On Thursday morning, Today host Karl Stefanovic used transphobic slurs while having fun at the expense of a cross-dressing person who attempted to rob a Channel 9 crew in Rio.
Over a soundtrack of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”, Stefanovic referred to the people who attempted to rob journalist Christine Ahern and cameraman Glen as “a murder of transvestite muggers”.
Stefanovic said Glen the cameraman had “fought off tougher trannies”, and “they don’t call him ‘the bull’ for nothing”.
But as many people pointed out, "tranny" is an outdated slur often used to insult and delegitimise transgender women.
Once this was was pointed out, Stefanovic was quick to own up to the comments and apologise on Twitter.
I'm very sorry Chloe. I'm happy to have a beer or cocktail with anyone I offended. It was complete ignorance. https://t.co/aPCsv0JLZi
On Friday's show, he went one step further, apologising again and explaining exactly why his language was unacceptable.
"As we all know I can be a complete tool. Yesterday, I was worse, an ignorant tool." - @KarlStefanovic #9Today https://t.co/EYFvt33Twu
"I can be a complete tool, right?", Stefanovic asked to cheers from the Today crew. "Well yesterday I was worse, I was an ignorant tool. And when I say 'ignorant', I really mean it."
"Yesterday I got it very wrong," he said. "I honestly didn't know the negative and deeply hurtful impact that word has, not only on the LGBTQI community, but on their family and their friends.
"Therein lies part of the problem, I reckon; I never bothered to ask."
Stefanovic said he has crossed a line that he didn't even know existed, and that it's time to put the word "tranny" in the bin.
He then called for Aussies to have more empathy for the LGBT community.
"I actually don't know what it's like to feel apart from the rest of mainstream society," he said. "I have no understanding of what it's like to feel you are born in the wrong body, to feel uncomfortable in your own skin, or the extreme courage it takes to accept yourself and live the life you have always wanted to live."
Stefanovic said that given the events of the last year, it's more important than ever that Australians embrace our differences, educate ourselves and live with tolerance, compassion, love and respect for everyone.
Onya Karlos.
