Steve Hofmeyr says sorry for LGBTQ+ remarks to settle SAHRC probe
Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr has acknowledged that comments he had made on social media about the LGBTQ+ community were hurtful.
In 2022, Hofmeyr posted a video on Facebook in which he criticised a decision made by Walt Disney to attribute sexual identities to their movie characters.
He went on to say that Disney's plans to have more inclusive characters is to groom children to have sex with animals, and also stated that the LGBTQ+ community could be inclusive of relationships with animals.
Following his remarks, an Gqeberha-based non-profit organisation laid a complaint at the SA Human Rights Commission, which instituted an investigation and dragged Hofmeyr to the Equality Court.
On Saturday, Hofmeyr took to Facebook to say that the matter has been settled.
"I made a comment about the LGBTQ+ community that caused a lot of upset in many circles," Hofmeyr wrote.
"I regret the hurt and offence caused as a result of the comments and apologise unconditionally to members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as any other member of the public that was offended by my comments.
"My attorney informed me that the complaint laid by the South African Human Rights Commission and OUT LBGT-Well-Being was accordingly settled and our settlement will be made an order of the Equality Court during the course of next week".
The SAHRC in the Eastern Cape confirmed that they will make the settlement agreement order of court on Monday.
"We have noted that Hofmeyr has issued an apology that forms part of the settlement agreement," said provincial SAHRC manager Eileen Carter.
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