By Hal Crawford
ninemsn
Seven Network star Grant Denyer has apologised for commenting on radio that he felt like "he'd had sex with a black man".
The comment, made on Nova's Merrick and Rosso program this morning in reference to Denyer's exhaustion after the Logies, drew nervous laughter from the radio hosts but outraged gay activists and politicians.
In response to a question about his condition after the Logies, Denyer, who hosts Seven's It Takes Two show, said he had slept for only two hours after the awards night.
"So it was a big old day … let me say I'm feeling like I had sex with a black man right now," he said.
Denyer made another reference to his sexual analogy at the end of the segment, saying, "I'll be the host who looks like he's been riding a horse for a week".
Making his apology on Seven's Today Tonight, Denyer said he had not meant to offend.
"Anyone who knows me knows I wouldn't go out to offend," he said. "It was a wobbly joke, made way too early in the morning."
Opposition multicultural spokesman Laurie Ferguson said the comments were deplorable and could be referred to the Australian broadcasting watchdog ACMA.
"The station should have cut him off immediately," he said. "Basically this guy should go back to reading the weather."
Anti-homophobia activist Simon Biber said the comments reflected a popular myth about the size of black men's penises, and were both sexist and racist.
"It's homophobic but the racial slur is more serious, appealing as it does to a stereotype," he said. "It's harmful, but unfortunately it's not uncommon."
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