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Journalism of Courage
Former New Zealand TV (TVNZ) Breakfast presenter Paul Henry,who was forced to resign last year over his racist comments against Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit during the Commonwealth Games,has said that allegations against him do not affect him much because he knows that he is neither a bigot nor a racist.
After mocking Dikshits name,Henry also made derogatory comments against Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand,saying he did not “look or sound like a New Zealander”.
“I know I’m not a bigot,I know I’m not a racist,and I would much rather be desperately disliked than have people have no opinion about me at all,” stuff.co.nz quoted Henry,as saying in an interview after his book What Was I Thinking topped the New Zealand bestseller list.
Henry,however,said that he did not enjoy the process of writing it with co-author Paul Little.
“It was one of those things where you commit to something,instantly regretting you’ve committed to it,and then you are donkey-deep in it,wading through,trying to get to the end as quickly as possible,” he said.
Henry had mocked Dikshits name by repeatedly calling her “Dick-sh*t” and claimed that her name was “so appropriate” because she was an Indian.
“It’s so appropriate,because she”s Indian,so she’d be dick-in-sh*t wouldn’t she,do you know what I mean? Walking along the street… it’s just so funny,” Henry had said earlier.
Following his comments,the Indian government had expressed its displeasure,leading New Zealand Prime Minister John Key,and Foreign Minister Murray McCully to apologise over the issue.
Meanwhile,Henry has expressed his willingness to be involved in a TV3 version of the hit talent quest X-Factor,saying that it is “easily the most expensive show they’ve ever done,it could be the most expensive show in New Zealand”.
