Radio Host Off Air Following Roast Remarks

Radio Host Off Air Following Roast Remarks

The New Zealand Jewish Council and the New Zealand Aids Foundation will receive written apologies from both broadcaster David Fane and his employer, The Radio Network, today and the radio host will be suspended for the remainder of the week.

The actions follow comments about Jews and AIDS sufferers made by David Fane of Flava 96.1 at a Radio Roast event last week organised by radio industry advertising organisation The Radio Bureau.

“David has met with us today and he profoundly regrets his remarks and unreservedly apologises for the offence they will have caused,” said The Radio Network chief executive John McElhinney. “As his employer, I join him in extending apologies to the Jewish Council and the Aids Foundation.

“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.”

Mr McElhinney said it was to the presenter’s credit that he had moved swiftly in accepting that he had seriously over-stepped the mark and had verbally apologised. However, TRN had decided that, in addition to the written apology, David Fane would be taken off the air for the rest of the week. As he already had previously scheduled leave next week, he would actually return to broadcasting at Flava on July 12.

There would be no further comment made on the issue.

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