eNCA journalist Lindsay Dentlinger apologises for mask furore
eNCA journalist Lindsay Dentlinger has finally spoken out about the controversial situation.
Lindsay Dentlinger has been caught in the middle of a furore, following her handling of live interviews.
WATCH: “You people shouldn’t wear masks” – SA woman tells supermarket staff in viral rant
In an interview from SONA 2021 the senior journalist asks black politicians, including the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) Nqabayomzi Kwankwa and African National Congress' (ANC) MP Bongani Bondo, to put on their masks, while their white counterparts were not given the same treatment. Dentlinger spoke to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) John Steenhuisen and FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald without masks.
This saw her on the receiving end of racism allegations.
Read: NSW Health recommends the wearing of face masks during intimate moments between couples
The clip went viral on social media and sparked anger amongst South Africans.
Less than a week after the incident, she's decided to give her side of the story.
I totally acknowledge the outrage and I apologise for the disrespect it has caused to people who don’t deserve to be drawn into this
She added how awful she felt about how she was being perceived by the public and what the country believed was a true reflection of who she is as a journalist and person.
I do acknowledge how it is portrayed. I am being portrayed as to not speaking to anyone black unless wearing a mask
She admitted that she made a mistake in not asking Groenewald to wear a mask.
She added that as a journalist, her first instinct is to ask questions and not check whether masks are being worn.
The more she explains it, 😳 pic.twitter.com/FMUEJQ05Rc
— K U L A N I (@kulanicool) March 1, 2021
People don’t want to hear that it was an oversight for me not to ask Groenewald not to wear a mask. He was my first interviewee and things are working differently in this time of COVID-19. Normally, I would have producers with me who would grab interviewees and make sure they are prepared for the broadcast. Groenewald didn’t have a mask on before I started interviewing him.
We not sure if Lindsay Dentilinger’s apology will do anything for her to please critics, especially when the African National Congress (ANC) is intending in conducting a picket outside eNCA studios in Hyde Park, Johannesburg today.
@MYANC will tomorrow, Tuesday, 2nd of March 2021 conduct nationwide pickets against the scourge of racism at eNCA offices and other centres .#BlackLivesMatter #NoToRacism #ANCsaysNoToRacism pic.twitter.com/j4B4b3JBQ5
— African National Congress (@MYANC) March 1, 2021
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