SA actress ‘regrets’ xenophobic remarks at Zim businesswoman on reality TV series

By News24.com

Actor Omuhle Gela has apologised to The Mommy Club’s Nunurai for the xenophobic comments she made towards the Zimbabwean-born businesswoman in Tuesday’s episode of the reality show.

Gela made the remarks after Nunurai asked a question about a much-talked-about topic, the paternity of Gela’s daughter. The Muvhango actor made derogatory and condescending remarks to Nunurai and her country’s capital city, Bulawayo.

“In my state of frustration towards Nunurai, I made an unkind remark that I deeply regret. As an African myself, I hold love and respect for all Africans, and it is important for me to clarify that the unfortunate comment captured in the footage was a spontaneous response in a heated moment during an argument,” Gela told News24.

In response to News24, Nunurai admitted that she was hurt by Gela’s remarks and added that it was “really low of her” because she considered herself a celebrity and public figure.

In the episode, Gela put the question of her daughter’s paternity to bed and said she is fathered by a man she has been in a relationship with for seven years.

The paternity of Gela’s daughter has been talked about numerous times, with father Auswell Mashaba and son Nsovo previously being named as the possible fathers. Nsovo publicly denied the allegation.

Following the episode, social media users expressed dissatisfaction with Gela, with others calling for the reality show to part ways with her.