Following the social media furore caused by writers Max Barashenkov and Montle Moorosi over their joke on correctional rape, FHM South Africa has fired both from the publication.
HumanIPO reported on Wednesday FHM decided to suspend the two writers for their insensitive joke regarding correctional rape.
Today however, Barashenkov and Moorosi were fired from the publication by an independent authority.
“FHM would like to announce that following a disciplinary hearing held on Friday the 19th July 2013, presided over by an independent chairperson, former FHM employees Maxim Barashenkov and Montle Moorosi have been dismissed with immediate effect,” FHM said in a statement.
Barashenkov and Moorosi issued a statement of apology through the WordPress platform, however, the sincerity of the apology was questionable because Barashenkov and Moorosi slammed South Africans for their reaction to their frivolous opinion on correctional rape, saying the country did not make as big a noise when the rape of a lesbian woman, resulting in her death, actually occurred.
“The country reacts to misguided and private jest with a public witch hunt, with name-calling and demonising, because the country will sleep better that night knowing that it did something about the rape crisis,” read part of the apology.
Brendan Cooper, FHM’s editor said: “FHM was horrified to learn of the incredibly offensive comments made by two of our staff members on their private Facebook pages. These comments in no way reflect FHM’s values. The opinions expressed are hurtful and deeply offensive and entirely unacceptable to FHM’s management.”