Author Witi Ihimaera has lent his name to a petition calling for the resignation of Paul Holmes over the "cheeky darkie" controversy. Ihimaera is one of 54 academics to sign the petition, which describes Holmes' comments as a "disgraceful outburst" that has seriously damaged the racial fabric of New Zealand society. Last Wednesday morning's Paul Holmes Breakfast show on Newstalk ZB featured a number of controversial, yet arguably tongue-in-cheek comments, including a reference to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as a "cheeky darkie", women journalists being labelled "bitchy", jokes about Hitler, and jokes about Brian Edwards picking up a bisexual electrician and giving him rectal injuries during a discussion about the British media's treatment of Michael Barrymore. Holmes' record of mischievous comments had been escalating in the weeks leading up to the "cheeky darkie" broadcast, including an incident during an interview with chef Gordon Ramsey where Holmes made a double entendre reference to "vicious faggots" being after him.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 1st October 2003 - 12:00pm