A contestant in the ABC’s Race Around the World competition has released an apology, after one of her films on the reality show was referred to the ABC’s internal ombudsmen.

Kate McGuinness was accused of inciting violence against billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart, after she made a reference to Rinehart in her film, “A Very Relaxing Video”, which aired on July 12. “When the revolution comes will you hide under the bed or will you know exactly how to shove a stick right up Gina Rinehart’s butt hole, stirring it round, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, to make one big sausage roll to make something out of nothing.”

In a statement released by the ABC, McGuinness said: “The sense of humour featured in each of my films on the Race Around the World program is farcical. In no way was it my intention to promote violence. My writing is cartoonish and always satirical. Unfortunately, jokes do not land with everyone. Its purpose was never to be taken literally. I apologise to anyone I’ve offended.”

The ABC also confirmed the ombudsman was “independently reviewing audience complaints … in accordance with the ABC’s complaints handling process”. The broadcaster said it wouldn’t be commenting further while the review was in progress.

McGuinness, an arts school graduate from Melbourne, is one of six contestants in the reality series, which sent young filmmakers around the world to make 10 films in 100 days. The final episode is due to air on August 9. The comment about Rinehart came at the end of McGuinness’ four-minute film, which was shot in the Scottish highlands and largely about finding peace and contentment in a busy world.

Complaints about the episode surfaced on July 24, when The Australian published an article criticising the episode, which it said contained an “obscene and graphic slur” against Rinehart.

Hancock Prospecting released a statement about the episode the next day, telling News24, formerly known as Sky News Australia, and “alternative” Perth media organisation WAMN News that the ABC was normalising “violence and murder by broadcasting, publishing and continuing to distribute this content”.

The statement added: “This appalling material, presented by the taxpayer-funded ABC as ‘entertainment’, illustrated and graphically described Mrs Rinehart being sodomised and tortured in a manner that would kill her. It is nothing short of disgusting that the ABC would encourage and normalise violence and murder by broadcasting, publishing and continuing to distribute this content.”

Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells weighed into the controversy on Wednesday, saying while she didn’t agree with the segment, she respected “the editorial independence of the ABC”.

ABC journalist Leigh Sales was part of the judging panel for that July 12 episode, along with former Race Around the World contestant John Safran and director John Polson.

Sales said that while she enjoyed most of McGuinness’ video, it was a “nasty gag about Gina Rinehart”.

Race Around the World airs at 7.30pm on Sundays on the ABC.

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