Gareth Cliff‘s recent comments on Rachel and Siya Kolisi‘s divorce were met with widespread criticism.
Speaking to author Sunil Osman on his podcast The Gareth Cliff Show, the former 5FM radio presenter brought Rachel’s race into the conversation.
“I am heartbroken for Siya and Rachel Kolisi, weeahhh,” he said.
Cliff then asked Osman if he was upset about the couple’s divorce.
“I am more upset, I’m going to get into trouble for this but I’m more upset for the coloured community.”
Gareth Cliff faces criticism over his comments on Rachel and Siya Kolisi
Cliff claimed he only learnt recently that Rachel Kolisi was white.
“It took me a long time to even realise that because I don’t pay attention to sports, I don’t watch a lot of of sport and I don’t read like, ‘YOU’ magazine, so I didnt even know, I thought Rachel was black for a long time until I saw a picture of her.”
“I feel kind of sorry for Rachel and Siya just because they are in the public eye and now everybody is going to want(what happened),” he said.
Osman joked that Siya and Rachel would still be together if their marriage was arranged.
Gareth Cliff responded: “Maybe hey, that’s what we have learnt, go get your marriage arranged and then it will last.”
@lee09_26 wrote: “It has nothing to do with black and white here. I don’t even know why that needed to be included.
@carlyviolinist wrote: “Sorry but you really have to be living under some rock to miss the culture of Siya’s wife, nevermind being a South African public figure.”