By Chioma Obinagwam with Agency Report
A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio host, Danny Baker, has announced that he has been sacked on the heels of an outpour of reactions, particularly negative, over a controversial photo he tweeted comparing the royal baby to a chimpanzee.
On Wednesday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry introduced their infant son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to the media. Shortly afterwards, BBC Radio 5 Live host Danny Baker posted an old black-and-white photo of a couple accompanied by a well-dressed chimpanzee, captioning it “royal baby leaves hospital.” As London’s Metro newspaper reports, the tweet quickly sparked outcry and accusations of racism against the duchess, whose biracial background has been targeted by trolls.
Prior to the termination of Baker’s appointment, Nigerian lawyer and former Minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode also condemned the racism comments on the newly-born.
“The most disgusting aspect of Danny Baker’s brand of racism is the fact that he does not appreciate the damage that his deplorable sentiments have done to race relations in the UK. There is something sociopathic and inherently evil about a man that can hate a newly-born a baby,” he reacted on his Twitter Feed @realFFK.
Fani-Kayode, however, called for the prosecution of the ex-BBC radio host.
Though some supporters are calling Baker’s firing an overreaction — “If, like me, you don’t see the color of Meghan’s skin, it was indeed just a joke about posh people,” read one comment — many are celebrating the BBC’s decision.
“Meghan has been subject to horrific/veiled racist abuse and prejudice online and in print since the start of their relationship,” noted British news anchor Charlene White in a Twitter thread. “Of which we are ALL aware.
“To post a pic picturing a 3-day old baby of mixed heritage as a monkey, then claim it was a joke? That’s old-school prejudice and racism at its peak. And for a trusted broadcaster working at a public service broadcaster to feed that prejudice? It’s unacceptable. And to claim ‘ignorance,’ and give a half-hearted apology — again full of jokey ‘banter’ — despite people highlighting just how clearly offensive it is, is also unacceptable. That’s not the world we live in now. Those who live in privilege must be held to account.”
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