Yesterday I posted about South African celebrity Shashi Naidoo receiving death threats after making some very pro-Israel (and accurate) comments regarding the situation in Gaza. And while she apologized following the backlash, I was willing to cut her some slack, not just because of the death threats, but also because she did not retract her comments.
That was before now. Sashi has since posted a retraction of her previous comments, which throws Israel completely under the bus.
It is with great humility that I step forward and not only accept, but again, sincerely and deeply apologise to all that I offended and hurt for my post in regard to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and my lack of understanding in my initial apology to the Muslim community. This should of been to the Palestinian people in the first instance, and broader society as a whole.
I apologise unconditionally, but I would also like to this opportunity to explain what happened with regard to my recent Instagram posts. I posted a picture with a DJ recently in Ibiza and the post attracted commentary from another Instagram user because he had played in Israel. In what I believed was defense of him, I reached out to a friend to help articulate a response and offer a secondary point of view, as to be honest, I didn’t know much about the situation (although it sure must have looked otherwise). I stupidly copied and pasted the response verbatim in a feeble attempt to appear smart on social media without reading it comprehensibly (I know), thereby entering an issue of world importance, I had no real fundamental understanding of – my biggest mistake. There is no spin. This is the truth. I expressed his worldview as my own, and for that I will forever live with the consequences. I agree with the commentary that it not only highlighted my ignorance on the issue and the way it was handled, but also made me seem uncaring and indifferent to the suffering of any human on this planet. I in no way wish to make excuses or expect people to forgive me at this time. I messed up. I know that, and I take full accountability.
All that I hope to achieve is to convey that I am sincerely sorry, and in a way thank every one who called me out, as I have learnt from this. No matter what ones beliefs are, there is always room for empathy and compassion.
The last couple of days have shown me that there is a larger education that I need to undertake on issues facing humanity. I have read the commentary and will further not only educate, but re-educate myself .
Words will never be enough to express how truly sorry I am. It will be in my actions going forward that I do better.
There’s also these comments, which makes it sound like she believes there is Apartheid in Israel:
The star was labelled an “Apartheid sympathiser” for her original comments, and was dropped as an ambassador of Glampalm Africa and by a jewelry designer named Adila Dhorat.
She said she was upset that people would think of her as an “apartheid sympathiser”.
“My heart is broken if people think that I condone what is happening. That is not me. I think ignorance is just as bad and I have been living in a bubble. I have had to learn very quickly.”
And it has been revealed she reached out to BDS South Africa, and they will be holding a joint press conference today. The comments coming out of that press conference can be no better.
I’m highly disappointed in Sashi Naidoo here. She had a chance to leave things as they were, but instead seems to have completely caved in to the death threats by reaching out to BDS and taking aim at Israel. Of course, she is probably aware by doing so, she will be part of the mainstream in South Africa and will most certainly not be receiving similar death threats from Israel supporters.
