Kamahl: “I hold on to memories rather than grudges”

Veteran performer Kamahl says appearing on Hey Hey it’s Saturday may have had some shocking moments but that there was “hyopcrisy” on both sides and that he prefers to hold onto memories rather than grudges.

Appearing last night on SBS forum Insight, he was asked about racist jokes when speaking about his performance at Carnegie Hall.

“It was such a shocking incident. It was my own poor judgment to be on the show to talk about Carnegie Hall. Sometimes I’ve made some wrong, rash decisions. In a way, that’s one of them,” he said.

“But the other side of it is, if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be here talking. There is the yin and yang on everything.”

Suggesting that he never really believed host Daryl Somers allowed the humour, he said, “Now looking back over it, there was a hypocrisy on both sides. I pretended everything was okay when it wasn’t. That sort of thing has happened almost all my life.”

In 2021 Daryl Somers apologised for comedy directed at Kamahl in the 1980s.

“I have always considered Kamahl a friend and supporter of the show, so I deeply regret any hurt felt by him as a result of anything that took place on the program in the past,” he said.

“I wholeheartedly support diversity in the Australian entertainment industry and I am committed to continuous learning and development in that regard.”

Kamahl also accepted the apology at the time, tweeting “….I, Kandiah Kamalesvaran, AKA Kamahl, accept and acknowledge the apology from friend Daryl Somers, unreservedly”.

Asked if he still holds any grudges towards those from the show this week he told Insight, “I may have. But the thing is, I hold on to memories rather than grudges? Some of the memories are unbelievable. All the grudges pale by comparison.

“I think grudges eventually cannot do you any good. The greatest thing you ever learned is to love and be loved in return.”