To think Lord Sugar should be sacked from the BBC for his tweet?

[BlondeSea]

Earlier today Lord Sugar tweeted a photo of the Senegal football team with a caption along the lines of "I recognise these from the beaches in Marbella selling sunglasses!"

He doctored the image to add pictures of sunglasses. People challenged him online and he insisted it was funny and refused to apologise however since then he has apologised - he's obviously been forced to.

I won't add the image here, it's now been taken down but you can see it if you google it. AIBU to think this is disgusting, not funny, and he should be fired from the BBC?

I'm not sure whether this is actually racist or just a rude joke based on stereotypes, tbh.

Frankly, I struggle to see any meaningful difference.

I’m sick of people saying “my black friend/husband/student says it’s funny”. That’s ridiculous to justify it yourself that way.

Fwiw I’m black and I do find it racist. Like a PP has pointed out, it wouldn’t work with the Swedish National team, it only works because they’re Black Africans.

I am so disappointed with this thread, it really saddens me.

Someone upthread mentioned white people experiencing racism. White people do not experience racism like the degrading and dehumanising racism experienced by POC.

I think he was having a bit of fun with no malice or offence intended.

Does this actually matter?

People engaging in racist behaviour may not do so maliciously. (Same for sexism, btw)

It may just be good natured fun for them. Or trying to be 'helpful' etc...

Bit dramatic, Gilead! People are quite worked up about a tweet, aren’t they? I keep thinking that maybe I missed a really bad tweet, but I really don’t think it’s so bad and neither did my colleagues (people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds btw). A bit daft maybe, but again, no malice in it imo.

Get a grip, guys!

I’m sick of people saying “my black friend/husband/student says it’s funny”. That’s ridiculous to justify it yourself that way.

I agree. They listen to one person in the world and because it aligns with their thoughts, that's it, it's justified. But, they ignore all the people on twitter and on this thread saying it's racist.

If they want to say that their own opinion is that it's not racist. Well I might not agree, but it's better than using "my black friend".

A bit daft maybe, but again, no malice in it imo.

Who knows what his intentions are? But, just because he didn't intend malice, doesn't mean that the tweet is not racist. He can think it was a bit of fun, and it can still be inappropriate and racist.

There are loads of mostly jolly and mostly kind people, who still say racist inappropriate things.

It's racist though of course it is there really isn't an argument is there

RebeccaBunch, your colleagues of various backgrounds most likely didn’t want to be seen as ‘making a fuss’. If they called it out for what it is, they have people like you telling them that white people can’t have a laugh at the expense of a black guy anymore.

Get a grip, guys!

No, you get a grip you racist.

Still waiting for you to explain the 'joke'.

A bit daft maybe, but again, no malice in it im

I thought you said it was 'sweet and a compliment'.

I am sure there was no malice meant. Just like some blokes don't mean to be sexist. Just banter and all.

But it does reveal him to be a racist. He just doesn't think he's a racist. Maybe he doesn't actively go on racist marches. But this tweet and his reaction shows what he really thinks.

I wonder if his views affected his Apprentice show - with subconscious racism?

RebeccaBunch, your colleagues of various backgrounds most likely didn’t want to be seen as ‘making a fuss’. If they called it out for what it is, they have people like you telling them that white people can’t have a laugh at the expense of a black guy anymore

Just like women don't want to make a fuss about sexism etc.

All part of the same picture.

and
Agree !

I can totally see my mixed race Mate laughing at this in public , in a kind of - don't want to make a fuss , it's not the worst thing anyone has said to me , desensitised kind of way. Much like women laugh at themselfs at sexist jokes sometimes

Doesn't make it ok tho and people like Alan sugar should set a better example

Strange how all of the black people posting here have said they found the tweet racist, but all the 'multi ethnic friends' of certain posters found it totally inoffensive and think we should all get a grip!

It was a really bad tweet. It was racist. That makes it bad. What happens when one of your students reports racist behaviour? Do you report to the LEA or dismiss and marginalise their experience in the same way you do mine, Rebecca.
How, out of interest do you justify your racism in the staff room?

Do naff off, Moonkissedlegs, what a disgusting piece of crap you are for calling someone a racist. Bang out of order.

what a disgusting piece of crap you are for calling someone a racist. Bang out of order

You suggested that this racist tweet was "sweet and a compliment".

Either you are racist or you don't understand racism.

Which is it?

But that's exactly what you are, Rebecca. Every post you have made is racist. Stating that a tweet that was called out by thousands of people was funny, sweet and enabling for the team via publicity, was racist.

rebecca but that's exactly what you are.

The fact that I x posted the exact same words and had the exact same thought process as @Gilead says a lot IMO

I’m sure if someone made a joke about Alan, he wouldn’t give a toss.

I suspect he would if it were based on the fact that he is Jewish and also based on the premise that all Jews are the same. And rightly so.

RebeccaBunch, you seem to have joined a long line of previous posters on this thread who claim to find the "joke" funny but then ignore requests that you explain why it is funny. Is there any chance of you rectifying that?

Indeed, ohbaby.

Are you for real, Gilead and kalapattar? Really, you feel you can call me racist for not hating a tweet that’s cool to hate and get all upset over, calling the author racist etc?

How fucking dare you call someone racist. If I suddenly speak out against it, am I no longer so?

Night all, I’m out. Enjoy your silly virtue signalling quarrels, sweeties.

Aaaaand another person disappears without explaining why they find this so funny. Strange, that.

I'd suggest you read the thread properly Rebecca. I have scars thanks to racist thugs.
Then re-read it. You're a teacher, you can obviously learn. What you have posted is racist. Consistently so, so why the fuck are you creating about being labelled so? If you choose to stick to your guns, then the consequences are that you get called out according to what you write, and what you write is racist. See, that's how it works. You write racist shit, I dare to call you a racist.
Are we getting there yet?