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Former RTÉ news anchor Aengus Mac Grianna has apologized for participating in a Waterford Whispers skit, which aired on RTÉ One television on New Year’s Eve.
The sketch, which was submitted by Mr. Mac Grianna, has received thousands of complaints and requests for it to be removed from the RTÉ Player.
In the Waterford Whispers news report, God is described as “the latest figure involved in the ongoing sexual harassment scandals.”
The clip ended with a sentence that film producer Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a 23-year sentence in the United States for rape and sexual assault, had “requested a new trial in Ireland.”
In a tweet, Mac Grianna, who was also a former staff representative on the RTÉ board, said he wanted to apologize for his involvement in the sketch.
He said he was “deeply sorry for the offense, the anguish and the pain caused. It was wrong for me. It was wrong for me.”
Personal apology: I wish to apologize for my participation in the Waterford Whispers News article on the NYE program on RTE 1 on New Years Eve. In truth, I deeply regret the offense, anguish and pain caused. It was bad for me. It was wrong of me. Aengus Mac Grianna.
– Aengus Mac Grianna (@ Aengy2) January 5, 2021
The sketch remains in the RTÉ Player, but a warning says “viewer discretion is advised.”
RTÉ said yesterday that since Friday it has received “approximately 3,500 emails and 1,250 calls about the Waterford Whispers sketch segment on RTÉ’s One New Year’s Eve countdown program.
“Emails to RTÉ’s Complaints and Information Offices are taken into account, as well as calls to RTÉ’s Information Office and RTÉ’s main reception.”
Mac Grianna retired from RTÉ in 2018. He presented his last Six One newsletter on Saint Patrick’s Day that year.
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