The family of a teenage Sunbury model has claimed she did not call her hometown "a ghetto" and apologised to residents for any misunderstanding.
Cassi Van Den Dungen, a finalist on Australia’s Next Top Model, caused fury in Sunbury after she was reported to have said: "Sunbury’s a good place to grow up in but if you get in with the wrong groups of people, it’s kind of like a ghetto for you."
The definition of a ghetto is “a slum area occupied by a particular group".
But Cassi’s grandfather, Joe Francese, came to her defence when he said the angry 16-year-old had spoken to her mother in the US and denied making the ghetto claim.
"Cassi has always loved living in Sunbury and insisted she never called Sunbury a ghetto; she has no idea what a ghetto is," he said.
"Yes, she’s had a few problems in Sunbury, but her mother was always very active in the community and Cassi apologises if anything was taken out of context.
"She’s just a 16-year-old kid like any normal teenager."
But Sydney Daily Telegraph TV editor Erin McWhirter, who interviewed Cassi, insists the teenager used the word "ghetto" while describing Sunbury.
Hume Mayor Jack Ogilvie, who has been stopped in the street by furious residents, said he accepted Cassi’s apology.
"My phone has rung red hot since her comments came out and I was pretty upset as I’ve done a lot for the youth of Sunbury," he said.
"I think we all make mistakes at 16, but Sunbury really is a great place to live."
Fellow Sunbury councillor Ann Potter said ghettos existed in India, not Sunbury.
"Sixteen-year-olds are pretty immature and sometimes don’t think before they speak and also don’t really know the true meaning or implications of their comments," she said.
"It’s my belief that the TV show is spilling out some comments to gain extra publicity for their program and that’s disappointing."
Before making her television debut tonight, Cassi admitted she drank regularly and was engaged to a man alsmot 10 years older.
She put her hyperactive nature and fiery temper down to a turbulent upbringing in Sunbury.
Her parents divorced when she was six months old and she dropped out of school last year.
Cassi Van Den Dungen, a finalist on Australia’s Next Top Model, caused fury in Sunbury after she was reported to have said: "Sunbury’s a good place to grow up in but if you get in with the wrong groups of people, it’s kind of like a ghetto for you."
The definition of a ghetto is “a slum area occupied by a particular group".
But Cassi’s grandfather, Joe Francese, came to her defence when he said the angry 16-year-old had spoken to her mother in the US and denied making the ghetto claim.
"Cassi has always loved living in Sunbury and insisted she never called Sunbury a ghetto; she has no idea what a ghetto is," he said.
"Yes, she’s had a few problems in Sunbury, but her mother was always very active in the community and Cassi apologises if anything was taken out of context.
"She’s just a 16-year-old kid like any normal teenager."
But Sydney Daily Telegraph TV editor Erin McWhirter, who interviewed Cassi, insists the teenager used the word "ghetto" while describing Sunbury.
Hume Mayor Jack Ogilvie, who has been stopped in the street by furious residents, said he accepted Cassi’s apology.
"My phone has rung red hot since her comments came out and I was pretty upset as I’ve done a lot for the youth of Sunbury," he said.
"I think we all make mistakes at 16, but Sunbury really is a great place to live."
Fellow Sunbury councillor Ann Potter said ghettos existed in India, not Sunbury.
"Sixteen-year-olds are pretty immature and sometimes don’t think before they speak and also don’t really know the true meaning or implications of their comments," she said.
"It’s my belief that the TV show is spilling out some comments to gain extra publicity for their program and that’s disappointing."
Before making her television debut tonight, Cassi admitted she drank regularly and was engaged to a man alsmot 10 years older.
She put her hyperactive nature and fiery temper down to a turbulent upbringing in Sunbury.
Her parents divorced when she was six months old and she dropped out of school last year.
