BBC DJ apologises for ‘Chinese eat cats?’ gaffe

LONDON - A BBC radio presenter was forced to apologise after a ‘distasteful’ gaffe about the Chinese eating cats.

Judi Spiers was discussing a book about Casper the cat, who became famous after it emerged he regularly made an 11-mile bus trip from his home in Plymouth, on her BBC Radio Devon show.

The veteran DJ stunned listeners when she questioned whether the Chinese ‘eat cats’ while discussing Casper’s antics, reports the Daily Mail.

Commenting on the fact the book had been translated into six languages including Chinese, she said, “I don’t know whether they’ll enjoy that, don’t they eat cats?”

Spiers was forced to offer an apology after the gaffe, and 30 minutes later she appeared on the air saying sorry.

“Earlier in the program I made a comment about Casper the cat, which some of you may have found offensive. I would like to apologize if you found the comment distasteful. Obviously I did not mean to offend,” the presenter said.

One listener, who did not want to be named, said she was shocked by the remark.

“I couldn’t believe it - one minute she was talking about the book and then suddenly she said the Chinese eat cats. It was a very strange and surprising thing to say and I’m sure some people would have been offended,” she said.

A BBC spokesman said, “Judi meant no offence and apologised on air very shortly after the comments were made.” (ANI)