SOMERSET WEST – Controversial celebrity couple Heinz and Aletté Winckler took to their social media platforms to issue a public apology for statements they made on a recent episode of the former Idols South Africa winner’s podcast, shaming people who are overweight.

Heinz, a pastor and singer who was the first South African winner of Idols, has been outspoken in his religious beliefs over the years, hosted his wife and Lechi Kamffer, founders of The Exodus Experience, on his podcast In HeinzSight BoldCast toward the end of March.

The episode, entitled “What is The Exodus Experience, Truth & Myth and How to Detox,” sees the business partners share their stories of what led to the establishment of the detox programme.

According to the business website, the programme is “a 40-day, spirit-led lifestyle transformation journey designed to reset the body, renew the mind, and restore the heart”.

“It combines a structured nutritional programme, deep emotional detox, and daily spiritual guidance to help you break free from old patterns, release physical and emotional toxins, balance hormones, heal from within, and step into the fullness of who God created you to be,” the website reads.

In the segment, the couple and Kamffer discuss how the body reacts to food, drawing specific references to religious beliefs throughout.

ALSO READ: Why Heinz Winckler isn’t South Africa’s Charlie Kirk

Controversial comments

Social media users took the Wincklers to task for their comments relating to people carrying extra weight, some questioning their Christianity, given their judgement” of others.

Aletté, who has been open in sharing her arduous weight-loss journey over the years, specifically noted how she became more aware of overweight church leaders. Unlike other sins, she said, gluttony can’t be hidden as “gluttony shows on the body and they would be on the pulpit preaching against other sins, but it’s evident that you are struggling with something yourself”.

Heinz noted that he had taken pastors and leaders of his church, LoveKey Church, to task for preaching about addiction to alcohol while they themselves are “addicted to sugar”.

Kamffer, who spoke out against church bazaars, explicitly noted her dislike of sugar.

Public backlash, apology

Amid the social media backlash, the couple issued a statement on 2 April, apologising for the statements. “In the light of this, and knowing that many have been hurt or offended by what was said, we want to pause, reflect and humbly come before you. We are truly sorry,” the statement read.

“We acknowledge that our words, specifically around sensitive topics such as health and weight, were not expressed with the care, compassion, and responsibility they deserved. While our intention was never to judge, shame, or hurt anyone, we recognise that the way it was communicated came across as judgemental, generalised and, for many, deeply painful. For that, we take full responsibility.”

They go on to say they have always wanted “to uplift, to encourage, to edify and to call out the gold in people, never to condemn or to breakdown”.

“We spoke from our own convictions and experiences, but it was wrong to communicate them in a way that could be perceived as applying to everyone or as a blanket statement over the church.”

The video has since been edited, with all controversial statements removed from the episode.