What did Alister Stuart actually say?

[PGtipsplease]

I can’t find anything on google. He’s stepping down over judgement of errors on social media.

Any ideas? I really liked him.

The comment was directed at a black man not a white man

Actually, it was part of a larger conversation and does not seem to have been directly addressed to the shit stirrer.

AS is well aware of the use of this word

He quoted an 8 line verse that he had quoted before, at a white person.

And going on reports from friends/work colleagues etc is never what we should base the decision if someone is innocent or guilty

Not what I said, is it? What I said that if Stewart is a racist, isn't it odd that he never provided evidence of this in his 40 year career in the public eye?

And what are you proposing? That we base our judgement solely on the words of a person with a history of race baiting on Twitter?

Would you accept a teacher using this quote towards a black pupil to tell them in a round about way they were wrong

Yes, why not? It's a great piece of verse, which is why it's quoted so often.

If the teacher used that quote generally against pupils regardless of their colour, then yes, I would. I'm sure it would go down just as badly but that doesn't make it racist.

It was an error of judgement clearly but that doesn't make it full of racist intent.

Actually, I take my posts back about Shapland. He is now saying that an apology would have sufficed and that it's regrettable that AS has stepped down.

It is still a mystery why ITV doesn't apply such standards consistently across its presenting team.

He is now saying that an apology would have sufficed and that it's regrettable that AS has stepped down

Bit late for that, isn't it?

and yet again the blind racism on here is absolutely breathtaking.

I have not said he is racist

But I don’t think because those who have worked with him have spoken out saying he isn’t is proof he doesn’t hold racist views.

Really it would be fine when there are so many thousands of other quote to use - and if wanting to quote Shakespeare there are many many to use

But I don’t think because those who have worked with him have spoken out saying he isn’t is proof he doesn’t hold racist views.

Again, that isn't what I've said.

If he's racist, why has he not provided evidence of it in his 40 year media career?

Really it would be fine when there are so many thousands of other quote to use - and if wanting to quote Shakespeare there are many many to use

Could you suggest one of these 'thousands' of similar quotes? Off the top of your head?

and yet again the blind racism on here is absolutely breathtaking.

I'm not really surprised by it anymore, it's fairly evident that Mumsnet has become a haven for the dog whistlers.

It's a quote he has used before, it must have been one of his favourites. Probably isn't now.

No plenty of people are capable of hiding their true selves or are one person at work another at home and another with friends - again does or doesn’t hold racist views

No I couldn’t but I am not as familiar with Shakespeare’s work apart from seeing the odd play but AS apparently is

I am aware of the use of language

No plenty of people are capable of hiding their true selves or are one person at work another at home and another with friends - again does or doesn’t hold racist views

Not sure what you're trying to say here. But Stewart has been in the public eye for about 40 years. So if he really does hold racist views, it's odd that it hasn't come to light in all that time.

No I couldn’t but I am not as familiar with Shakespeare’s work apart from seeing the odd play

So when you said there were 'thousands' of similar quotes you actually don't know if there's even one?

I think it's such a shame. Alistair Stewart had always struck me as such a charming intelligent newsreader. Ranvir Singh has defended him as championing people of colour in their industry. I saw the original tweets early this morning. His controversial quote was not directed at Martin Shapland. It was a favourite quote he had used previously. IMO his error was in getting involved in a Twitter argument with an unpleasant troublemaker ( who had previously made racist comments).

iced Plenty of people hide their true selves - he might be one of these people he might not be

He has the awareness to know that what he did isn't acceptable. Him being racist isn’t what I am saying but you no more than I know what his intention was we prefer to believe what he says. He himself acknowledges he made an error of judgement that comes with consequences should he of been suspended maybe - maybe he just knew it’s a fight he didn’t want to take on as he can see who will use his error as ammunition for their cause and that is already been played out in social media

The man in question has received lots of vitriol and even death threats (on twitter,) and is now backpedalling and saying he only wanted an apology from Alastair.

twitter.com/MShapland

He has also deleted quite a few of his own tweets. Seems quite a few of them were rather unsavoury.

Looks like he is actually far worse than Alastair could EVER be!

Have to admit though, some of the things being said to Mr Shapland are pretty vile. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Many, many years ago I knew AS slightly at university, where he was an ornament of a Revue group - sort of a Russell Group equivalent of the Footlights club. They put on some good productions, but all seemed somewhat up themselves. I was a little surprised that he simply ended up newsreading, I thought he was aiming at something more creative.

I’m sure he is actually receiving lots of racist abuse now. Horrible. These people are out there.

But the idea that everyone is a racist is just silly and that seems to be the recipient’s starting point given his other tweets. We might not all be terribly educated on what is the latest term of art and precisely why it is that POC is now the correct phrase when five years ago it wasn’t - but that doesn’t mean most people are racist in any meaningful sense.