Following our story on how The Huffington Post published a blog post by Jeffrey Hoffman on the 2010 World Cup, before pulling it without explanation, we can now reveal that Hoffman was passing them second hand goods and racist nonsense to boot. The Huffington Post story, titled ‘Could The 2010 World Cup Be A Disaster In the Making?’ was published January 14, 2010. It was also published January 30, 2008 on several sites owned by Hoffman, including delraybeachwebcam.com and firstwebcam.com, under the headline ‘The 2010 World Cup in South Africa – A Disaster In the Making’.
In the original version Hoffman writes “Most would agree that three of the major venues, Johannesburg, Durban, and Capetown are cities where lawless mobs of disenchanted blacks run rampant and threaten both classes on a regular daily basis.”
The Huffington Post would eventually edit out the reference to mobs of disenchanted blacks in the version published on its website but not before one reader, WorldofTomorrow420 commented: “My god, what a load of racist claptrap! No doubt South Africa has a *major* crime problem. But read this loaded statement, and the author’s blatant racism comes shining through: ‘…Johannesburg, Durban, and Capetown are cities where lawless mobs of disenchanted blacks run rampant …’”
Hoffman made some cosmetic changes to the story he submitted to The Huffington Post but for the most part they read exactly the same. Judge for yourself: Huffington Post vs. Firstwebcam.com.
Will The Huffington Post do the right thing and publish a proper retraction? We wait and see.
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This thing has 4 Comments
Surprising, didn’t know the Huffpo’s editorial standards were that low. That article is spectacularly badly written
Dear All,
I’m the first to resent untrue remarks about my country.
However the man only had the newspapers name wrong, everything else is unfortunately true.
You can go to any South African’s newspapers website and find exactly the same story even worse more brutal and more mindless.
There is no way that this can be denied.
We must fix the problem not deny it.
“lawless mobs run rampant” in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
I live in Cape Town and this is absolute hogwash. Yes, we have a crime problem, but not even vaguely near the level as described in this badly researched amateur article.
I do not have worries when my children walk alone in the streets in the area where I live. My wife and I regularly go for walks in our neighbourhood. It is a pleasant peaceful area and I do not remember when last someone that I know was a victim of crime.
Come and visit our beautiful country and come and see for yourself!
@Retief De villiers – You live in Cape Town…..that says it all China. Try moving around other areas inside Cape Town dude. Cape Town is not South Africa. You Capies live in the ‘last bastion’.
The article is unfortunately true. Some people, even in South Africa, just seem to conveniently have their head’s in the sand for the ‘false security’.
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