The Reader: Danny Baker’s chimp tweet was racist — it’s right he was sacked

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Symbolic: Archie Windsor
Dominic Lipinski/PA
10 May 2019
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Danny Baker has issued an apology in response to the tidal wave of outrage over his vile, racist tweet following the birth of Meghan and Harry’s son Archie, the latest addition to the royal family.

That apology isn’t worth a grain of sand as the only person he feels sorry for is himself — like so many of today’s mostly unfunny, so-called comedians who incur the wrath of the public when they are unkind about people who are not in a position to defend themselves.

Quite rightly, he has already been fired by the BBC — and hopefully he will also be boycotted by other broadcasters.
Robert Readman

I welcome the news that BBC Radio 5 live has sacked Danny Baker for his racist tweet ridiculing the new royal baby. It’s what he deserved. It’s a rare example of a mainstream broadcaster taking overt racism in its ranks seriously and acting on it.

Racism is a social poison. Those who would disseminate it must challenged and stopped.
Sasha Simic

In firing Danny Baker, the BBC has bowed to the mob. Baker is so very removed from racism. He has also apologised for his naive tweet, and that should be the end of the matter. Shame on the cowardly BBC.
Barry Tighe

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear Robert, Sasha and Barry

As soon as Danny Baker was fired yesterday, our letters inbox lit up. Our readers feel very strongly about this — and it’s not hard to see why.

Baker posted an image of a small chimpanzee wearing a suit and captioned it “royal baby leaves hospital.” Archie Windsor, like his mother, is mixed race. The comparison, intentional or not, of him to an ape is unacceptable.

The best possible explanation, which you raise, Barry, was that it was “naive”. Others have pointed out that Baker did delete and apologise for his post. But his initial decision was at best thoughtless, and clearly caused offence to many, so it is hard to feel sympathy. By trying to brazen out the row, claiming BBC bosses were “throwing me under the bus,” Baker has given us a textbook example of how not to deal with the matter.

Archie Windsor, at four days old, is a symbol for a progressive Britain. We should be proud of him.

Robbie Smith, Letters editor

Greening’s seat at risk thanks to loonies

I know, like and admire Justine Greening, a decent, hard-working MP, and it upsets me to see her majority under pressure because of the Right-wing loonies who have taken over the Conservative Party [“Rage of dismayed Tories threatens backlash in key marginal”, May 8].

I don’t know anything about any Labour candidate for Putney, but a Labour win would inevitably hand power to a party that has, coincidentally, also been taken over by loonies.

It is not only the Tories’ handling of Brexit that has turned me against them but Theresa May’s decision to endorse a third runway at Heathrow, with the inevitable loss of the respite that is the only thing that makes living here bearable.

What planet are May and her advisers living on?
Elizabeth Balsom

Spurred on to win

Spurs’ amazing victory over Ajax was a miracle on a par with the feeding of the five thousand and the parting of the Red Sea. Manna from heaven.
Stan Labovitch

Both Liverpool and Tottenham were up against it but perseverance, talent and a belief in the right to stay in European competition won through.

We’ve been sent a message.
Harry Shaw

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