BET Award-winning singer Makhadzi has recently shared her heartfelt apologies to the members of the hearing-impaired community.
This comes after a TikTok video of the singer circulated the internet, showing her along with a few of her backup dancers showing off their dance moves in preparation for a music video.
While the moment may have been innocent fun, members of the deaf community quickly took offence after the singer began doing hand gestures as an imitation of South Africa’s 12th official language, Sign Language.
Earlier this week, an Instagram page @sign_language_official_za, criticised her actions, writing:
“Using sign language to mock deaf people is unacceptable. Makhadzi, it’s time to learn about deaf culture and promote positivity and inclusivity. Let’s unite, not divide.”
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Meanwhile, entertainment publication TshisaLive reported that Makhadzi has now expressed her remorse for any offence caused.
She explained that so often many of us do things without realising how it will affect someone else and that this was a trap she had fallen into.
“As someone who is in the entertainment industry, this was part of acting without knowing how it would affect other people. However, if people are affected by a certain act, I must understand and accept that I was wrong.”
She explained that it was not her intention to hurt or offend anyone from the deaf community.
“As someone who has been bullied, I understand how painful it is and that others didn’t take what I did well. I’m taking accountability for that.”
The singer who is also the founder of the Makhadzi Entertainment Foundation said that she will soon release a statement in which she officially shares her public apology.
Also see: Makhadzi’s sign language video sends the wrong message to deaf community
