First, Luke Mockridge caused a stir with derogatory comments, then he backtracked. Now the television station is taking action.
Luke Mockridge mocked athletes with disabilities.
“The statements about people with disabilities and para-athletes, which rightly outraged many people, do not align with our values,” the spokesperson stated. Mockridge quickly recognized all the things he got wrong with these statements. He has therefore publicly and credibly apologized.
The spokesperson further stated: “We hope that Luke Mockridge finds a way to follow his apology with actions and to further address the topic in the interest of all people with disabilities and in the interest of all para-athletes who have impressed and enchanted us with their performances from Paris.”
Late Regret
In a podcast, the 35-year-old mocked athletes of the Games in Paris, which end this Sunday. “There are people without legs and arms, who you throw into a pool – and the last one to drown wins,” Mockridge said in the podcast “Die Deutschen,” among other things. The talk was already published in mid-August.
After great criticism of his statements, he backtracked and apologized to the athletes. “Of course, it was never my intention to make fun of people with disabilities—especially during these magnificent Paralympic Games,” Mockridge wrote on Instagram.
“From my own experience of working with disabled people, I have always encountered a sharp, dark humor that I have celebrated. That I did not manage to convey that correctly, and that I hurt people, I truly regret,” he wrote: “It also bothers me that the media are talking more about me at the end of these Paralympic Games rather than about the tournament.”
Severe Criticism
The outrage is great: the two-time Olympic champion in track cycling, Kristina Vogel, who uses a wheelchair after a training accident, commented on social media about the statements, calling them “unfathomable.” Shot put world champion and Paris silver medalist Niko Kappel stated in response to DPA: “Luke Mockridge and his two companions are unfortunate that contempt for people, ignorance, and tastelessness are not paralympic. Otherwise, they could have experienced these great Games as athletes and would have been hot gold candidates.”
Before the apology, the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) responded to the mockery by inviting Mockridge. “We want to encourage experiencing para-sport live, to witness the impressive performances of people with disabilities—and to understand what a blessing they are to our society.” The comedian stated that he would be “very happy” to accept the invitation. He looks forward to the change of perspective and to actively learning.
The president of the Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association in Berlin had demanded an apology from Mockridge before his statement and spoke of an “extraordinary lapse. This cannot be dismissed as comedy or mere stupidity,” Özcan Mutlu told the German Press Agency: “Such degrading remarks are absolutely unacceptable and deserve sharp condemnation.” Mockridge should be deeply ashamed.