FHM model’s racist tweet sparks outrage

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A 20 year-old FHM model has sparked outrage on Twitter after using the ‘K’ word in a tweet. 2011 FHM Models Competition winner Jessica Leandra (@JessicaLeandra) posted a tweet in which she said: “@JessicaLeandra: Just, well took on a on arrogant and disrespectful k***** inside Spar. Should have punched him, should have.” Following angry responses to her comment, Leandra deleted the offending tweet. Leandra is a model and ambassador for charities such as Little Eden. Reacting to outrage on Twitter at her comment, she then responded: “Would u all stop! These are the kinds of people that land up raping young girls of our country! I wasn't going to let him get away with it.” Reacting to the comment, FHM South Africa distanced itself from Leandra and said on Twitter: “We're horrified that any1 would say such things! Those attitudes have no place in society or FHM!”

Leandra then posted an apology on her blog (http://jessicaleandra.com/apologies/) saying that she had acted in anger.

Columnist Mabine Seabe tweeted that he had reported Leandra’s outburst to the South African Human Rights Council.

Last month, law firm Webber Wentzel said South Africans who are found making racist comments on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook can be jailed.

The law firm’s social media lawyer Emma Sadleir said that South Africans who post racist and offensive comments (also known as cyber-smearing) via social networks could be charged with crimen injuria or hate speech.

Sadleir said that comments posted on Facebook or Twitter are treated in exactly the same way as comments made in any other public forum, be it on TV or radio, in a newspaper or in public discourse. - IOL