Newstalk ZB presenter Rachel Smalley has apologised for calling New Zealand women “heifers” and “a bunch of lardos” on air when she thought her microphone was switched off.
Smalley made the comment shortly before 6am today after she had been discussing a story that said an emergency contraceptive pill was less effective in woman weighing more than 70 kilograms, 2kg heavier than the New Zealand average.
“I deeply regret the comments. They were offensive,” Smalley said.
“I left my microphone on and a conversation meant for off-air, went on-air and the audience only heard one side of that conversation.
“That said, my comments were offensive. I’m sorry. It was a genuine mistake.”
Auckland woman Jill Smith heard the slip-up and was appalled. She planned to complain to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
National MP Scott Simpson wrote on Twitter: “That NZ women’s average weight of 72kg makes them ‘a bunch of lardos’ bound to upset many.”
Simpson said it was probably “just a case of sloppy button pushing” rather than an intentional desire to broadcast the comment.
However it was not a good idea to make light of serious matters, he said.
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