Danny Baker fired

JonH · All-time great

Danny Baker fired

JonH · All-time great

I have been reading some more on this and realise I was wrong above when I intended to defend him. Danny did deserve to get fired. Silly man.

metro.co.uk/2019/05/09/racism-like-danny-bakers-tweet-is-usually-explained-away-im-glad-the-bbc-fired-him-9465905/

-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 9th of May 2019 02:20:01 PM

Jajon · Strong Club Player

Such a bizarre story. Trying to say he didnt understand the racist connotations in the tweet he posted and that he didnt even know who was having the baby seem...suspect. But if he understood that he tweeted it knowing hed get a backlash...surely? Either way, the man had to go and the article above is a v good read. What a fool

indiana · Tennis legend

It is bizarre. But Baker has never struck me as a racist though not surprised that he would attempt to lampoon privilege. And he doesn't seem the most thinking through or organised of folk.

He has sent a series of apologetic and explanatory tweets.

www.aol.co.uk/news/2019/05/10/danny-baker-i-am-so-so-sorry-for-chimpanzee-tweet/

I do wonder.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don't know Danny Baker.

And I have some sympathy for people who SAY something wrong when a mike if pushed under their nose, or as part of a heated debate, whatever...
It's easy to slip up in speech - I'm not talking about blatant racism here, obviously, I'm meaning things that 'come out wrong'.

But I have zero sympathy for people who tweet/instagram/whatever offensive content. It takes some time to get the picture, write the tweet, attach and send. That's PLENTY of time for the grey matter to kick in and realise what the implication is, even if you didn't mean it.

And if you're too drunk or tired to check properly, then don't post.

Public figures like the visibility that their social media accounts attract - so they take the responsibility too.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Anybody who thinks Danny Baker is a racist is an idiot, anybody who things Danny Baker is not an idiot is an idiot. Not my quote, but apt... he has apologised unreservedly and I think it is a genuine apology and despite a natural but misguided attempt to explain it he regrets it.

The post was racist, offensive and not funny to me ... but there are others, who have much more grounds to be offended than I, who have held their counsel in South East London, where, how he fits in terms of reputation locally as a sports fan and broadcaster is better understood.

I have seen and heard a lot of his work and havent picked up an iota of racism in it, I dont think he has ever done stand up but will ask around that tends to be warts and all, but he has done so much with the general public live on air I think one would have picked it up. He is good at getting humour from places others dont see, his autobiographical sit com I felt was perhaps slightly rose tinted but not unrealistic piece of writing about growing up in a family on the make in a multi racial south east London Council estate. Two beautiful people with enormous wealth walking away from a private hospital with what is likely to be a beautiful son is probably not Dannys natural well to look down in search of humour and he has made a rare but high profile profound error of judgement.

JonH · All-time great

Danny will bounce back and agree with Oakland. Suspect we will see him on virgin radio sometime soon, he is good friends with Chris Evans.