Idols judge in South Africa gets job back after tweet uproar

Idols pre-auditions start in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference following his case win on Friday, as reported on by Channel24, Cliff said “the show must go on”, referring to Idols – which he plans to be a part of for the coming season.

The Johannesburg court ruled against “Idols” television broadcaster M-Net after Cliff argued that his employment contract had been unfairly broken. When he was criticised for this he responded: “This woman is an idiot and a racist, but I believe in freedom of speech”. Sparrow had earlier posted a comment on social media calling black people on Durban’s beaches “monkeys”.

Before the case, it said that “whether intended or not, the tweet was widely perceived to be in defence of Sparrow’s right to make racist and derogatory statements”.

But Nicholls says the matter was not about racism or free speech but simply whether or not the broadcaster contravened an existing contract.

“At present the crux of the dispute is the contractual relationship between the parties”, she said.

The company issued a statement on Friday evening confirming it would reinstate Cliff, as instructed by the court, and said it believed it had done the right thing in firing him from the show.

But for now Mabuza and Cliff both agree its best that the radio personality to focus on his duties as an Idols judge.

However, in true Cliff fashion, he likened M-Net to Alcoholics Anonymous and not being able to take the first step for feeling as if it did nothing wrong.

Cliff’s attorney Eric Mabuza said his team is extending a hand of friendship to M-Net.

“It can not be ignored that Cliff’s value as an Idols judge has been his tendency to shock and provoke, an image that M-Net has apparently supported, or certainly overlooked, until now”.