Nee: SA reacts to Charlize Theron’s remarks on Afrikaans

The Afrikaans-speaking community is divided as it reacts to actress Charlize Theron’s remarks in relation to the Afrikaans language.

Theron said the language is dying and implied that Afrikaans didn’t serve her any good.

Now based in the United States but born in Benoni, Ekurhuleni in an Afrikaner family, the award-winning thespian said she decided to ditch Afrikaans as a 19-year-old.

Having left South Africa for many years and settled down in Hollywood, Theron is seemingly going to attract a lot of haters based on her sentiments.

Charlize Theron opened up about her Afrikaans heritage

"There's about 44 people still speaking it. It's definitely a dying language; it's not a very helpful language," she said in the interview. | @News24Arts https://t.co/7nLbH8iIdV

— News24 (@News24) November 16, 2022

The ‘Monster’ actress, Theron, had an interview with SmartLess podcast, adding salt to the wound of many Afrikaans-speaking South Africans.

Her comments have earned her the wrath of some Tweeps who’ve taken offence to the Oscar-winner’s Afrikaans aversion.

@Tina commented:

“Then why are the best-selling concerts and festivals, Afrikaans ones?”

@Robert Duigan said:

“Well none of them are useful outside of SA, that’s just obvious. But Zulu and afrikaans are regional lingua franca in much of SA. Her remarks are obviously spiteful and self-flagellating in their self-righteousness.”

And that was “Charlize Theron” with her hit single “The Dying Language” taken from her debut album “44 People” pic.twitter.com/f5gYzrTROn

— Bongz (@BourerTheFunk) November 16, 2022

@Sandy Eherenreich wrote:

“I don’t really care what you think! I love my Afrikaans.”

@Barry Saayman said:

“Someone should inform Charlize Theron that her opinion about Afrikaans is important and that it is the home language of about 7 million SAns of which by far the majority is black. Also, tell her that it is the majority language in the Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces.”

@Julie Hughes said:

“Wow, what a disrespectful comment to the millions of South Africans of all ages, races & stations in life that speak Afrikaans as their first language. Maybe she needs to spend “real” time in all regions of SA, not just glitz street.”

@Kelly R posted:

“I’ve probably heard more than 44 people speaking Afrikaans just this morning. Wait until South Africans begin swearing. Then it’s over 50 million.”

@Mthobisi Mkhize reacted:

“AfriForum is opening a case against her tomorrow morning.”

Main Image: Charlize Theron/Mansion Global

The post Nee: SA reacts to Charlize Theron’s remarks on Afrikaans appeared first on Entertainment SA - South African Entertainment News, Celebrity and Lifestyle Online Magazine & Entertainment.