adminWASHINGTON. – After sparking fierce anger over a controversial tweet that mocked HIV and Aids victims, now-former PR executive Justine Sacco apologised yesterday for the “pain” her comments had caused.
The original tweet that ignited the furor read: “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get Aids. Just kidding. I’m white!”
Sacco, then the communications director for the Internet company InterActive Corp (IAC), owner of such popular websites as Match.com, Dictionary.com, OkCupid and Vimeo, posted the remark as she boarded a long flight to South Africa.
Sacco had less than 200 followers, US media reported, but the message was soon forwarded to a staffer at the website BuzzFeed, who re-tweeted it and ensured the message was widely seen.
Sacco was unable to respond for hours, as she was on the plane with no access to the Internet.
Upon landing in South Africa, Sacco deleted the message and her Twitter account with no comment.
But yesterday, she issued a statement, sending it to South African newspaper The Star and US broadcaster ABCNews, apologising.
“Words cannot express how sorry I am, for being insensitive to (the Aids) crisis – which does not discriminate by race, gender or sexual orientation, but which terrifies us all uniformly – and to the millions of people living with the virus, I am ashamed.
“This is my father’s country, and I was born here. I cherish my ties to South Africa and my frequent visits, but I am in anguish knowing that my remarks have caused pain to so many people here; my family, friends and fellow South Africans. I am very sorry for the pain I caused,” she said. – AFP.
Online Reporter