Veteran newsreader Alastair Stewart loses job.

Not much being said about the 'errors of judgement', but apparently it's down to him quoting a Shakespeare passage to a black man that included the word "ape". This is despite the fact that he had previously directed the same tweet to a white person.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51300799

Reply 1

fallen_acorns

20

Original post by Occitanie

Not much being said about the 'errors of judgement', but apparently it's down to him quoting a Shakespeare passage to a black man that included the word "ape". This is despite the fact that he had previously directed the same tweet to a white person.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51300799

I genuinly wonder what the 'victim' thinks now? Does he actually think that what he has caused is justified by how offended/upset he was? Was he even upset or offended at all? Or was he happy after the tweet because he knew he could weaponise it to his advantage?

Reply 2

Johnny Tightlips

21

Original post by Occitanie

Not much being said about the 'errors of judgement', but apparently it's down to him quoting a Shakespeare passage to a black man that included the word "ape". This is despite the fact that he had previously directed the same tweet to a white person.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51300799

40 years' of service washed away because of that?? Jesus f*cking wept. Hope those offended people step on a lego the bullies :mad:

Reply 3

Johnny Tightlips

21

Original post by fallen_acorns

I genuinly wonder what the 'victim' thinks now? Does he actually think that what he has caused is justified by how offended/upset he was? Was he even upset or offended at all? Or was he happy after the tweet because he knew he could weaponise it to his advantage?

I don't actually know if this was the reason for him being fired tho

(edited 4 years ago)

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Reply 4

Napp

22

This would probably be one of those times where releasing the "victims" details wouldnt be a particularly bad move.

Reply 5

Occitanie

OP

16

Original post by fallen_acorns

I genuinly wonder what the 'victim' thinks now? Does he actually think that what he has caused is justified by how offended/upset he was? Was he even upset or offended at all? Or was he happy after the tweet because he knew he could weaponise it to his advantage?

See, I don’t think it’s just one person. I believe it’s a rather large group who were offended. It’s possible it wasn’t even this one black person...

Stewart was clearly under a lot of pressure to step down.

Then again, based on Johnny Tightlips’ attachment, maybe it was just him...

There is obviously some context missing from the tweets, but it seems we’ve lost an experience newsreader.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 6

Johnny Tightlips

21

Original post by Occitanie

See, I don’t think it’s just one person. I believe it’s a rather large group who were offended. It’s possible it wasn’t even this one black person...

Stewart was clearly under a lot of pressure to step down.

from the remnants of the twitter clash it looks like (yet again) it was a vocal minority. The large majority of people were against it.
I do wonder if it's some editorial clause though, like presenters can't show bias outside of work etc. Idk

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 7

Occitanie

OP

16

Original post by Johnny Tightlips

from the remnants of the twitter clash it looks like (yet again) it was a vocal minority. The large majority of people were against it.
I do wonder if it's some editorial clause though, like presenters can't show bias outside of work etc. Idk

There’s a chance that is indeed the case, but I fail to see how Stewart is showing biased.

He just quoted a passage from Shakespeare, which happened to use the term ‘ape’ and then this guy who got offended picks it out, calls it racist (when it isn’t) and complains.

Does anyone really believe that Stewart is racist or that he intended to target the guy because of his race?? It’s absurd.

You know, amongst thousands, I called this sort of behaviour years and years ago. We’re all going to end up constantly walking on eggshells. Free speech is most definitely and undeniably under attack.

All one can hope is that some day these kind of people will take a long hard look at themselves and ask whether they’re the fascists.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 8

username4986690

19

It sounds very suspicious that his career ended over a single tweet that didn't even get much publicity.

Speculation should not be taken as fact.

Reply 9

Nalk1573

13

More women have come forward from 40 years ago accusing Stewart of racially abusing them.

Reply 10

username4986690

19

Seems the reporting was not quite accurate, what a surprise.

https://twitter.com/MShapland/status/1222851578132148224

Reply 11

Occitanie

OP

16

Original post by Nalk1573

More women have come forward from 40 years ago accusing Stewart of racially abusing them.

I’m just going to go ahead and assume this is in jest...

Reply 12

the beer

14

Pretty weird behaviour from Stewart there, guess he's just really devoted to the royal family. :dontknow:

Reply 13

Just my opinion

20

People gain a certain delight from joining a mob and watching somebody destroyed in real time.
Check out Jon Ronson's Ted talk on the destruction of Justine Secco.

https://youtu.be/Y9G6L4ZNuWk

Reply 14

Johnny Tightlips

21

Original post by Occitanie

There’s a chance that is indeed the case, but I fail to see how Stewart is showing biased.

He just quoted a passage from Shakespeare, which happened to use the term ‘ape’ and then this guy who got offended picks it out, calls it racist (when it isn’t) and complains.

Does anyone really believe that Stewart is racist or that he intended to target the guy because of his race?? It’s absurd.

You know, amongst thousands, I called this sort of behaviour years and years ago. We’re all going to end up constantly walking on eggshells. Free speech is most definitely and undeniably under attack.

All one can hope is that some day these kind of people will take a long hard look at themselves and ask whether they’re the fascists.

But it's a small minority of people who feel this way, that's what I don't get. Why in the last 5+ years have they dominated public discourse? Why do companies/councils etc give in to their demands?
Imo it's a combination of social media allowing faux-outrage to be stoked, lazy journalists just wanting clickbait, and universities for having stupid professors. But that's just a guess, I really don't know