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Idols judge in South Africa gets job back after tweet uproar

In this photo taken Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 South African Idols judge Gareth Cliff, is photographed outside the High Court in Johannesburg. The local television network M-Net dropped Cliff from its judging panel for the reality singing competition after a tweet that some South Africans thought was racist. Cliff, who said his tweet was not racist and was instead a defence of free speech, then won a court case against M-Net and was reinstated on Idols South Africa. (AP Photo)
In this photo taken Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 South African Idols judge Gareth Cliff, is photographed outside the High Court in Johannesburg. The local television network M-Net dropped Cliff from its judging panel for the reality singing competition after a tweet that some South Africans thought was racist. Cliff, who said his tweet was not racist and was instead a defence of free speech, then won a court case against M-Net and was reinstated on Idols South Africa. (AP Photo)

By Associated Press 2 min read

JOHANNESBURG (AP) – A comment by a judge in South Africa’s “Idols” television show stirred a national conversation, and it had nothing to do with music.

South African television network M-Net dropped Gareth Cliff from its judging panel for the reality singing competition after a tweet that some South Africans thought was racist. Cliff, who said his tweet was not racist and was instead a defense of free speech, then won a court case against M-Net and was reinstated on Idols South Africa.

Cliff, who is white, said Saturday that South Africa, which emerged from white minority rule in 1994, should continue a civil discussion about race.

The judge on the 12th season of South Africa’s version of the international franchise also said: “The show will go on.”

Auditions are currently underway.