A tearful Rachel Smalley issued an on-air apology this morning for her comments about New Zealand women being “lardos” and “heifers”.
At the end of her Newstalk ZB show Early Edition the broadcaster said she “made a flippant comment yesterday which upset and hurt a lot of people”.
Smalley left her microphone on yesterday morning after an item about the morning after pill and how it may be ineffective on women who weigh more than 70kg.
Her comments triggered a huge social media storm, which led to today’s apology.
She said the comments went on air “in an environment where… it was out of context and was hurtful. It was stupid, it was judgmental and it was offensive”.
“It was not made as a statement of fact and it was in no way representative of any opinion I have ever held, ever. And I’m sorry, I truly am.
“My role as a journalist has always been to inform and not to offend and yesterday I crossed that line.”
“I’m so very sorry that I said what I did and I am sorry for the hurt that I caused and the many people that I let down, not least my staff, my friends and my family.”
Her show ended with a song and not the usual crossover to breakfast host Mike Hosking.
Smalley left TV3 for Newstalk ZB last year.
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