South African soap opera sparks fury with first inter-racial kiss in its 18-year history
- Long-running TV show broadcast its first interracial kiss since first airing in 2000
- 7de Laan soap actors received racist comments and messages after the scene
- Actors Carina Nel and Nicholas Nkuna got hate mail and threats on social media
- Bosses condemned ‘hate speech’ and pledged to ‘put real South Africa on TV’
The first interracial kiss on one of South Africa’s most popular soap operas has led to the two actors in the show coming under shocking abuse online.
Long-running hit TV show, 7de Laan, received racist comments and messages from viewers after broadcasting the scene.
Actors Carina Nel who plays Alexa and Nicholas Nkuna, who is Fikani, reportedly received hate mail and threats via social media.
Bosses at the SABC2 network were forced to condemn ‘hate speech’ after the episode was aired on January 15.
A statement on its Twitter acound said: ‘As much as we respect our viewers’ right to voice their opinion, 7de Laan will not tolerate hate speech, racism or instigation of such narratives by any member of the public or media.
‘We stand by out diverse story lines that tell stories of a real South Africa… it’s our responsibility to show that art emulates life… showing that love knows no age gender or race.’
The Afrikaans soap, which started in April 2000, has never screened a kiss between two characters of different races until last Tuesday.
Programme makers also said they were committed to ‘putting the real South Africa on television’.
But one angry Facebook post said: ‘I don’t want to teach my kids these thing. Drugs, alcohol abuse, hostages, suicidal thoughts, and now, the cherry on the cake, mixing race. I am not racist, but white with white and black with black.’
Actors Carina Nel who plays Alexa (right) and Nicholas Nkuna, who is Fikani (left), reportedly received hate mail and threats via social media after their intimate scene
Network bosses were forced to condemn ‘hate speech’ on their official Twitter account
Nel received a message from an unnamed viewer, News24 reported as saying: ‘I used to like you on 7de Laan.
‘But I am glad you are not my wife after that episode. Actress or not, I would never have kissed you again… you are dragging white girls’ name through the mud.’
Other viewers were delighted that a long taboo on South African television was being broken.
South African actress, Hanli Rolfes, told TshisaLIVE: ‘We live in a real South Africa where loads of people have interracial relationships. 7de Laan is focused on putting the real South Africa on TV. It is our responsibility to show that art imitates life.’
Despite some hate from viewers, many were also pleased to see the soap portray its first interracial love story
SABC2 said the show’s producers were committed to showing the ‘real South Africa on TV’
After the network and the two lead actors received hate mail the show said ‘love knows no age, gender or race’
One social media post said: ‘I am jumping. Make them aware that interracial relationships is perfectly fine.’
Another wrote: ‘Well done for showcasing and addressing the interracial relationships… please dear people – it’s a soapie, if you hate the skin colour of another person, then you hate one of your own.
In a separate message, another viewer wrote: ‘I love it! I’ve just been sitting over here waiting for this couple. Please 7de Laan make this relationship last. love them together. Yeah.’