Karl Stefanovic apologises for offending trans community
Image: Karl Stefanovic
TODAY show host and gold Logie winner Karl Stefanovic has apologised for using the word ‘tr*nny’ on live television.
Stefanovic used the term during a live cross to reporter Christine Ahern in Rio to describe a group of trans women who mugged Ahern and the Channel 9 film crew hours earlier.
Ahern told the Today show hosts, they had been mugged by “transvestites” and Stefanovic responded by saying the cameraman involved would be fine because he had “fought off tougher tr*nnies”.
During the interview, cameras cut to a wanted poster with an image of Hugo Weaving in his role as a drag queen in the Australian film, The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, to which Stefanovic said: “The other thing is Chris, I know that you have gone to see the police about this tr*nny… we have a confit made up and we know they don’t all look the same. Is that the tr*nny they are talking about it?”
It did not take long for social media and news agencies to declare their outrage over Stefanovic’s offensive comments.
Ah, Karl Stefanovic. I was starting to like the guy. And now he makes that “tranny” comment? He needs to (genuinely) apologise soon…
— Elias Jahshan (@Elias_Jahshan) July 28, 2016
@todayshow is this a joke? #karl should be taken off https://t.co/6eipFmb5rb via @DailyLifeAU
— Misch (@michy25elle) July 28, 2016
This morning Stefanovic apologised for his comments in an almost three-minute solo piece to camera, saying he was not aware that the terms he used were offensive, that he had since been educated on the issue and explained to the audience exactly why it was important to understand why his words were so hurtful in the first place.
“As we all know I can be a complete tool. Yesterday, I was worse, an ignorant tool.” – @KarlStefanovic #9Today https://t.co/EYFvt33Twu
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) July 28, 2016
“Yesterday I was an ignorant tool… yesterday I got it very wrong,” he said.
“All of you who didn’t see the segment yesterday can learn from my mistake if you choose to, by using the word tr*nny I offended a lot of beautiful, sensitive people.
“I have no idea what it’s like to be born into the wrong body, to feel uncomfortable in your own skin, or the extreme courage it takes to accept yourself and live the life you’ve always wanted to live.
“To anyone who found the segment funny please now understand why it was the complete opposite at the expense of a community already battling against the odds for mainstream acceptance.”
People have congratulated Stefanovic for his sincere and educated response, but some have also suggested he should have known better in the first place.
In a world filled with faux “if anyone was offended” apologies, @karlstefanovic offers a lesson in humility. https://t.co/8zqykWHU7r
— Bernard Keane (@BernardKeane) July 28, 2016
Public apologies are important. Bro just asked me why ‘tranny’ isn’t ok to say (and what intersex is – unrelated). Thanks @karlstefanovic ????????
— James Findlay (@james_findlay) July 28, 2016
@karlstefanovic Too late Karl. The violent transphobes who laughed it up at your “jokes” won’t care. Next time I’m put in the ER,laugh it up
— Stephanie McCarthy (@tallpunksteph) July 28, 2016
For anyone who would like more information on trans issues please contact The Gender Centre or Transgender Victoria.
The ACL are involved in this too! These commercial free to air channels like 10, 9 and 7 like and love to promote hate, fear and bias towards the LGBTIQ community and make fun and mock us for national entertainment – and I am personally sick of it! A current affair, the Today show and Sunrise are good examples, all in the name of entertainment for bogan trash. That is why I have two rules when it comes to watching TV – stick to SBS or the ABC only for good and the TV is turned off to have dinner at the dinner table and on all ad breaks! Remember the Wollongong David Campbell an excellent Labor NSW MP who got outed on TV, I have not forgotten! He did so much for our rights and channel 7 ruined his life on national tv for entertainment!
He sure is a complete fucking uneducated channel 9 tool – just like our federal politicians and should be sacked!
The terminology is called “gender identity or expression”, “sexual orientation” or “Intersex status” to be politically correct. It is written in black and white – under the federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984!
Just before the anti-trans segment on channel 9, there was an anti-gay marriage ad. Hyprocracy at it again on a commercial free to air tv show.
You know, we hear loads of so many so-called “apologies” from people in the public eye when they’ve been caught out saying or doing something that they truly believe, once they’ve realised that their beliefs are not shared, they apologise because they’ve been caught out, and for no other reason. But this is a most genuine apology and I truly admire this man for making it, and making it in such a public way. It is most certainly accepted by me as a trans woman, and I hope everyone else accepts his apology too.