“Open Chats Podcast Axed Amid Backlash Over Derogatory Racial Remarks”

MultiChoice has parted ways with Open Chats Podcast following widespread outrage over racist comments targeting the coloured community.

MULTICHOICE CONFIRMS END OF CONTRACT WITH OPEN CHATS PODCAST

The controversy erupted when the podcast hosts made offensive claims in one of their episodes, sparking massive backlash and calls for MultiChoice to cancel their contract immediately.

In a comment to The South African, MultiChoice spokesperson Suzaan Keyter confirmed that the podcast’s contract with DStv ended on 25 July.

“MultiChoice is aware of recent comments made on the Open Chats podcast. Open Chats’ contract with DStv ended on 25 July 2025, as the show was removed to make way for our August content slate. The episode in question was not aired on our platform. MultiChoice adheres to stringent quality control processes and does not promote any discriminatory content,” she stated.

OFFENSIVE REMARKS SPARK NATIONAL ANGER

The now-removed episode contained derogatory generalisations about coloured families. One of the hosts claimed that “Apparently Coloureds chow (have sex with) each other.”

Another co-host responded, “I do believe that because Coloureds are crazy,” further intensifying public anger toward the podcast and its creators.

They continued agreeing with each other, pushing the false narrative that coloured people are mentally unstable.

POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY

The Patriotic Alliance’s Liam Jacobs confirmed that he opened a hate crime case against the podcast’s hosts at the Brooklyn Police Station in Tshwane. Jacobs called the remarks “deeply offensive and racist” and vowed to take the matter to the Equality Court and Human Rights Commission.

He posted: “This is decisive action. This is justice. We will no longer be a punchline,” demanding a full public apology immediately.

The DA has also condemned the comments, saying: “This is not humour. It is not harmless ‘pop culture commentary’. It is an assault on the dignity of a community and an attempt to reduce the lived realities of South Africans into cheap, demeaning stereotypes for the sake of online clicks.

“Such content fans the flames of division and undermines the constitutional values of equality, human dignity, and social cohesion”.

The ANC and EFF also joined the condemnation. They united in rejecting hate speech that threatens South Africa’s constitutional principles and national unity.