Radio stalwart John Michael Howson refuses to ‘grovel or apologise’ for latest on-air gaffe

RADIO stalwart John Michael Howson has defended his latest on-air gaffe saying it’s a free country and Australia is in danger of turning into a “lunatic asylum.”

John Michael Howson says he won’t apologise for his latest on-air gaffe. Picture By Julie Kiriacoudis

RADIO stalwart John Michael Howson has defended his latest on-air gaffe saying it’s a free country and Australia is in danger of turning into a “lunatic asylum.”

The 3AW host said on his radio show yesterday that APEX gang members should go “back to bongo land”.

“In fact, I wouldn’t even be bothered rehabilitating, I’d put them on a jet as fast as I could back to bloody wherever they came from, bongo land,” he said.

“How many of these kids have been born here? I bet you a very small percentage.”

Mr Howson told the Herald Sun we live in a free country and he would say what he “bloody wants.”

“I don’t care if people think it was racist it was a name that came into my head,” he said.

“Nobody complained on-air, nobody called.

“It’s not a nanny state it’s a fascist state. It’s absolutely appalling. Anything you say now is watched by the fascists and the totalitarianism who want to clamp down on you.

“What are they going to do come and cut out my tongue?”

Mr Howson said he was sick and tired of the political correctness the country was turning into. The 80-year-old said he was not going to “grovel or apologise” as it would only be insincere.

“I’m so sick of this bloody racist crap. I’m the least racist person you’d see, ” he said.

“My friend is non-white, he is brown from bloody Guatemala.

“Give me a break, my cousin is black for Gods sake.”

3AW said in a statement they didn’t agree with the language and Howson would be hauled into a meeting with management.

“3AW does not condone the use of a derogatory term by John-Michael Howson on the Sunday Morningprogram today,” the statement said.

“We appreciate the term used can be hurtful and apologise for any offence caused.

“Management will be meeting with John-Michael to discuss the matter.”

It is the latest in a string of controversies for the outspoken host, who was suspended by 3AW in 2012 for ranting Nazi slogan “Sieg Heil, Seig Heil” after Julian Assange’s mother hung up on him.

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