Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Singer André Swiegers said he will not apologise for remarks he made about gays on his Facebook page.
Swiegers elicited a fierce debate on Monday when he wrote the following on his Facebook page: "If someone is gay, I accept it. It remains weird that some gay men swing their asses when they walk (sometimes looks as if they're clenching a credit card between their buttocks).
"It's usually also that group who puts on a show with their hands while speaking with affected voices. Don't understand it; most refined women don't even speak like that. There are very few things as irritating as people who put up a show."
By Wednesday afternoon, there were about 100 comments about Swiegers's remarks on his Facebook page. Singer Anton Goosen, among others, also indicated that he likes Swiegers's comments.
Honest opinion
"The remark was totally misunderstood and taken out of context," André said. "I agitated a lot of people, but I believe a debate is healthy when there is participation from all sides. I was asked to withdraw the statement and delete the entry. I'm not going to apologise. I stand by my point. "
Swiegers later wrote on Facebook: "My status is not directed to gay people as an insult, it is primarily directed at people who put up a show. Simply my honest opinion. Certainly not only people in the gay community that have strange/annoying habits. There is a difference between what I consider weird or irritating, and to outright insulting someone. The latter is out."
Swiegers admitted that he received threatening messages. "I have gay friends who laughed it off. Let me be clear - I have absolutely no problem with gays. They deserve what others and I deserve in life.
"There is a certain part of this group that irritates me and others (some gays), just as loudmouth-brandy drinkers with large bellies can irritate some people, just as political statements can irritate some people."
Swiegers elicited a fierce debate on Monday when he wrote the following on his Facebook page: "If someone is gay, I accept it. It remains weird that some gay men swing their asses when they walk (sometimes looks as if they're clenching a credit card between their buttocks).
"It's usually also that group who puts on a show with their hands while speaking with affected voices. Don't understand it; most refined women don't even speak like that. There are very few things as irritating as people who put up a show."
By Wednesday afternoon, there were about 100 comments about Swiegers's remarks on his Facebook page. Singer Anton Goosen, among others, also indicated that he likes Swiegers's comments.
Honest opinion
"The remark was totally misunderstood and taken out of context," André said. "I agitated a lot of people, but I believe a debate is healthy when there is participation from all sides. I was asked to withdraw the statement and delete the entry. I'm not going to apologise. I stand by my point. "
Swiegers later wrote on Facebook: "My status is not directed to gay people as an insult, it is primarily directed at people who put up a show. Simply my honest opinion. Certainly not only people in the gay community that have strange/annoying habits. There is a difference between what I consider weird or irritating, and to outright insulting someone. The latter is out."
Swiegers admitted that he received threatening messages. "I have gay friends who laughed it off. Let me be clear - I have absolutely no problem with gays. They deserve what others and I deserve in life.
"There is a certain part of this group that irritates me and others (some gays), just as loudmouth-brandy drinkers with large bellies can irritate some people, just as political statements can irritate some people."
