Triple M confusion over Eddie McGuire "land of falafel" jibe
COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire apologises for "land of the falafel" line, saying he'll "throw himself on his kebab".
EDDIE McGuire has apologised for dubbing Sydney's west the "land of the falafel" after the jibe backfired.
McGuire has been accused of peddling "insulting" stereotypes about Western Sydney on his Melbourne breakfast radio show yesterday.
“I’m going to throw myself on my kebab,” McGuire said today.
"These things just get out of control,'' the Collingwood Magpies president and radio host said this afternoon on Macquarie Radio radio.
He said he'd meant it as a term of endearment.
"I don't know what's going on. If this is now seen to be abusive to the western suburbs, then I apologise to every person in the western suburbs."
He also took aim at Minister for Western Sydney David Borger who responded to the comment by holding a press conference and inviting Mr McGuire to the area for dinner.
"So it's OK for him to use the falafel as a symbol of the western suburbs, but it's not OK for me to mention it in the same way," Mr McGuire said.
"To be perfectly honest, this is just another politically correct beat-up.
"To be even more correct, this is another reason to make us shake our heads at politicians who want to jump on anything to get ahead in the paper."
Mr McGuire said Sydneysiders were not so sensitive in referring to his home city.
"Every time I pick up a Sydney newspaper they refer to Melbourne as bleak city. No one tears up their nightie. Relax."
His apology follows a mixed reaction by advocates of ethnic groups, some furious and some bemused.
As he moved into damage control, McGuire did his best to play down the furore claiming “it hadn’t raised a murmur” in Melbourne, and saying it was all a bit of a joke.
“I think there’s a bit of lost in translation here.”
Earlier his employer Triple M asked a statement issued today about Eddie McGuire's "land of falafel" jibe be removed from the story.
In a statement this morning, Triple M Content director Mike Fitzpatrick said: “It’s never our intention to offend. With a big personality like Eddie, you’ll always get strong opinions, which not everyone will always agree with. We’re thrilled to have Eddie on the Hot breakfast in Melbourne every day."
But early this afternoon the station asked news.com.au to remove the quote.
We are now awaiting clarification from Triple M on whether it is entirely retracting the statement.
McGuire, who is president of Collingwood AFL club, was taunting Greater Western Sydney Giants coach Kevin Sheedy when he dismissed the ethnically diverse part of the city as "land of the falafel".
He said any recruits signing to the Giants would soon get tired of living there.
"I've just a put a team together of your 17-year-olds who'll be sick of living up in the land of the falafel in western Sydney playing in front of a 12,000-seat stadium that's still not put up," McGuire said.
The comment has angered community leaders from the area.
"I’m a very proud westie and I’m sick of tired people like Eddie McGuire making such inappropriate comments." Councillor Mazhar Hadid, chairman of the Liverpool City sports committee, says.
"His comment is insulting to the western suburbs."
"West Sydney gave Australia a lot of heroes in all codes of sports like Michael Clarke, The Waugh bros, Ian Thorpe, Hazam Al Masri."
Forum on Islamic Relations executive director Kuranda Seyit told the ABC that McGuire should reflect on his behaviour.
"He has a lot more weight and what he says influences a lot of people. I think that for him to flippantly throw around such a comment is actually quite irresponsible."
Islamic Friendship Association of Australia spokesman Keysar Trad, became hungry, not angry after hearing about McGuire's comments.
"The falafel is a great vegetarian food and it's become a major drawcard for many of the restaurants in the area and when Eddie's next into the area I'd like to host him for lunch," Mr Trad said.
"Some people will feel offended but we are proud of our falafel.
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"I take it as a joke and even if it was a insult, I don't take it that way ... all its going to do is make people’s mouths water.”
This is not the first time McGuire has been accused of peddling harmful stereotypes on air. The star was rapped last year for gay jibes he made during Channel Nine's coverage of the Olympics.
McGuire and fellow Olympics host Mick Molloy scoffed at some of the costumes worn in the men's figure skating, with McGuire suggesting they were a bit "Brokeback", in reference to the gay cowboy film Brokeback Mountain.