Dehumanising people for social media clout: Bishop Dulton Adams on Open Chats podcast
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Leader of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Bishop Dulton Adams, has added his voice to the multiple organisations and individuals condemning the recent racist comments made on the "Open Chats Podcast".
IOL has recently reported that the conversations on the podcast have ignited widespread outrage, prompting a strong and heartfelt response from members of the Coloured community and public figures alike.
The remarks, which perpetuated harmful stereotypes and offensive generalisations about Coloured people, sparked a backlash that continues to reverberate across social media and beyond.
Adams said the remarks made in the show are repugnant, dehumanising, and rooted in racist and colonial narratives long used to ridicule, humiliate, and marginalise the Coloured community.
"We strongly condemn and reject a deeply offensive and defamatory TikTok video currently circulating on social media, which falsely and maliciously suggests that members of the Coloured community engage in incestuous relationships. This abhorrent stereotype is not only factually baseless, but it is repugnant, dehumanising, and rooted in racist, classist, and colonial narratives long used to ridicule, humiliate, and marginalise our people," said Adams.
"Let us be unequivocal: this type of content is not humour, it is hate speech. It reflects not only the ignorance of its creator but a broader societal sickness where certain communities, especially Coloured South Africans, are routinely degraded for entertainment."
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Adams said it is particularly disturbing that in a democratic society, one built on values of dignity, equality, and mutual respect, there are still individuals who feel entitled to dehumanise other people for social media clout.
"To the creator of this video and anyone complicit in sharing or laughing at it: you are perpetuating dangerous bigotry. You are not 'just joking'. You are upholding the very systems of oppression that reduce our identities to caricatures and invalidate our humanity," he said.
"Our community is one of deep cultural richness, resilience, and dignity. We are professionals, educators, leaders, artists, parents, and change-makers. We will not allow our story to be rewritten by internet trolls whose only currency is ignorance."
The clergyman called on platforms like TikTok and Instagram to urgently review and remove this harmful content under their community guidelines regarding hate speech and harassment.
"Furthermore, we call on civil society, content creators, and ordinary South Africans of conscience to stand up against racism and slander masquerading as satire. Silence is complicity," said Adams.
"Finally, we remind all South Africans that freedom of expression is not a license to defame, ridicule, or psychologically harm others. We will explore all available legal and regulatory avenues to hold the creator of this video accountable."
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