Kyle Sandilands is slammed over comments to aboriginal singer
Kyle Sandilands takes a hit after commenting on Aboriginal singer on Australian Idol: ‘I love you Kyle, but please just stop’
- Royston Sagigi-Baira from Australian Idol performed on the show
- Sandilands, one of the judges, said he was “magnificent.”
- He said he knew his ‘journey’ as he knows other Aboriginal people
Radio star Kyle Sandilands has received some criticism for comments made to Australian Idol finalist Royston Sagigi-Baira following an appearance on the programme.
Sandilands, who is a judge alongside Harry Connick Jr, Meaghan Trainor and Amy Shark, told the 24-year-old Indigenous Australian that he knew “his journey” because he has Aboriginal relatives.
“A lot of people don’t know this about me but my stepbrother and stepsister are Indigenous and my sister also has three or four Aboriginal foster children and I know your journey and it’s not always an easy journey but you’ve shone like a psychic every time sun on this stage,” said Kyle.
But many native viewers said Kyle’s comments about the singer made them feel uncomfortable.
‘Just no! As a fair-skinned Wiradjuri woman, I have no idea what struggles my brown-skinned sister faces every day,” one claimed.
“No matter what skin color you have, how can you ever know this person’s journey if they are a stranger to you?” What are demeaning statements,” said another.
“Trust a narcissistic person to bring it back to themselves when a person of color has their moment in the spotlight,” said another.
“A real struggle in your Bentley, I’m sure,” added a fourth.
A sixth said: ‘I feel so uncomfortable when people start doing this. What do you want a medal?’
Another claimed, “He may know of our people’s journey, but not the actual journey or trials through actual experience.”
Kyle’s comments caused an uproar on social media with many saying they were ‘uncomfortable’
Sandilands said Royston’s performance was “magnificent” and then said he understood his journey because his step-siblings and “three or four” of his sister’s foster children are Aboriginal
“I love you Kyle but please just stop,” another wrote. “I have black and Asian friends and still don’t know their journey.”
Known for his candor on the radio, Sandilands has a colorful history as a judge on the show – once telling fellow Indigenous Australian Idol star Jessica Mauboy to “lose her jelly belly.”
He was fired from the show in 2009 because producers felt his edgy Kyle and Jackie O radio show on KIISFM was incompatible with the show’s family theme, but was rehired for the reboot due to its popularity.
Sandilands called Royston’s most recent performance, which earned him a place in the last three, “magnificent”.
‘You are one in a million. People love you,” he said.
Royston will face Phoebe Stewart and Josh Hannan in the Australian Idol grand final.
Phoebe Stewart, Josh Hannan and Royston will compete in the Australian Idol grand final