Indian-origin doctor in race row in Oz after Jackson skit

“I am an Indian,and five of the six of us are from multicultural backgrounds and to be called a racist … I don’t think I have ever been called that ever in my life before,” he said.

“Anyone who knows us as a group,we are intelligent people,we are all from different racial backgrounds so I am really truly surprised,” Deva said.

Deva further defended the act by saying the group of doctors were from multicultural backgrounds and were huge Michael Jackson fans,the AAP reported.

Deva was one of five men who starred in the skit. His face was painted white,impersonating Michael Jackson,while his back-up dancers donned black face paint and black wigs.

US crooner Harry Connick Jr,who made a guest appearance on the Nine Network show,took offence to the skit and forced an apology. Connick was one of the judges of the segment and took offence to the act,giving it a score of zero.

“Clearly,all of us want to apologise. I mean we have offended some people no doubt,particularly [US singer Harry Connick Jr. So I want to say on behalf of all of us that this was really not intended … [to be anything to do with racism at all,” he was quoted by an AAP report.

He said if the skit had appeared on television in the US the show’s broadcast would have been terminated,and it would have been “hey hey no show”.

A backstage source said that after the segment Connick expressed his disgust and negotiated an on-air apology at the end of the live broadcast between him and show host Daryl Somers.

“I think we may have offended you with that act and I deeply apologise on behalf of all of us – because I know that to your countrymen,that’s an insult to have a black-face routine like that on the show,so I do apologise to you,” Somers said. Connick said,he would not have participated if he had known about the Jackson Jive skit beforehand.

Asked if he would have done the same skit in America,Deva replied,”Absolutely not.”