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Original poster

To think Radio 5 host Danny Baker cannot stay at the BBC?

999 replies

KingHenrysCodpiece · 09/05/2019 08:41

Sorry if theres a post on this already.
Link www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7009283/BBC-Radio-5-Live-host-Danny-Baker-tweets-racist-Royal-Baby-monkey-image.html

He ought to go immediately.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Whatafustercluck · 09/05/2019 12:54

OK, I note Mike Read doesn't have a regular contract at the BBC but they do sem to bring him back regularly, and he is still very much a media personality.

They also give airtime to Nigel Farage, which does suggest a somewhat light touch approach to consistency at the BBC.

Acis · 09/05/2019 12:56

Another one here who is baffled by this. I initially thought, stretching charitableness to its very limits, that at the relevant time he could have been concentrating on the royal joke and the racist connotations simply didn't occur to him. But, even if that were the case, his response once he realised, was, quite simply, really 'off'. Surely anyone decent would have been totally mortified by this, and would have covered themselves with apologies - not blamed others for supposedly misinterpreting the joke. Even after being sacked, he's referring to "that ridiculous tweet" rather than "that awful, incredibly hurtful racist tweet that I will bitterly regret for the rest of my life".

Additionally, I was unaware of the Millwall connection. I agree that it's impossible to understand how he could have missed the connotations. And how could he be unaware that Meghan was mixed race? Is he really saying that, as a well-informed man and a journalist, he has never ever seen a picture of her mother?

But - I would never have had him down as a racist. I realise I may well be totally wrong about that, but I really am seriously wondering whether he was off his face or has had some sort of breakdown.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/05/2019 12:56

finding My problem seems to be ingnorance in others, mainly lack or reading comprehension.

That post started with I can clearly see the racial connotations.

Snipping sinlgle lines form their context isn't at all clever!"

findingmyfeet12 · 09/05/2019 13:00

*I'm still conflicted on it.

I can clearly see the racial connotations.

I can also clearly see the Old Fashioned Family Trots Out Newborn connotations

Part of me thinks the issue is with those who connect chimpanzees as a refrence to black poeple

Part of me thinks it is just cruel to the chimp.

Most of me wants to live in a world where it just doesn't fucking matter!*

Here's the whole thing. Doesn't look any better.

Iamtheworst · 09/05/2019 13:02

The best thing about Brexit is it is giving confidence to racists to air the views overtly. And I like racists where I can see them.

There is no place for it in 2019 but better have them spouting this shit publicly so we can all judge than hiding behind smoke and mirrors.

lotusbell · 09/05/2019 13:05

He's been sacked a few times before for various things, he knows how these things work so why he is shocked,I dont know. He's been in the biz for long enough, has seen many a celebrity downfall. He was trying to make a joke about the Royal Family and circus animals or something, apparently. He is a smug, entitled, out of touch has been and his apology is still mocking.

HarryDaylight · 09/05/2019 13:06

Iamtheworst - completely agree with you. Brexit has lured a lot of racists out the woodwork. Better to have them in plain sight, especially those in the media.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/05/2019 13:07

Why not!

I haven't noted any racism in DB before, quite the opposite. This is awful, but is probably the product of an older white, famous male with lack of wider thinking. Stupid, offensive and deserving in censure... thoigh maybe not outright sacking, especially given other things that have been 'forgiven'.

I have seen similar pictures, television adverts all my life. None were racist, well they were in hindsight because racists and changing social mores made them so, but mainly they were banned as they were cruel to the chimpanzees - like the Typhoo ads.

Mostly I am pissed of that we still live in a world where the colour of someones skin makes any bloody difference to them or anyone else.

Why is any of that bad? Why do people insist on reading the worst into posts? WHy is it that I am now defending what I posted when I was not being racist or offensive.

Stop doing it. It just gives closet racists an axe to grind.. a bit like "Well sometimes women are violent too"

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/05/2019 13:08

WHy is it that I am now defending what I posted when I was not being racist or offensive. Oh... the irony!

bellabasset · 09/05/2019 13:08

How very rude and insulting to compare a child to a chimpanzee. At least he has been sacked.

FoxSquadKitten · 09/05/2019 13:08

It made me think of being paraded around like performing monkeys, not race.

If this is what he meant then why not post it with William and Kate's brood, especially as he has a collection of 'chimps dressed as humans' images weirdo
Anyway Meghan and Harry have been the total opposite of parading the baby around, they have wanted privacy surrounding the birth, so that explanation doesn't work anyway.

ThatCurlyGirl · 09/05/2019 13:10

@Weirdwonders

Calling people worthy is extremely patronising. It's not worthy to be aware of things we haven't experienced first hand. Worthy implies someone is being false or disingenuous.

I'm not Jewish but me confronting anti Semitism is not "worthy", it's a reflection of my moral compass and my listening to other people's experience of racism.

Same applies to my reaction to the tweet in question.

JacquesHammer · 09/05/2019 13:11

This is awful, but is probably the product of an older white, famous male with lack of wider thinking

He works in the media, he’s paid to have wider thinking.

And he absolutely does know about the racist connotations of monkeys - he discussed it earlier in the football season.

CornishMaid1 · 09/05/2019 13:12

It was a silly thing for him to do.

I could understand him not thinking it was rascist - my mind didn't go to monkey and mixed race but to the idea of the media needing them to parade the baby like a performing monkey as the saying used to go.

If that was his reason and he apologised saying he didn't realise then that would be one thing, but instead he just went on that it is the fault of others for finding it offensive, which just makes it seem more intentional.

ohfourfoxache · 09/05/2019 13:12

Just seen a clip of him answering his door.

Instead of being apologetic and contrite he’s gone off on a rant.

Nasty, racist, aggressive little cunt Angry

Iamtheworst · 09/05/2019 13:13

Thank you HarryDaylight I was worried I came across as in favour of a racism after I’d written it. Weird old world.

NoSauce · 09/05/2019 13:13

Why is any of that bad? Why do people insist on reading the worst into posts? WHy is it that I am now defending what I posted when I was not being racist or offensive

He posted a photo of a couple with a monkey then referred to it as H and M and their new baby. Given that Meghan is mixed race it was extremely offensive plus racist. Even ( for some unknown reason ) he thought it would be funny before he actually posted it, he would imo have thought “ oh shit that would come across as really awful and racist “ but he didn’t. He posted it and then made a very lame apology.

Calloway · 09/05/2019 13:14

I've always thought Baker was an arse but I'm inclined to think he posted the picture without any racist intent. I do think his reaction to people's reaction to the tweet was very poor though.

Alsohuman · 09/05/2019 13:15

For Christ’s sake will people stop trying to excuse him on the basis of his age? He’s four years younger than I am. This kind of unpleasantness has been unacceptable for decades.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/05/2019 13:16

You're doing it again... rest of that paragraph...

The fact that he discussed monkeys earlier in the season is one of the things that makes it more likely he was NOT being racist but was looking back at the 50s when he posted. Stupid, rose tinted and unthinking.

Basically he fucked up. He used a particularly white, English picture, akin to those 'Saucy Seaside' postcards, to denote a certain humerous message. He forgot to check his privilege, and the year, and so received summary dismissal. Harsh, possibly unfair, but definitely in line with much of today's social media driven pace of life.

JacquesHammer · 09/05/2019 13:19

*You're doing it again... rest of that paragraph...

The fact that he discussed monkeys earlier in the season is one of the things that makes it more likely he was NOT being racist but was looking back at the 50s when he posted. Stupid, rose tinted and unthinking.

Basically he fucked up. He used a particularly white, English picture, akin to those 'Saucy Seaside' postcards, to denote a certain humerous message. He forgot to check his privilege, and the year, and so received summary dismissal. Harsh, possibly unfair, but definitely in line with much of today's social media driven pace of life*

Pointlessly quoting your post in its entirety just to pacify you.

The rest of your paragraph didn’t mean anything.

I refuse to believe someone in his line of work doesn’t know the monkey associations.

JacquesHammer · 09/05/2019 13:20

As per usual people will tie themselves in knots to try and excuse poor behaviour in white, middle-aged men.

It’s tiresome.

justarandomtricycle · 09/05/2019 13:21

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Whatafustercluck · 09/05/2019 13:21

Brexit has lured a lot of racists out the woodwork.

I agree. However, DB is a Remainer I think so not sure how this is relevant in his case.

BertrandRussell · 09/05/2019 13:22

Age is a ridiculous attempt at explanation/excuse- although a very commonly used one on Mumsnet. And, I many say, one much accepted if the “perp” is a right winger...

As a long term Danny Baker fan, I can actually buy that he was making a point about class rather than race-it fits much more with his attitudes and other stuff he says. But 2 seconds thought should have shown him how it would look. And his apologies leave much to be desired.