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Danny Baker Sacked Amid 'Racist' Royal Baby Tweet Controversy

Danny Baker Sacked Amid 'Racist' Royal Baby Tweet Controversy

The broadcaster tweeted that he had been fired, though the BBC has yet to confirm this

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Danny Baker claims he has been sacked after sharing a picture on Twitter that has been called 'racist'.

The 61-year-old had previously presented a weekend show on the station.

The picture showed a monkey leaving a building while holding hands with a woman, with a man standing on the opposite side of the animal.

The photograph was captioned: "Royal baby leaves hospital."

Twitter

Baker then subsequently tweeted in his defence: "Sorry my gag pic of the little fella in the posh outfit has whipped some up. Never occurred to me because, well, mind not diseased.

"Soon as those good enough to point out it's possible connotations got in touch, down it came. And that's it."

He later added: "Connection never occurred to me till people were good enough to enlighten.

"Little fella in posh suit. Anyway, deleted now."

However, he then said: "Just got fired from @bbc5live."

PA

The BBC confirmed Baker's sacking shortly after via a statement in which a spokesperson said: "This was a serious error of judgement and goes against the values we as a station aim to embody.

"Danny's a brilliant broadcaster but will no longer be presenting a weekly show with us."

The statement caused great controversy because it appeared to make light of the Duchess of Sussex's racial heritage. The tweet was also posted just hours after the birth of the baby - named Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor - was announced.

One person on Twitter said: One Twitter user said: "So not only does Danny Baker post an image comparing a baby w African heritage to an ape, but he has the audacity to say problem is that those of us who point out how racist it is have 'diseased minds'.

"Classic example of blaming those of us who call out racism for its existence"

PA

Another added: "How the fuck is anyone seriously arguing that that Danny Baker tweet was 'not racist'?

"There's no other credible explanation for something containing such an obvious racist trope.

"If you're performing mental gymnastics to excuse it, maybe ask yourself why."

In the immediate aftermath, many people called for the BBC to take the action that they have now taken, including one Twitter user who said: "RACIST RACIST RACIST Danny Baker @prodnose should be given today to resign and clear his desk.

"If he is still there at 16.59 @bbc MUST FIRE HIM! I'm disgusted by the hate and racism inherent in his Tweet Unforgivable He's not fit to be a broadcaster employed from the public purse."

Well, at least that person has now got their wish.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: TV and Film, UK Entertainment