Gareth Cliff, a prominent figure in South African radio and television, known for his outspoken nature and controversial opinions, has once again found himself embroiled in controversy.
This time, his comments on the recent divorce announcement of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and his wife Rachel, coupled with his remarks on the death of One Direction star Liam Payne, have sparked widespread criticism on social media.
Cliff, founder and president of CliffCentral.com and host of “The Gareth Cliff Show,” is no stranger to public debate. His career spans from his early days at 702 and 5FM, where he hosted the breakfast show and a segment called “The Hollywood Report with Jen Su,” to his more recent ventures as CEO of The Real Network, a media company born from his decade-long podcasting business. His past includes a high-profile legal battle in 2016, where he successfully fought his suspension from Idols South Africa following a controversial Twitter post.
The Kolisi's divorce announcement, released earlier this week, painted a picture of amicable separation. The joint statement read: “While our relationship as a couple is changing, we remain great friends and committed partners in raising our children with the same love and care they've always known.”
The couple, together for over a decade, met in Stellenbosch in 2012 and married in 2016. They share two children, Nicholas Siyamthanda and Keziah, and have also taken on the responsibility of raising Siya’s younger siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, following their mother's death in 2009.
However, Cliff's discussion of the Kolisi's split on his show, a blend of online radio, podcast, and YouTube, took an unexpected and controversial turn. Speaking with author Sunil Osman, Cliff revealed his surprise at learning Rachel Kolisi is white, stating: “I am heartbroken for Siya and Rachel Kolisi, weeahhh (crying sounds).”
He then engaged Osman in a conversation that delved into racial dynamics, with Osman expressing concern for the "coloured community."
Cliff elaborated, stating: “It took me a long time to even realise that because I don't pay attention to sports, I don't watch a lot of of sport and I don't read like, ‘YOU’ magazine, so I didnt even know, I thought Rachel was black for a long time until I saw a picture of her.”
He added, “I feel kind of sorry for Rachel and Siya just because they are in the public eye and now everybody is going to want (to know what's going on).”
His comments further included speculation about arranged marriages, suggesting that such a union might have prevented the divorce. Osman contributed to the controversial discussion by stating: “Siya and Rachel would still be together if their marriage was arranged.”
Cliff responded: “Maybe hey, that's what we have learnt, go get your marriage arranged and then it will last.”
These remarks sparked a firestorm of criticism on social media. Users questioned the relevance of Rachel Kolisi’s race to the discussion and the insensitivity of Cliff's comments.
Some of the many tweets included: @alletaneziwe wrote: “Guys you even jealous for people who have heart broken for them😮you extra guys 😂.”
@drb_the_physicist added: “You don’t have to use a lot of words, just say it is over!! Gareth you are bad 😂😂😂😂.”
@lee09_26 posted: “It has nothing to do with black and white here. I don't even know why that needed to be included.”
@brentliamc wrote: “As funny as this is, what does it have to do with the coloured community? Am I missing something?”
@misoso_pmn posted: “Haybo Gareth, you thought she was black? 😂😂😂😂.”
Cliff expressed his frustration, stating: “It bothers me, it really bothers me when young people who have, in his case, a great life, talent, it seems like he has money, it seems like he has options in the world and this guy decides to end it all,”
He continued, adding: “People you don't even know who care about you who are now crying about you, for you to end that is just so spectacularly stupid and selfish.”
These remarks, insensitive to the grief surrounding Payne's death and the complexities of mental health, added another layer to the already brewing controversy surrounding Cliff's recent pronouncements.
The incident has cemented Cliff's reputation for controversial statements and highlighted the ongoing debate about the responsibility of public figures in their use of language and the impact of their words on the public.
