Influencer and online coach Diren Kartal was left fuming after Capital FM DJ Ant Payne cracked a joke about the fatal Turkey earthquakes live on air.
Payne made the comment during his Capital FM Drivetime show on Monday (13 February). Following two powerful earthquakes which have caused devastation in Turkey and neighbouring Syria, leaving more than 41,000 people dead, Payne said: “I think now is actually time to start looking at some cheap flights away to Turkey.”
He continued: “Get your teeth done while you are over there. Come back looking 19 years old. You’ll be on Love Island next year if you are doing that.”
Enraged by Payne’s insensitive remarks, Kartal, who has Turkish roots, said: “What the actual f*** did my man just say.”
“I won’t lie, Ant Payne, there’s a lot of stuff I’d love to say which I shouldn’t say because of my platform. It just shows what a privileged pr*** you are for saying that,” he continued.
“I don’t think you understand a lot of the pain people are going through in that country, even in this country where there are a lot of Turks, Kurds and Syrians that have suffered.
“So Capital, I don’t know what you’re planning to do with this individual but you had better do something quick.”
Ant Payne has since issued an apology for his remarks. He tweeted: “Hi guys, I want to address the comment I made last night on the show. It was insensitive and ill-timed.
“I would never wish to offend anyone from my shows. My sincere and wholehearted apologies.”
