TV exec apologises for referring to Emilia Clarke as short and dumpy

Patrick Delany, the CEO of Foxtel, was launching the spin-off.

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at the season launch in Sydney, Australia and began by confessing

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He was initially dubious about Game of Thrones' potential commercial success.

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Delany told the audience: “I was like, What’s this show with the short dumpy girl who walks into the flames?”

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Emilia received an apology from a Foxtel representative who said,

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“The aim was to convey that for him, Games of Thrones was something very different for television in 2011 and

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that Emilia Clarke went from relatively unknown to one of the most recognised actors in television and film.”

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He said that the remarks were intended to be "self-deprecating and light-hearted.”

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Australian CEO calls actor Emilia Clarke ‘short and dumpy girl’

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