The publisher of Dutch magazine Jackie, which came under fire for publishing an article about Rihanna that used racial slurs, has released a statement in which he seems to claim that the mag has nothing to apologize for, even after its editor resigned due to the controversy.

After publication of the story referring to RiRi as a “n—- b—-,” editor Eva Hoeke issued a mea culpa, saying, “While the author meant no harm — the title of the article was intended as a joke — it was a bad joke, to say the least.”

Publisher Yves Gijrath then forced Hoeke to resign, but not for the reason you’d expect. According to Global Grind (via Dutch site Villamedia), Gijrath says he wanted Hoeke out not because she published the incendiary words, as everyone had assumed, but because she worded her apology poorly.

Gijrath gave Villamedia a statement that translates as, “[T]here is nothing wrong in the magazine. [Hoeke] presented it as a joke, but it most certainly was not a joke. It was an interpretation [of a fashion style]… She should have said, ‘We did not realize this interpretation is such a touchy subject. We never meant any harm and offer our sincere and upright apologies.’ But because of all the fuss, Eva started to wiggle in all directions, and therefore we have come to the conclusion her credibility has been undermined.”

In other words, Hoeke had to resign not because she let racial slurs get into the magazine, but because she failed to handle the controversy properly. This story just keeps getting more bizarre!

Gijrath went on to say, “How people get it into their heads for Eva and Jackie to be characterized as racist is beyond all bounds. Jackie is even created by a multicultural group of people. “

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