Australian television presenter Karl Stefanovic has apologised after repeatedly using the word 'tranny' during a live news report on the Today Show. The incident occurred while he mocked a cameraman who claimed he was mugged by a transgender person upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro to cover the Olympics.
Stefanovic found the report amusing and made several references to the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, including a mocked-up wanted poster featuring actor Hugo Weaving in drag. The segment drew complaints from viewers, prompting an on-air apology.
In his apology, Stefanovic described himself as an 'ignorant tool' and admitted he did not know the negative impact of the word. 'I honestly didn’t know the negative and deeply hurtful impact that word has, not only on members of the LGBTQI community, but on their family and their friends,' he said.
He acknowledged he had no understanding of what it feels like to be 'born in the wrong body' and praised the courage of transgender individuals. Stefanovic urged Australia to learn from his mistake and 'embrace each other’s differences'.
