In an interview with an emigrant, RTL moderator Katja Burkard slipped out the word “Gypsy life”. The Central Council of German Sinti and Roma reacted indignantly. Now the moderator has apologized for her choice of words.
RTL presenter Katja Burkard has publicly apologized for the careless use of the word “Gypsy life” in a live broadcast by her broadcaster. Without mentioning the controversial word again, the 56-year-old wrote on Friday about a photo on her Instagram channel: “I used a word with which I insulted Roma and Sinti. That must of course not happen and I can do it myself I don’t want to explain either. I want to make it clear that I abhor any form of racism and discrimination. ” In the same vein, Burkard turned to the RTL audience on Friday.
On Thursday, the presenter interviewed an emigrant on the program “Punkt 12” together with her colleague Roberta Bieling. She said about children: “When they are older, like our Roberta, then there is nothing more to do with gypsy life.”
Central Council of German Sinti and Roma angry about Burkard
The chairman of the, Romani Rose, expressed outrage in an open letter to RTL editor-in-chief Michael Wulf: “We will no longer tolerate the ignorant and insulting behavior of the media towards members of our minority.” Burkard wrote on Instagram that she wanted to take up the topic in her program and could “only apologize”.
RTL has invited the founder of the Roma and Sinti initiative “RomAnity”, Radoslav Ganev, to join the program on Monday to deal with the issue of everyday racism, as an RTL spokeswoman said on request. “Since it is very important to us, we will again sensitize all colleagues to this issue internally.” Burkard said on Friday at “Punkt 12” at the beginning of the program: “I want to work it out for myself too. I promise.”
The word “Zigeunerleben” in German used to mean a life that is very much characterized by change, upheavals or relocations. The word “Gypsy” and its derivatives are nowadays generally perceived as derogatory towards Roma and Sinti.
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