There’s nothing like a very public lambasting to put someone in a reflective mood.
This morning, Sonia Kruger tried her best to douse the fire surrounding her ignorant call to ban Muslim immigration after the deadly terror attack in Nice, France – and subsequent failed “as a mother” defence of herself on Twitter – by clarifying what she *actually* meant.
Only problem is that what she *actually* meant is pretty much exactly what we thought, and it’s still v. v. bad.
Wasting no time in addressing the controversy on TODAY Extra this morning, Kruger admitted her views “may have been extreme” but maintained there’s “no simple answer” to protecting our country from the atrocities of terrorism. In other words, she’s hedging her bets in the hope people lay off her.
Here’s the statement in full:
“Before we start the show, I would like to say a few things about what happened yesterday on the Today Show. The discussion we had was centred around a newspaper article which measured the correlation of Muslim population in certain countries and the number of certain terrorist attacks. I thought the article made relevant points. We witnessed too many atrocities in the name of terrorism.
“Last week’s attack on men, women and children in Nice left me in utter disbelief. I saw the image of a baby covered in a plastic sheet with a doll lying beside her and it rocked me to the very core. I imagined what that must have been like for the people of Nice, for the friends and families of the lost and the thought that it could happen here terrifies me. This type of attack affects people from all walks of life and I want to make it very clear that I have complete respect for people of all races, and religions.“I acknowledge my views yesterday may have been extreme. The reaction overnight in the papers, online and via social media demonstrates that there are a myriad of opinions in Australia which I actually appreciate. It is a hugely complex and sensitive issue. It’s an issue with no simple answer. And it’s an issue that cannot be fully discussed in a short televised segment.“Is there a solution? I don’t know. We elect politicians to make those calls. They analyse and then they decide and we hope they get it right. It’s a privilege to live in a country such as Australia which embraces a multicultural society. But there is no simple answer here and if we are to find a solution to the situation at the very least we need to be able to discuss it.”
A discussion? Yes. But that level of ignorance? Nah.
Kruger’s colleagues, including Karl Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys, got behind her to deny assumptions that she’s racist but didn’t agree with her views.
Karlos – himself from an immigrant family – actually made a point of disagreeing with her opinion, though supporting her right to express one.
“I think what is good about it is that people are talking about it because it is an issue that a lot of people have an opinion on in Australia. Like you said, Sylvia, Sonia she is not a racist, she is a nice person, I have known her for a little while. I don’t agree with her opinions because most people know I come from a family of immigrants and that is how I got here.”
You can watch Sonia’s non-apology HERE.
Source and photo: 9News.
