Idols SA calls it quit with Gareth Cliff after race comments

Gareth Cliff

M-Net in the early hours of Saturday morning confirmed that Gareth Cliff would no longer be part of the Idols SA judging panel. It comes after Gareth was embroiled in controversy regarding a race debate around estate agent, Penny Sparrow. Responding to questions on whether to criminalise racist posts on social media, Gareth Cliff said: "People really don't understand free speech at all."
Twitter lashed out at Gareth, with calls to boycott Idols. Gareth apologised and later released a blog post asking for constructive engagement. M-net on Thursday said that it would be reviewing his future work on the show. And in the early hours of this morning this statement was released confirming that he would no longer be part of the judging panel.

Idols SA judges

M-Net announced today (Friday, 8 Jan) that Gareth Cliff will not be part of the judging panel for Idols SA Season 12, which is due to commence with countrywide auditions at the end of January 2016.M-Net thanks Cliff for the critical role he has played in seeking out and developing new talent over the years and for contributing to the success of the show to date.Idols SA Season 12 will be screened on M-Net’s Local Interest channel Mzansi Magic which is available to both DStv Premium and DStv Compact viewers.

Source: News24