'We didn't think it was racist': Magazine apologises for saying Indigenous surfer Otis Carey has an 'apeish face'



A surfing magazine has apologised for saying Indigenous surfer Otis Carey has an 'apeish face', adding that it did not realise the comment was racist.

The surfer is upset by the article published in Surfing Life magazine's March issue and his family has asked the magazine not to contact him.

'With his apeish face and cowering hair-curtains, I expect little more than Cro-Magnon grunts from his mouth. I am caught off guard by the clarity and eloquence of his speech,' read the article titled Poetry Night With Mermaid Killer.

Upset: Indigenous surfer Otis Carey is said to be upset about a magazine profile which described him as having an 'apeish face'. He is now suing the magazine

On Wednesday the magazine released a statement saying sorry for the offensive comment.

'Upon the original edit of the magazine, we read the offending term as a jibe at the stereotypical surfer – and failed to see the racist connotations,' the statement read.

'Immediately upon being made aware of these, we offered our unreserved apologies, which they were gracious enough to receive.'

The magazine also said editor Wade Davis has African and Indigenous heritage and is 'exceptionally sensitive' to racism.

Proud: The father-of-one has previous spoken about his connection with the ocean which he received 'as a gift through my heritage'

'Davis is devastated that a thoughtless misread could have allowed an insensitive and damaging term to have slipped through to publication.'

Mr Carey’s father Chris Carey told The Daily Telegraph the family is concerned for Otis.



‘At this stage we don’t want to talk about it, our concern is Otis’s wellbeing,’ he said.



‘We just have to support him.’



In a previous feature in Focus magazine Mr Carey, who is married with one son, spoke proudly of his Aboriginal heritage.

Devastated: The surfer's father says his family is focused on his wellbeing at this time

‘My Nan is from the Gumbaynggirr people and my Pop was from the Bundjalung people,’ he said.

‘My Nan was born in the dunes up at Red Rock, so we have very strong connections to the land and ocean up around Coffs.

