A man by the name of Adam Catzavelos is receiving heated criticism from South African political parties, citizens and social media users after he published a video in which he uses a racial slur.
Said video was republished to Twitter on Tuesday, in which Catzavelos can be seen enjoying sunshine on an exotic beach. After giving his viewers a weather report, he also announces that there’s not “one k***** in sight”.
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“You can’t beat this,” he adds in 20 second clip.
“….. and not one K@!##&÷ in sight ” wow… why doesn’t he move there then. Some of you white folks are tiring. pic.twitter.com/pMl3IXPf4F
— Farah C. Fortune (@fcfortune) August 21, 2018
The video racked up more than 1000 replies and 1300 retweets with some 68 000 views on the social network.
Update: Adam Catzavelos has issued his first public apology. Read it here.
By Wednesday afternoon, #AdamCatzavelos began trending countrywide, with many notable social media personalities weighing in with their thoughts (albeit using a misspelling of his name).
“Who Is This? We Need To Label These People And Their Harmful Active Ingredients Clearly,” wrote comedian John Vlismas.
Who Is This? We Need To Label These People And Their Harmful Active Ingredients Clearly. https://t.co/XgpDE6t0dR
— John Vlismas (@fortyshort) August 21, 2018
#AdamCatzavelo felt emboldened to record and BROADCAST his racism to an audience of people who he clearly believed thought like him
He’s so COMFORTABLE speaking like this.
And it’s almost certain that is because he’s expressed this racism before, and no one ever took him on. https://t.co/LG1sWfVZKj— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) August 22, 2018
“Sickened to see the video of #AdamCatzavelo that attitude and comments are abhorrent and have no place in our society,” DA’s chief whip John Steenhuisen wrote.
“The comments by #AdamCatzavelo are abhorrent, racist and inconsistent with what South Africans from all races stand for,” echoed DA leader Mmusi Maimane.
Sickened to see the video of #AdamCatzavelo that attitude and comments are abhorrent and have no place in our society. The consequences and dragging he is receiving are of his own making. We need to work to build one South Africa for all.
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) August 22, 2018
The comments by #AdamCatzavelo are abhorrent, racist and inconsistent with what South Africans from all races stand for. Racisms in all forms should never be tolerated in our society. It’s such actions, take us further away from the building a non racial, 1 South Africa for all
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) August 22, 2018
Can @HomeAffairsSA not cancel #AdamCatzavelo’s passport? Let him remain in Vanilla-ville doing the weather forecast. https://t.co/hF9XbyNnRq
— Ranjeni Munusamy (@RanjeniM) August 21, 2018
Racism is alive & well. & let me tell you this – it is a WHITE problem. It is a system that requires both prejudice & systemic/institutional power over others. It IS white supremacy. & it tells #AdamCatzavelo that he can spew the bullshit he did, without fear of condemnation.
— Robyn Porteous (@RobynPorteous) August 22, 2018
White people who ask “Why must everything be about race? Can’t we just move on?” #AdamCatzavelos is your answer. He’s young. Racism is still being taught to children. The racists aren’t moving on, so why should black people?
— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) August 22, 2018
If he does lose all his work, I’m sure Afriforum would give #AdamCatzavelos a job as a weatherman.
— Deep Fried Man (@DeepFriedMan) August 21, 2018
Adam Catzavelos’s comments likely won’t pass without repercussions though.
The EFF has announced that it will open a case against Catzavelos in Gauteng.
Additionally, Catzavelos’s family business has issued a statement on Wednesday, distancing itself from his video and comments.
“It is abhorrent and we fully disassociate ourselves from the sentiments expressed. We reject racism in any form. Adam Catzavelos has been dismissed with immediate effect from the family business, St George’s Fine Foods, and his minority shareholding will be unwound as soon as practically possible,” began the statement obtained by EWN.
“Given the high-profile nature of this development, the business has been temporarily closed for the protection of all its staff. We have no further comment at this stage.”
Adam Catzavelos has yet to issue a personal statement with regards to the video.
Feature image: screenshot, @fcfortune via Twitter
