Australians were initially shocked to see a hot pant cladded dance troupe twerking to Sean Paul in front of dignitaries at the unveiling of their new navy warship.
But now the ABC news network has apologised after editing the footage in a “creepy” and “sexualising” manner sparking threats to the 101 Doll Squadron dancers in a controversy fast becoming known as Twerkgate.
In the news package, which appeared to feed Liberal MP Phillip Thompson’s description of the navy as becoming “too woke”, the women’s routine is spliced with reaction shots from seemingly bemused dignitaries who were, in reality, watching a later performance.
Actual footage has been leaked of the performance, designed to reflect Sydney’s Wooloomooloo community, which happened before admirals arrived at the commissioning of HMAS Supply on Saturday.
NEW: The Royal Australian Navy commissioned HMAS Supply in Sydney today, and uh..... organised this dance to celebrate pic.twitter.com/OvCYlhhGZG
— Alex Bruce-Smith (@alexbrucesmith) April 10, 2021
The ABC has now issued an apology for the way the video was edited, saying a government MP had told the reporters both the governor general and the chief of navy were present for the dance.
“The video should not have been edited in that way and the ABC apologises to the Governor-General and the Chief of Navy, and to viewers, for this error,” the statement said.
101 Doll Squadron had earlier released a statement saying they felt “unsafe” and personally attacked, blaming what they say was the ABC’s “deceptive editing” of a news clip.
“We are very disappointed at the ABC’s deceptive editing of their video piece which cut to guests and dignitaries who were not in attendance, and shot from angles which could not be seen by the audience,” they said.
“We found this very creepy.”
The group, who specialise in dancehall and afrobeats, have deleted their Facebook page and made their Instagram account private after receiving abuse online.
They also lashed out at what they believed was the ABC’s “need to sexualise these women and their dance piece”.
“These are the images appearing in the media and the ABC have a lot to answer for in making us feel threatened and exploited.”
Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, said he was ‘“disappointed” in the way the ABC reported on the event.
“I am disappointed that this event was so misreported. I think that was disrespectful to the performers to suggest the governor general or others were in attendance in that way.
“I think standards have failed and so I think obviously defence will look at these matters and make what changes they wish to in the future. I will leave that to them. It is disappointing that Australians were so misled on that issue.”
