Rian van Heerden suspended for lashing out at homophobe
Rian van Heerden (Pic: Facebook)
It seems that swearing is a far more serious crime than homophobia. Openly gay radio presenter Rian van Heerden was taken off the airwaves this week because he swore at a bigoted listener who called him a “m*ffie”.
Last week, Van Heerden, who is the host of The Scenic Drive on Jacaranda FM, was sent a homophobic SMS by a listener during the show.
“Can you fucking ‘m*ffies’ talk about something else at this time of the day, please?” said the man. He was referring to an earlier interview with actor Earl Gregory about his role in the new South African rom-com No Hiding Here. [M*ffie is an Afrikaans slur equivalent to “f*ggot”.]
Fed up with being insulted once again because of his sexuality, Beeld reported that Van Heerden called and confronted the listener.
The man complained that the interview in which Gregory had talked about kissing another man could “indoctrinate” children about “certain things.”
During the on-air conversation, the angry presenter called the listener an “ignorant bastard” and a “dom doos” [an Afrikaans expletive indicating a stupid or idiotic person].”
Afterwards, Van Heerden apologised to the audience for his language, explaining that “I couldn’t think of another term to use. I take full responsibility for what is to come.”
The apology wasn’t good enough for some who were outraged by the host’s swearing (but not, apparently, by blatant homophobia).
In a tweet, AnimusRex demanded that Jacaranda FM “deal with Riaan van Heerden,” adding: “Calling someone a doos when children are listening is unacceptable. I will be lodging a complaint with the broadcasting complaints commission [BCCSA].”
The BCCSA told Beeld that it had received five complaints about Van Heerden’s language. In a statement, Jacaranda FM confirmed that the presenter was taken off the air this week and will only be back on Monday.
While the station said that it “cherishes diversity and dialogue that combats all forms of discrimination, including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” it argued that he had used “unacceptable language as defined by the South African Broadcasting Complaints Commission.”
Writing on Facebook, van Heerden pleaded for his followers and listeners to understand what lay behind his response to the homophobic man.
“Has hatred ever led to one good thing in this world? Has it ever made one person’s life better? Now imagine living in a world where every movie, tv show, magazine, advert, mall, beach and street reminds you that you are not normal. That who you love or just even like is not normal. Would you eventually hate yourself too?”
Van Heerden added: “As gay people, our lives are not easy. Try to understand. Please. What I said yesterday on the air has been said. I take responsibility. But I have had enough of bigotry.”
The media personality came out as gay in 2005 at the age of 35, saying at the time: “Who wants to live a fake life and with the fear of being found out? Who would want to go through life so terribly lonely?”
In a video promoting the acclaimed Oliver Hermanus’ gay film Moffie last year, Van Heerden spoke about the impact of the slur on him. “I’ve been doing a radio show for many years [and] I’ve been called that word, many many times. I stopped counting after a while,” he said.
@jacarandafm you better deal with Riaan van Heerden. Calling someone a doos when children are listening is unacceptable. I will be lodging a complaint with the broadcasting complaints commission.
— AnimusRex (@rex_animus) February 26, 2021
It’s unfortunate about Van Heerden’s choice of words on air, but I fully understand his anger and frustration – and that caller IS a dom doos.
This just goes to show how far South Africa and the world for the matter still has to go. That people still think we’re trying to indoctrinate young children, children these days are much smarter than we give them credit for. Gays have been blamed for everything from Covid to Natural Disasters. Who knew if I wanted to cause a hurricane all I had to do was give my husband a bl**job. All I can say is that a hundred years from now people are going to look back and ask “What were they thinking?”
Hypocrisy: what a novelty!
Honestly, I think any sane person is extremely tired of bigotry and persecution against the LGBTQ+ community. Of course, the language Rian used on air was inappropriate for the time slot and audience (and he at no point tried to convince anyone otherwise), but let’s try to have a little empathy. We are talking about a person who has spent his life hearing this kind of thing and being humiliated in his own workplace and it is just too much. I can understand him perfectly.
Everybody should be able to do so too
I for one speak out when I want, have or need to. I just don’t understand why people have to belittle someone (racial, sextual, religion etc) just because they don’t have the same believes or way of life.
Yes, I get irritated when people need to permanently have to remind everyone that they are gay, shit, just be gay and become more secure with what you are. Why be bothered by the hateful idoits. I don’t have to constantly remind people that I am straight, because it will not make any difference in how people see me as a person. Same goes for religion and race.
If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it. Rian….well done! You said something nice: )
I love Rian. He says whats on his mind and frankly most of us are too scared to speak up when we hear something which we know is not acceptable for fear of causing further upset. I heard that show and I was appaled by the caller.
Thanks for standing up Rian. If you are a bigot then you are a dom doos.
Thanks for standing up Rian. If you have nothing nice to say about other people, keep it for yourself. Wish everyone can just live in peace and love.