Press Statement by Gareth Cliff – 30th January 2016
Welcome to CliffCentral. Thank you for joining us today.
Yesterday Judge Caroline Nicholls ruled that my contract with M-Net be reinstated and that I return to the panel on Idols. We’ve had time to study the judgement in detail.
Before we begin, let me thank my team here at CliffCentral, my legal team, the thousands of supporters on social media, and the many people I have engaged with during this very challenging month. The thoughtful, useful discussions we have started to have in South Africa can only be good going forward…
I’d also like to thank those people who stood up for me in the face of horrible allegations of racism, in the shadow of the despicable comments of Penny Sparrow and her like. In THIS country, with our history, we must remember how serious a thing racism really is. I repeat my apology to people who still feel that my statement on free expression was insensitive.
We welcome the statement issued by M-Net last night, confirming the court’s decision to reinstate me, however I am concerned that they still insist they did nothing wrong. For ten seasons of Idols, I have had an excellent relationship with M-Net and the Producers of the show and that in all that time this has been the only bump on the road. The road to reconciliation must always travel over the bridge of truth and I hope that one day M-Net will find it in their hearts to admit their mistakes as I have admitted mine.