[News] POLL TIME - Danny Baker’s tweet

[Thunder Bolt]

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.

Thumper's advice in Bambi, many years ago. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. It's not new.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

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

You're missing the point.

Baker tweeted a picture of a CHIMP dressed as a baby, on the occasion of this royal birth.

All over social media (including this very thread) fans of Baker are telling us that there was clearly no racial intent, as he'd posted the very same image previously, on the occasion of other royal births.

If that is true, then they'd have a good point, and it would mitigate strongly in Baker's favour.

And yet none of these 'many previous tweets' have been retweeted at all, to support the argument. Seems odd.

 

[The Clamp]

You're missing the point.

Baker tweeted a picture of a CHIMP dressed as a baby, on the occasion of this royal birth.

All over social media (including this very thread) fans of Baker are telling us that there was clearly no racial intent, as he'd posted the very same image previously, on the occasion of other royal births.

If that is true, then they'd have a good point, and it would mitigate strongly in Baker's favour.

And yet none of these 'many previous tweets' have been retweeted at all, to support the argument. Seems odd.

I agree. What I mean is the only person who would do that is DB himself, I can't imagine many people having the spine to go back an retweet the previous pics for fear of being accused of defending racism.

 

[A1X]

[TWEET]1126425441219358720[/TWEET]

 

[Goldstone1976]

The sensible thing to do is to put your hand up, admit the error, and then everything moves on.

I'd hope and think that if he'd issued an immediate, contrite, unconditional retraction and apology, with no other additions or attempt to excuse his tweet, he'd have got away with it.

Stupidly, he didn't - yes, he apologised and deleted the tweet; but always with some form of caveat/excuse/dig at those having a pop at him. Stupider and stupider.

 

[studio150]

Although interestingly his twitter account has not been suspended or closed, so its just the BBC acting and most of his twitter followers have accepted the tweet as intended by Danny Baker?

 

[Willow]

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.

No idea about the Tweets, but he often plays (played) a segment on his show 'Monkey's dressed as famous people played to fairground music' which is where the connection to the chimp picture comes from.

 

[Steve in Japan]

The BBC don't have anything against "pale males" and would have been happy to continue employing him.

From the BBC's website

We know the diversity of production teams and who our audience see and hear in our programmes is vital to how we reflect modern Britain. The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy we launched in 2016 made clear our firm commitment to change by 2020 and aim to have:
— 50% women on screen, on-air and in lead roles across all genres from drama to news;
— 15% black, Asian and ethnic minorities on screen, on-air and in lead roles across all genres;
— 8% disabled people on-screen and on-air including some lead roles; and
— 8% LGBT on screen portrayal including some lead roles.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Thumper's advice in Bambi, many years ago. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. It's not new.

Not new, but it is stifling the truth at times.

 

[wellquickwoody]

From the BBC's website

We know the diversity of production teams and who our audience see and hear in our programmes is vital to how we reflect modern Britain. The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy we launched in 2016 made clear our firm commitment to change by 2020 and aim to have:
— 50% women on screen, on-air and in lead roles across all genres from drama to news;
— 15% black, Asian and ethnic minorities on screen, on-air and in lead roles across all genres;
— 8% disabled people on-screen and on-air including some lead roles; and
— 8% LGBT on screen portrayal including some lead roles.

Puts paid to hiring the best person to do the job.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Genuinely surprised that he's been sacked for this.
And I am a leftie, liberal, snowflake sort of bloke..

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Thumper's advice in Bambi, many years ago. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. It's not new.

He didn't say anything he presented an image designed to mock the presentation of the royal baby and how the World sees it, it was a stupid thing to do but like politicians I wonder what we'll end up with if we continually sack people who have an opinion, sense of humour or stand by their political and constituents wishes, we now have enough morons who'll just tow the party line.

 

[beorhthelm]

Although interestingly his twitter account has not been suspended or closed, so its just the BBC acting and most of his twitter followers have accepted the tweet as intended by Danny Baker?

how else do you intend a picture of a chimp, with reference to a mixed race baby?

 

[Icy Gull]

How thick must Baker be if he couldn’t foresee what was coming?

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

how else do you intend a picture of a chimp, with reference to a mixed race baby?

What if he was referencing just a 'posh' baby and not the mixed-race element?

You know, 'cos not everything has to be about race.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

He didn't say anything he presented an image designed to mock the presentation of the royal baby and how the World sees it, it was a stupid thing to do but like politicians I wonder what we'll end up with if we continually sack people who have an opinion, sense of humour or stand by their political and constituents wishes, we now have enough morons who'll just tow the party line.

Toe the party line.
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/toe+the+line

 

[Icy Gull]

What if he was referencing just a 'posh' baby and not the mixed-race element?

You know, 'cos not everything has to be about race.

If that’s what you want to believe from that Millwall fan (pigeon holes Baker)

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

How thick must Baker be if he couldn’t foresee what was coming?

This is the thing though. It's SO thick that I can't possibly see it being an sort of deliberate racial thing. If there was ANY knowingly racial element to it (which he would KNOW would mean he is going to be sacked) he surely wouldn't have posted it.

 

[rippleman]

*Millwall fan in racist tweet shocker*

 

[Chicken Run]

It’s no surprise to me that fans of Danny Baker will support him and won’t understand the fuss, equally it was no surprise that fans of Clarkson jumped to his defence after his ridiculous behaviour.