The Dublin singer/songwriter apologised for his comments which he gave in an interview with Canadian music channel Much, which has since been deleted.
Posting via his Instagram story, Dermot Kenney apologised for his comments.
“I would like to apologise to the Irish Traveller Community for any offense caused when discussing Irish slang in a recent interview". the singer wrote. “I was not referring to anyone specific, and I never mean to cause harm with the words I say, so I am sorry for any distress I caused".
In the interview, Kennedy was asked to give different examples of Irish slang, where the singer mentioned the word "knackered", stating that the term, is used to express tiredness.
He went on to say, “If you call somebody a knacker that’s really bad, really bad, because the knacker is – to the best of my knowledge – is like a horse in the yard that is like dying".
“But it’s like a classic thing… like if you were sitting at a table and someone took your food, you’d be like: ‘Ah, ya knacker’", Kennedy added.
The singer came in for major critcism for his use of the word "knacker", which was deemed as a racial slur aimed at the traveller community.
Bernard Joyce who is the director of the Traveller Movement, demanded that the Giants singer apologise for his comments, while human rights activist Rosie Marie Maughan also expressed her disappointment on social media.
“[The ‘K word’] has been used in hate speech towards the Traveller community to degrade and humiliate. It’s completely unacceptable and gives offence to our community", Joyce wrote. “Dermot Kennedy should give an apology recognising the hurt and pain this word has inflicted on our community with immediate effect".
“Irish society has grown so much in terms of not using racist terms due to the impact they have on marginalised communities, yet the ‘K term’ is used daily regardless how many times Irish Travellers express our pain", Rose Marie Maughan added.
“He must now do the right thing and apologise to us, and in the future use his platform as an ally to us – calling for the end of the last accepted racism in Ireland".
