology to the New Zealand Jewish Council. He has been pulled off air at radio station Flava for the rest of the week. Fane today met with his radio bosses, including chief executive of The Radio Network John McElhinney. "He profoundly regrets his remarks and unreservedly apologises for the offence they will have caused. As his employer, I join him in extending apologies to the Jewish Council and the AIDS Foundation," McElhinney says. "While his comments were made in the context of a ‘roast', where remarks are often provocative, what he said in this case was definitely inappropriate and we in no way condone the comments. "There are lessons to be learned from this." McElhinney says it was to the Fane's credit that he had moved swiftly in accepting that he had seriously over-stepped the mark and had verbally apologised. The New Zealand Aids Foundation has received the letter of apology, which it has accepted and forwarded on to HIV support groups. Executive director Rachael Le Mesurier says Fane said some really appalling things. "I think he acknowledges that they were appalling and he is suitably remorseful. It's worth noting that people do make mistakes. I think this was an attempt to provoke and cause outrage – he was effective," Le Mesurier says. "What's really clear is that he's moved quickly to apologise appropriately. He's been on national TV. And I think what's also important to remember is that David wasn't on our radar as a homophobe or someone who was anti-HIV. After all he co-wrote A Frigate Bird sings, which was a beautiful play about fa'afafine." Le Mesurier says it's interesting that the general sense of outrage over fane's comments has been consistent "Even on talkback, my understanding is that people said he went too far." As Fane had already been scheduled to take leave next week, he will actually return to air on Flava on 12 July. Discuss this story on the GayNZ.com forum
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 28th June 2010 - 4:41pm