Eddie to front a media conference today at 2.30 to apologise for comments.
Just days after a 13 year old girl was thrown out of a football stadium for racist remarks against AFL footballer Adam Goodes, and a couple of weeks after David Morrow was suspended for racist comments, Eddie McGuire got himself into similar trouble this morning on Triple M Melbourne.
Following on from comments by Hot Breakfast Show team member Luke Darcy promoting King Kong The Musical, McGuire said:
“Get Adam Goodes down for it, d’you reckon?”
Darcy responded: “No, I wouldn’t have thought so.”
McGuire: “You can see them doing that, can’t you? Goodesy. You know, the big, not the ape thing the whole thing, I’m just saying the pumping him up and mucking around and that sort of stuff…”
Later McGuire apologied, saying on air:
“Just to clear up, when we were talking about King Kong there and I was mumbling my way through about Goodesy, I was trying to say ‘Imagine the old days of trying to get people in for publicity’ and I’ve mumbled my way through that so anyone who thought that I was having a go or being a Smart Alec. I take that back.”
Speaking after the broadcast McGuire repeated his apology:
“My comment was meant to be an ironic reference to the sort of techniques once used by some public relations consultants to publicise new shows. As I said on air at the first opportunity after I made the comment, I unfortunately mumbled my words and said something I didn’t intend. I unreservedly apologise. I have contacted the Sydney Swans to explain the situation to Adam Goodes personally. Adam was gracious enough to take my call and expressed his disappointment “particularly given what we’ve been through together last weekend.”
I agreed entirely with him and I’m devastated that I am responsible for bringing this issue back into the public arena. Adam accepted my apology and acknowledged my strong commitment and record in tackling racial vilification not just on the football field but in the wider community.
I sincerely apologise for the hurt caused.”
Triple M has also sincerely apologised to any listeners who were offended and says McGuire has an exemplary record on indigenous issues. Triple M “completely accepts his explanation.”
Covering the remarks on 3AW later in the morning, Neil Mitchell weighed in to the controversy saying: “I know he meant this as a joke, but either racism is a serious issue or not.”
Mitchell praised McGuire’s handling of the racism incident on Friday night where a 13-year-old girl racially abused Adam Goodes towards the conclusion of the Collingwood vs Sydney match, but questioned the reasoning behind this morning’s statement.
Hear grabs of the McGuire comments in the audio below, recorded by 3AW. See Mitchell’s full comments on his blog here.