Feather Awards drop Hunk of the Year nominee over homophobic tweets

One of the Feather Awards’ nominees for Hunk of the Year has been accused of posting homophobic comments on social media.

On Wednesday, the Feathers announced the nominees for the 10th edition of the annual awards ceremony at Constitution Hill. Fitness model Tumi Seeco was one of those named, thanks no doubt to his impressive physique.

Later that afternoon, however, the Feather Awards confirmed in a statement that Seeco had been dropped as a contender in the category.

“It has come to the attention of the Feather Awards that nominee for the Hunk of the Year category, Tumi Seeco, has sent out homophobic content on his twitter page,” said the organisers.

“As an event dedicated to fighting homophobia and discrimination against sexual minorities, the Feather Awards has a zero tolerance attitude to such prejudice. Tumi Seeco’s nomination is withdrawn with immediate effect.”

A tweet posted by Seeco in January 2012 states: “My son mst knw if he eva turns gay, he won’t have a father, higly impossible tho, his genes wnt allow it.”

In another tweet from April 2012, Seeco wrote: “I think that’s how u get gay children, they witness their dad getting beat by the mom.”

Following Seeco’s removal, the new “Hunk of the Year” nominee is Advocate Dominic Khumalo, who was a close runner up. Advocate Khumalo is a researcher at the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, and affectionately known as ‘ANC Bae’.

“The Feather Awards extends their heartfelt congratulations to the Advocate on the occasion of his nomination, and wishes him all the best in the run-up to the awards event,” said the organisers.

The category of ‘Hunk of the Year’ is now as follows:
1. Bohang Moeko
2. Thabang Molaba
3. Advocate Dominic Khumalo

Seeco has not yet commented about the controversy. Earlier this month, actress, TV personality and rapper Boity Thulo was forced to apologise after a series of homophobic tweets from her past were dug up and shared on social media.

For the full list of the 2018 Feather Awards nominees, click here.