Viewers have complained, some have made written complaints to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) and a petition has now been started that already attracted thousands of signatures following the shockingly homophobic comments from the notorious dancer and reality TV star Zondwa Wabantu that was broadcast on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.
In the latest episode of Zodwa Wabantu: Uncensored on Saturday on Moja Love (DStv 157), Zodwa Wabantu's controversial, homophobic comments stirred anger in South Africa and under viewers, including the LGBT community.
The Zodwa Wabantu: Uncensored producers decided to include the star filmed making sweeping negative and false generalisations and saying "Gay people are naughty. Name a gay person who has never fought with a girl.
"They're convinced that they have a vagina, they have a penis. We have vaginas. We accommodate you guys because you get to wear make-up and when we, as women, talk about men you get a chance too."
Ehhh Zodwa. The homophobia jumped out. 💀 #ZodwaUncensored pic.twitter.com/W3CxrLsDH4— P.M. (@Passeks) July 6, 2019
The #ZodwaCancelled hashtag has started to trend on social media in South Africa, with a petition that has been started to get Zodwa Wabantu: Uncensored cancelled. There's been no statement from Moja Love.
Zodwa Wabantu told The Sowetan that "How can I be homophobic when I have more than 20 gay friends? Even my designer is gay. I was talking about my friends. I am talking about something that I have observed about them since they are my friends. Anyway, that is a reality show, I am calling it as I see it."
A viewer, Khawula, who started a petition, said that "Zodwa WaBantu's reality show on Moja Love has revealed that Zodwa WaBantu is homophobic and transphobic through her ignorant comments she made stating that gay men should not behave like women because they do not have vaginas but women do".
"She also stated that gay people are being done a favour to even be allowed to exist at the same spaces."
"These comments are homophobic and transphobic therefore something has to be done. Zodwa WaBantu's show is on a broadcast show which means these comments went through several producers or stages before it was decided that it will be broadcast without any person picking up that these comments were homophobic and therefore pose a threat to the members of the LGBT community at large."
Iranti, an LGBTIQ+ rights organisation, called for a meeting with Zodwa Wabantu and the show's producers to "discuss the harmful impacts the episode may have on LGBTIQ+ people".
Nokuthula Mavuso said "Before a show goes on-air, the tape goes through so many people for approval. Nobody, absolutely nobody, thought 'this is not it'? Moja Love and Zodwa Wabantu Uncensored should also be called out".
Another viewer said "The producers need to be slapped. Why did they allow her to go and attack LGBT+? I think they thrive on her being controversial so much that they missed the facts that her views were discriminatory and bigoted."
A petition that was started on Change.org had over 5 800 signatures by Tuesday night from angry and upset DStv subscribers and other South Africans.
