Zodwa Wabantu DStv

SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA Ð AUGUST 26: Entertainer Zodwa Wabantu during the DStv Mzansi ViewerÕs Choice Awards (DStvMVCA) event at the Sandton Convention Centre on August 26, 2017 in Sandton, South Africa. Hosted by Bonang Matheba, the inaugural DStvMVCAÕs saw 50 Mzansi stars nominated in 10 awards categories which include: Favourite actor, favourite actress, favourite DJ and favourite comedian. Photo – Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu

Zodwa Wabantu may lose DStv show, face hate speech case in “homophobia” row

It seems an uncensored TV show starring Zodwa Wabantu really was too hot to handle: Johannesburg Pride want DStv to condemn the host’s actions as “hate speech”.

Zodwa Wabantu DStv

SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA Ð AUGUST 26: Entertainer Zodwa Wabantu during the DStv Mzansi ViewerÕs Choice Awards (DStvMVCA) event at the Sandton Convention Centre on August 26, 2017 in Sandton, South Africa. Hosted by Bonang Matheba, the inaugural DStvMVCAÕs saw 50 Mzansi stars nominated in 10 awards categories which include: Favourite actor, favourite actress, favourite DJ and favourite comedian. Photo – Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu

The LGBTQI+ community have ramped their campaign up against Zodwa Wabantu after the larger-than-life social media personality took things one step too far on her Moja Love TV show, Zodwa Uncensored. DStv and The Feather Awards are now under pressure to take drastic action.

Despite the show’s title suggesting things may get a little risque, very few people would have expected the dancer to say what she did about homosexuals. She’s known for baring the flesh, but Wabantu may have exposed herself in a completely different manner this time.

What Zodwa Wabantu said about gay men

Her latest remarks about gay men have caused an almighty row. In the now-infamous clip, Zodwa addresses homosexual men who, in her own words, “forget they have penises and not vaginas like us”

She lambasted homosexual men in the entertainment industry for being “too volatile”, asking “is there a gay celebrity you do not know that has never been in a catfight with a woman?” She further went on to claim that it is already enough that women allow them to use make-up and pursue other men, “but enough is enough”.

Zodwa Wabantu latest news: DStv under pressure to suspend her

These utterances have irked several prominent LGBTQI+ groups, but the most noticeable of which has been the response from Johannesburg Pride. Zodwa Wabantu isn’t just facing calls to be cancelled by her fans, but by the very network which gives her opinions a platform:

“Johannesburg Pride has reached out to DSTV Content Managers to consider Zodwa Wabantu’s statements as hate speech and suspend her show with immediate effect pending investigation. We understand her show is uncensored however DSTV need to be mindful of the hate it is promoting.”

“Furthermore, Johannesburg Pride appeals to the Feather Awards to strip Zodwa Wabantu of her Award issued in 2017. This must be a lesson to all media personalities and influencers to be mindful of how they conduct themselves and what they say.”

Johannesburg Pride

Feather Awards also set to condemn

The group want the network to treat her statements as hate speech – should they be successful in their appeal, Wabantu may have to go to the SA Human Rights Commission to explain herself. That’s a long way down the line, but should DStv accept the position of Johannesburg Pride, it would put the reality star in even more trouble.

Zodwa Wabantu won “Drama Queen of the Year” at the gay-friendly Feather Awards in 2017. The irony is certainly not lost on anyone, here. The glitzy, glamorous show is a celebration of the campest and hottest fashion styles currently in-vogue in South Africa. But it looks like the 33-year-old will also be cancelled by the committee.