In the controversial episode screened in October year, in which the former Breakfast presenter deliberately mispronounced the name of Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, stating that “Dick Shit” was “so appropriate because she’s Indian, so she would be dick in shit, wouldn’t she”.
TVNZ’s Complaints Committee had ruled that the programme breached broadcasting standards of good taste and decency, fairness, discrimination and denigration. The authority’s task was to determine whether the broadcaster had acted sufficiently once it upheld those complaints.
The authority noted that Henry’s resignation did not constitute action taken by the broadcaster and had therefore not been considered in the decision.
The BSA ruled that Henry’s repeated ridicule of Ms Dikshit’s name amounted to a sustained and deliberate attack against the Chief Minister personally that extended to Indian people in general.
“His subsequent comment, which associated the words “Dick Shit” with people of Indian descent was not only derogatory but entirely dissonant with common decency and a clear breach of the discrimination and denigration standard.”
While TVNZ apologised to the complainants, it had described Henry’s comments as “inappropriate” which the authority ruled was not adequate.
“In our view, the breaches called for a firm and unqualified acceptance that the comments were unacceptable, and for a prompt and unequivocal statement and apology broadcast on Breakfast.”
TVNZ is required to broadcast the statement on Breakfast within a month of the BSA’s ruling.
