Henry's 'retard' comment prompts 220 complaints

Fairfax Media

ADDING UP: More than 220 complaints have been made to the Human Rights Commission over Paul Henry's 'retard' controversy.

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More than 220 complaints have been made to the Human Rights Commission about TV One Breakfast presenter Paul Henry's description of Susan Boyle as "retarded".

The calls and emails have expressed concern, disappointment and anger that a major television broadcaster would allow a presenter to speak with disrespect and laugh about a person with a disability, a commission spokesman said.

However, the complaints cannot be dealt with by the commission as they do not fall within the discrimination provisions of the Human Rights Act.

Instead, the commission has encouraged individuals to write to TVNZ or the Broadcasting Standards Authority directly.

It has also provided support to People First New Zealand, a self-advocacy organisation for people with learning disabilities, to make a formal complaint to TVNZ.

The commission will forward the complaints it has received to TVNZ by the end of the week.  

- NZPA