New Zealand's very own The Real Housewives of Auckland is in the middle of a major controversy. New Zealand Herald reports that lawyers have been called in to try to block parts of Tuesday's upcoming episode airing after controversy over an alleged racial slur.
The site reports that Julia Sloane, was recorded referring to fellow housewife Michelle Blanchard as a "boat n*****" while they were on a luxury yacht in Port Douglas during a cast trip in Australia.
It is understood Sloane immediately apologized on the show. On Saturday she reiterated that apology in a statement to the Herald on Sunday.
"While in Port Douglas filming for Real Housewives of Auckland I made an off-camera and off-the cuff inappropriate comment which caused hurt to Michelle.
"I wasn't thinking. I made a mistake and I have apologized to Michelle for my remark.
"There is no excuse for using offensive words under any circumstances and I have learned from this foolish mistake. I have put this distressing experience behind me and am moving on."
As the Herald on Sunday went to print last night, producers intended using the footage in the show with the word bleeped out.
Sloane's investment banker husband, Michael Lorimer, leaped to his wife's defense.
"It was completely taken out of context ... to make Julia look bad," he said. "We spoke to lawyers to get them to amend the episode. We tried to get the production company to show what they were doing was grossly unfair - but they wouldn't want a bar of it."
In the sneak peek preview clip (shown below) showed Gilda Kirkpatrick in tears and shocked faces from the other housewives.
The Real Housewives of Auckland. Tomorrow night 8.30pm on Bravo #RHOAKL pic.twitter.com/XCQEoeOCOx— Bravo New Zealand (@BravoNewZealand) September 18, 2016
Julia's husband said alcohol may have been a factor in the explosive episode.
"There were three drinking sessions that day. They had cocktails for two hours in the morning, wine over lunch and when they went on the boat they carried on drinking," said Lorimer.
In the episode, Kirkpatrick asks Blanchard for a hand up from below decks, prompting Sloane to comment: "She's not your boat n*****."
Lorimer said it was a term he and his wife used occasionally in a tongue-in-cheek way when sailing. It wasn't intended to be racist, he said. After her gaffe Sloane apologized. Lorimer said Blanchard chastised his wife but accepted the apology.
Lorimer said lawyers were called because the word wasn't caught on camera but microphones picked it up. He claimed the producers manufactured events so it was said again.
Apperently Blanchard throws a glass of wine at Sloane in response. Lorimer, who also appears in the explosive episode, was filmed discussing the incident with Julia, but believes he was "heavily edited".
The recently married couple are mortified "Julia has been portrayed as a racist". They approached the producers to edit the word out but that request was refused.
Before filming, all the housewives had to sign a contract that precludes them from editorial control.
A Bravo spokesperson said: "Episode six of Real Housewives of Auckland deals with an incident where a cast member makes an offensive comment to another cast member. We have taken this matter very seriously.
"Bravo has given much consideration to ensuring the events are accurately represented, in order that the context of the remark and subsequent events can be fully understood.
"While the nature of Bravo programming is unscripted, it is a deeply regrettable incident, which we are endeavouring to deal with in a responsible manner."
Lorimer said he hadn't enjoyed the attention that had come with the show. "I'd rather not have the attention to be honest, but my kids live on the other side of the world and my clients wouldn't watch that crap."
iRH Thoughts: Julia definitely should be ashamed, I find it disgusting the way she expressed about Michelle, no matter what she says there's just no excuse and Julia's husband is not helping her at all - he is actually digging her grave even bigger, he really needs to stop talking to the press, it's making them look way worst, it's definitely hard to watch. I have really enjoyed watching this season of RHOAKL, but I don't know how I feel about what's about to go down after this episode.
What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comment section below!
Source/Photo Credit: NZ Herald, Bravo NZ
iRH Thoughts: Julia definitely should be ashamed, I find it disgusting the way she expressed about Michelle, no matter what she says there's just no excuse and Julia's husband is not helping her at all - he is actually digging her grave even bigger, he really needs to stop talking to the press, it's making them look way worst, it's definitely hard to watch. I have really enjoyed watching this season of RHOAKL, but I don't know how I feel about what's about to go down after this episode.
What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comment section below!
Source/Photo Credit: NZ Herald, Bravo NZ
