Listeners back station over on-air 'gay slur'
A Tauranga radio station's row over the word poofter has come to a close, with listeners ruling the station should not have to apologise for using the gay slur on air.
More FM's breakfast show came under fire after a host was accused of "acting like a poofter" and a complaint was made to the Broadcasting Standards Authority. The complaint was not upheld.
Members of the gay community set up a Facebook page called "More FM - Say Sorry!" in response.
Mediaworks and More FM general manager Tim Lockhart said 80 per cent of votes from listeners supported the Broadcasting Standards Authority decision. While Mr Lockhart would not apologise for the use of the word - in its context - he wanted to apologise for the unwanted negative comments the debate had stirred.
"Unfortunately the discussion has drawn out some rather unsavoury acts towards both camps, which we absolutely do not condone," Mr Lockhart said.
"It has been a sad outcome of it ... that there are those comments and ideas are out there."
Facebook page creator Christopher Banks said: "The extreme homophobic abuse received by our group shows that Mr Lockhart's audience doesn't understand something as nuanced as 'context'."
