In a statement sent on Thursday afternoon, the TV channel distanced itself from the sports anchor's comments.
"Witten's comments do not reflect the views or values of our company. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the young woman who lost her life, and all those who were injured in this terrible accident. An internal inquiry into Mr Witten's comments will be conducted in due course," eNews said.
On Wednesday night a fan attending Linkin Park's concert at Cape Town Stadium died after a temporary scaffolding erected outside the venue for a brand activation on the evening collapsed due to high winds. Nineteen others were taken to hospital.
Witten tweeted last night: "Linkin Park is so badass, people are dying to see 'em."
Most people replied angrily to his tweet:
Engage your brain dude, poor form and disgusting. RT @lancethewitten: Linkin Park is so badass, people are dying to see 'em
— Kieno Kammies (@KienoKammies) November 8, 2012
@lancethewittenCall yourself a journalist? You've behaved like an asshole.
— Nigel Turner (@NigelJTurner) November 8, 2012
@lancethewitten @capetown @encanews shrugging it off with a cavalier "ok" doesn't express any remorse over gross insensitivity in his tweet.
— Christian Smit® (@christiansmit) November 8, 2012
Ok 🙂 RT @capetown: wow LanceTheWitten for what it matters, unfollowed due to bad taste #notworthit cc @encanews
— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) November 8, 2012
You know what I'm not going to do? Stay up and accept abuse. I can accept abuse tomorrow too 🙂 feel free
— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) November 8, 2012
But there were a few people who felt he was being hard done by:
@lancethewitten @kienokammies Storm in a teacup, I'm offended on your behalf that you're being forced to apologise for private views.
— UngovernableCadre (@kaysexwale) November 8, 2012
@lancethewitten totally agree with you. today that joke is probably going around. where's your freedom of speech? got a similar joke today
— Cornel Pretorius (@cornel87corra) November 8, 2012
In the end he apologised for offending people on Twitter.
Tweeps, I have to apologise for that tweet. It was insensitive, in bad taste, and downright stupid.
— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) November 8, 2012
