Where fame, fact, fiction meet

RUMOUR HAS IT: Refilwe Modiselle and Zola Hashatsi will be giving the nation the lowdown on all the celebrity gossip in e.tv's new show, Hush.

RUMOUR HAS IT: Refilwe Modiselle and Zola Hashatsi will be giving the nation the lowdown on all the celebrity gossip in e.tv's new show, Hush.

Published Apr 13, 2015

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Refilwe Modiselle and Zola Hashatsi are giving tittle-tattling a nicer reputation with e.tv’s Hush, writes Debashine Thangevelo

CELEBRITYDOM comes with a price. Fact. We now live in an era when a scandal can spread like wildfire in a matter of seconds with the upload of one Tweet, Instagram picture or online story. Bottom line: no one is safe or ever spared.

Once exposed, said personality can do one of two things: hire a spin doctor-cum-fixer à la Oliva Pope or Ray Donovan if the situation calls for a more underhanded approach, or hope and pray another celebrity steals your limelight and wait for the situation to blow over… as it inevitably does.

This reality has, of course, given birth to numerous gossip-tinged celebrity shows. Some of them are hits; others, flops.

This brings us to e.tv’s new show, Hush. While it feeds off the same celebrity thread, it offers a twist – the celebrities are given an opportunity to share their side of the story. And this is where Refilwe Modiselle and Zola Hashatsi come in. Privy to the celebrity world, given their career achievements in front of the camera, they are quite capable of steering such a magazine show. And they have the va-va-voom personalities to carry it.

REFILWE MODISELLE

SHE speaks her mind. And she owns it.

As South Africa’s first albino model, Modiselle has also become a role model to the youth.

Defying the odds is what she does best. Obstacles are merely stepping stones for this tour de force personality. And she is damn smart to boot.

Her appearance on Ekse Let’s Talk in 2012 propelled her into the limelight on a more massive scale. And she made the most of her platform.

She notes: “I had a vision to grow and anchor something that would channel me in a different direction. Last year, I had a conversation with the head of channels, saying: ‘You might as well maximise on this fabulousness’. I didn’t know that he would take it seriously.”

Earlier this year, she got a call informing her that Hush was in the pipeline and that she was being looked at to potentially host it.

She is also chuffed about people getting to see her light-hearted side.

“On the other show, I was very serious. But there is more to my personality. And I want people to see the laughter, the wit. I know what it means to go from being a plain Jane to being a celebrity. I can bridge the gap between the two (for the show).”

And her congenial personality allows for connectivity with the audience: “I retain that down-to-earth approachability. I also see celebrities in a more human light.”

While Hush homes in on the latest gossip and entertainment news, it is a far cry from being your standard serving of dirt.

Modiselle adds: “A lot of people think gossip is creating a rumour. Our show looks at the situations that have already played out in the media. It also gives people a platform to redeem themselves. In that way, it brings some honesty to the table. So often stories come out, but you never hear the other end of it. It’s not all bad, either. We don’t focus on negative gossip. It’s topical and balanced.”

She also points out that it isn’t so much about passing judgement on someone.

“I’m just there saying, if you did something that has drawn someone’s attention, here’s a chance to clarify it. I might not say you were wrong directly to the personality. It is really not a tear-me-down show. It’s about entertaining and telling people: ‘Hey, let’s not take life too seriously.’”

Also, viewers are allowed some interactivity through social media.

If she could have anyone on the couch in studio, though, Trevor Noah is at the top of her list, followed by DJ Sbu.

“Trevor is my number one person, especially after receiving that entire backlash. DJ Sbu is on the list. And Brickz. He was slandered a lot and has such a booming career.”

Modiselle adds, “We are bringing entertainment news. It’s creative, intellectual entertainment. We are not out to betray people. I’m human enough to understand you need to draw a line.”

Nonetheless, I’m sure she will channel her inner Oprah and get people talking.

ZOLA HASHATSI

HE is like a passing comet of energy. And it’s infectious. Charm comes naturally to him, but not in a superficial sense. He’s just genuinely friendly and disarmingly funny.

On being signed to co-host Hush, he notes: “I got called for an audition. I think in being with the channel for seven years on Craz-e, as a presenter and content producer, they have seen my capability and energy. I’m sure in that pool of auditions they had, they made the right decision.” (laughs)

“I’m bringing myself: my personality and my two cents. And my experience within the industry. We are giving a voice to the voiceless and will get people talking. And I’m bringing a sprinkle of madness to the show,” he teases.

Like Modiselle, he takes great pains in drawing a distinction between this show and others of a similar ilk.

He reveals: “We are not dragging people’s dirty laundry out there. We say to them: ‘What do you want to say?’ That’s the way we reel them in. We will be talking about trending topics and what’s happening around our space like the whole load shedding issue, too, or the statue being defaced. We will be getting the right people to come out and clear the air.”

On a whole, though, as this is a show targeting the younger market, it will be 95 percent celebrity-driven.

As for who would make the cut for his in-studio guests, if he could get them, he admits: “With the whole Flabba case, I’d like to know from Sindisiwe (Manqele), his girlfriend, what went wrong. Everyone’s baying for her blood. Another person, although she is my friend, would be Kelly Khumalo. Definitely, Oscar Pistorius, whom I met; you never know what happens behind close doors. Oh… Julius Malema and Steve Hofmeyr.”

Of course, these two won’t be studio-bound all the time. They will also be out and about town at the various shindigs – no doubt picking up stompies of dirt too – and cajoling celebrities to come into the studio.

This time, it’s a win-win situation for everyone. Looks like Hush is putting back the grace in disgrace!

• Hush airs on e.tv on Thursdays from April 23 at 6pm.

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