RTE star Emer O'Neill walked out of his show after the comedian told the joke on stage in Vicar Street.
I believe it would be ana amazing thing to do for him to make a statement to the rest of Ireland so that our community can heal from that.” “But it’s not me who needs it. I believe he has apologised to me and I am very thankful for that but it is not only me that was affected by this. Emer – who had no idea Tommy had sent in a public statement – said it was “great to hear that statement”. He said in the statement: “On Friday the 6th of January, Tommy told a joke on stage as part of his stand-up routine. [she had received an apology](https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/tommy-tiernan-apologises-fellow-rte-28986997) from Tiernan last week via email and on the phone – but now the comedian has made a public statement addressing the furore.
The comedian has removed the offensive joke from his set, but the presenter says she feels addressing it publicly would help her community to 'heal'
"This was traumatic and triggering for people from our community, because they had to read things like 'you Africans all need to go back to your own country, we don't want you here'. "When you click on the comments. There is an entire community that have suffered from this. He expressed things to me that I just felt were so powerful. "I thought wow.. "It was a very positive conversation as far as I'm concerned.
RTE star Tommy Tiernan has broken his silence and apologised to Emer O'Neill over a "racist" joke he made during a comedy gig.Fellow RTE presenter Eme.
"It’s not what I want. “But it’s not me who needs it. "I didn't feel comfortable to leave directly after the joke because honestly, I was afraid of being heckled as I left. She was in the studio when the statement was read out and she called on him "to make a statement to the rest of Ireland". Speaking on the show she said: "Because that’s the first I’ve heard and that’s the first public statement I’ve heard from anyone affiliated with him. On Claire Byrne's show, Emer revealed that she spoke with the comedian for almost an hour where they discussed the joke and that she felt his apology was "genuine".
RTÈ presenter Emer O'Neill left his show in Vicar Street after the comedian told the joke.
I believe it would be an amazing thing to do for him to make a statement to the rest of Ireland so that our community can heal from that.” “But it’s not me who needs it. Following public backlash and a social media post from O’Neill, Tiernan last week made an apology via both phone and email. [READ NEXT - Tommy Tiernan reveals Roy Keane's energy changed after interview and dismisses claims it was a struggle](https://www.buzz.ie/tv/tommy-tiernan-roy-keane-interview-28938988) [READ NEXT - Roy Keane recalls hilarious first date with wife that ended 'very badly' on Tommy Tiernan Show](https://www.buzz.ie/tv/roy-keane-recalls-hilarious-first-28902082) [READ NEXT - “They were remarkable people": Tommy Tiernan tested out hit RTE chat show with inmates in Mountjoy Prison](https://www.buzz.ie/tv/tommy-tiernan-mountjoy-prison-podcast-24011291) O’Neill, who was unaware Tiernan had sent a public apology, said it was “great to hear that statement” but added that “it would be an amazing thing to do for him to make a statement to the rest of Ireland.” The RTÈ star said that she had never been to a show of his before and was excited to see him perform, however, her “heart sank” after the “racist” was made.
Emer walked out of one of Tommy's stand up shows after he made a joke about Dublin Zoo and taxi drivers.
“As soon as he received a complaint, he spoke to that audience member to understand where he went wrong. The successful comedian also sent in a statement to RTE which Claire Byrne read out. Ms O'Neill [received an apology from the comedian via email and over the phone ](https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/celebs/tommy-tiernan-apologises-rte-star-26010720)after she went public with her concerns. Again, I appreciate the apology to me personally. "It’s not what I want. There is an entire community that have suffered from this.
Earlier this month, the RTÉ presenter walked out of the comedian's Vicar Street gig after he told a controversial joke about taxi drivers. Emer shared a video ...
“It’s not what I want. “‘Then the wolves so Irish fierce/strong then we went to the African Savannah and ….. “‘My daughter told me I shouldn’t tell this joke…
RTÉ presenter Emer O'Neill said it was “very positive” that comedian Tommy Tiernan rang her to apologise for an offensive joke that led to her walking out ...
The voice of a white person a white Irish person is so much stronger than it is coming from someone from an ethnic minority group,” O’Neill said. “I told him what that meant That it was huge, and it takes people a long time to get there. He expressed things to me that I just felt were so powerful,” O’Neill told RTÉs Today with Claire Byrne. And I just kind of thought, wow, because it was clear that he had done some reflection, he really did.” Tiernan has since pulled the joke from his set on his ongoing tour and has discussed why he has not used it, along with offering an apology live on stage each night since. And it was a very positive conversation as far as I'm concerned.
Taxi-hailing company Free Now has ceased its sponsorship of The Tommy Tiernan Show following a joke the comedian made about taxi drivers and Dublin Zoo at a ...
And then came the savannah and taxi drivers.” I’m literally one of the only people of colour sitting here full of a room of white people’. “Prejudice of any kind towards taxi drivers is unacceptable.