[News] POLL TIME - Danny Baker’s tweet

[SAC]

An explanation and apology for being a bit thick would have sufficed IMO.

The BBC is on a mission to thin the ranks of pale Males, so any excuse. And this one was too good for them to miss.

This is bollocks. The BBC don't have anything against "pale males" and would have been happy to continue employing him. If they wanted to get rid of him they just wouldn't have renewed his contract.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I'd have thought that someone who'd been "literally" thrown under a bus would be in no fit state to use Twitter. He must have had a narrow escape

The word 'literally' has changed definition and can now be used in such a context.

"in effect; in substance; very nearly; virtually:
I literally died when she walked out on stage in that costume"

 

[wokingone]

Saturday Mornings will never be the same again

 

[Triggaaar]

I’m still waiting to see these posts of other Royal Babies, have you got any you can share?

I'm taking people's word for it. Like HKFC says, you'd expect the retweets to be doing the rounds, to show this wasn't intended to be racist.

 

[The Clamp]

I'm taking people's word for it. Like HKFC says, you'd expect the retweets to be doing the rounds, to show this wasn't intended to be racist.

Nobody is going to wade in in "defense of a racist", well not anyone who will be listened to anyway.

 

[Deadly Danson]

He is a football fan and a journalist/presenter who is knowledgeable about the current game. If the phrase "monkey chants" has not been a part of his regular reading/conversation then he watches his football from another planet. The connection is, arguably, not at the forefront of Joe Public's mind but anyone following football news in current times understands the connection made in racist abuse/chanting. Pleading ignorance just doesn't track if he had thought at all. This isn't like you or me tweeting... He is a public figure who has a responsibility to think before using social media. He didn't think therefore is paying the price.

I don't believe he is racist, just an idiot, but so much so he cannot stay in a role at a publicly owned corporation.

So not considering how some people might view a tweet completely differently to how it was obviously intended is now a sackable offence? Nonsense. Maybe he should have thought about it before posting - I certainly didn't think about it in any racist way until it was pointed out. When he realised, he deleted it and apologised. Are we really going to SACK people once they have apologised for something that has been misconstrued. I hate this world sometimes. Oh and this is the same BBC who have f***ing Farage on Question Time tonight for the 33rd time. Lunacy.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

If the BBC didn't act, it would get it in the neck and now it HAS acted, it is STILL getting pelters from all sides. It's an issue where there will never be agreement on whether the tweet was a) funny b) offensive or c) racist, judging purely by the replies to his latest tweet saying he's been fired.

I think the lesson is #ThinkBeforeYouTweet

 

[Mellotron]

Daily Mail knocking on the door of "Baker's £2 million house" then.

Naturally, as always, they MUST include the property value of whoever it is they are badgering

How else will we know how OUTRAGED to be?

 

[blue-shifted]

And it's good to know it's those defenders of racial harmony coming to his house to ensure we live in a liberal, tolerant society.

Daily Mail knocking on the door of "Baker's £2 million house" then.

Naturally, as always, they MUST include the property value of whoever it is they are badgering

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

He sincerely apologised for the misunderstanding and admitted it could be taken but wasn't meant in bad taste.

I fear for future generations, I abhor racism and will defend anyone BUT there comes a point when you feel it'll be easier to say nothing or create a sterile society, Danny Baker has been sacked because it looks good on the BBC without people really looking at the evidence and the remorse, **** off BBC, it was wrong but not intended in the way you see it.

 

[Driver8]

Ironic

 

[A1X]

The BBC is on a mission to thin the ranks of pale Males, so any excuse. And this one was too good for them to miss.

 

[Easy 10]

Said Easy 10, 52.

Oi.

47, if you please.

 

[Willow]

He is a football fan and a journalist/presenter who is knowledgeable about the current game. If the phrase "monkey chants" has not been a part of his regular reading/conversation then he watches his football from another planet. The connection is, arguably, not at the forefront of Joe Public's mind but anyone following football news in current times understands the connection made in racist abuse/chanting. Pleading ignorance just doesn't track if he had thought at all. This isn't like you or me tweeting... He is a public figure who has a responsibility to think before using social media. He didn't think therefore is paying the price.

I don't believe he is racist, just an idiot, but so much so he cannot stay in a role at a publicly owned corporation.

Not sure I follow your line of thinking connecting a picture of a chimp with racist chanting at football matches but totally get your point about public figures needing to remain uncontroversial, it is why we get homogenised soundbites from footballers in post match interviews. Dull.

 

[Goldstone1976]

I think the lesson is #ThinkBeforeYouTweet

Or... engage brain before opening one’s mouth...

The man’s a moron for posting that tweet. I have no idea if he’s a racist or not, but “he gave the ref a decision to make”.

 

[Mackenzie]

That’s a shame. I like listening to his show when I’m driving.

Hopefully this will all blow over and he’ll be reinstated eventually.

 

[BNthree]

Daily Mail knocking on the door of "Baker's £2 million house" then.

Naturally, as always, they MUST include the property value of whoever it is they are badgering

Also property prices in London are silly. He could have bought it 25 years ago for £200k and it is now "worth" £2m. Not defending his stupid post at all, more just the ridiculousness of the media.

 

[Triggaaar]

Nobody is going to wade in in "defense of a racist", well not anyone who will be listened to anyway.

Plenty of people here saying it's ridiculous, plenty of his fans and followers who won't be happy. Not difficult for them to retweet an old tweet of the same thing, highlighting that it's just what he posts, and wasn't related to race. And he himself should be looking up the old tweets in his defence.

Some here have said he's posted the image before after royal births, so I am expecting the retweets.

 

[Eeyore]

Indeed.

People defending him are basing their defence of him on their past experience / opinions of the man, rather than the actual post in question.

Massively stupid - obviously offensive (INTENT doesn't define whether something IS offensive) - and clearly not acceptable from an employee of the national broadcaster

Imagine the (understandable) reaction, if Katie Hopkins had posted a picture of a couple with a baby chimp, in this context?

Agreed. I looked at it and thought that this was not good and had racial connotations.

But then I sat back, considered its immediate withdrawal and his realisation that he made a gross error of judgement.

So instead of joining the lynch mob I thought that at that stage intent should be applied. The sensible thing to do is to put your hand up, admit the error, and then everything moves on.

But, no, many in society don't want that now. And, as I say, self righteous condemnation has become a distracting pastime.

Even those, I guess I'm one of them, who are trying to suggest a more inquisitive and less jumpy and assuming take on it are now being banded as racists.

What's sad here is that accusations of racism is now becoming a political tool in the armoury of contrary opinion. It actually dilutes it to a throw away phrase rather than a subject of primary and important concern.

None of this helps. Someone, who appears not to be racist by nature, is taken down. Whilst the condemnation may come from the very sources that promote covert racism and xenophobia.

The villain becomes the hangman.

 

[Easy 10]

That’s a shame. I like listening to his show when I’m driving.

Hopefully this will all blow over and he’ll be reinstated eventually.

For a 4th time ? Unlikely.

Maybe he'll end up back on TalkSPORT with his old mate Danny Kelly. Hope so, I used to like their show. I might even breach my TalkSPORT embargo if that happened (podcast version obvs, I cannot deal with the incessant ads on that station).