DANNY BAKER has been sacked by the BBC after posting a controversial tweet reacting to the arrival of the Royal Baby.
The 61-year-old broadcaster sparked widespread criticism after sharing a picture of a couple leaving a hospital holding hands with a chimpanzee alongside the caption: “Royal baby leaves hospital.”
Baker’s tweet was condemned by many on social media as racist, coming on the morning Meghan Markle – who is of African-American descent – and Prince Harry made their first public appearance alongside their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
The veteran presenter quickly deleted the tweet, posting a message insisting that while he had removed the offending message, there was never any racist intent behind it.
He wrote: “Sorry my gag pic of the little fella in the posh outfit has whipped some up. Never occurred to me because, well, mind not diseased.”
“Soon as those good enough to point out its possible connotations got in touch, down it came. And that’s it. Now stand by for sweary football tweets.”
“Connection never occurred to me till people were good enough to enlighten. ‘Little fella in posh suit. Anyway, deleted now.”
Sorry my gag pic of the little fella in the posh outfit has whipped some up. Never occurred to me because, well, mind not diseased. Soon as those good enough to point out it's possible connotations got in touch, down it came. And that's it. Now stand by for sweary football tweets
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) May 8, 2019
Once again. Sincere apologies for the stupid unthinking gag pic earlier. Was supposed to be joke about Royals vs circus animals in posh clothes but interpreted as about monkeys & race, so rightly deleted. Royal watching not my forte.
Also, guessing it was my turn in the barrel. pic.twitter.com/86cQGbAhDc— Danny Baker (@prodnose) May 8, 2019
Despite his immediate apology over the incident, the BBC has taken the decision to part ways with Baker, who had previously presented the Saturday Show on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The BBC said in a statement: “This was a serious error of judgment and goes against the values we as a station aim to embody. Danny’s a brilliant broadcaster but will no longer be presenting a weekly show with us.”
Baker also confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: “Just got fired from @bbc5live. For the record – it was red sauce. Always’ – a reference to the Sausage Sandwich Game on his show.
Just got fired from @bbc5live.
For the record - it was red sauce. Always.— Danny Baker (@prodnose) May 9, 2019
The call to fire me from @bbc5live was a masterclass of pompous faux-gravity. Took a tone that said I actually meant that ridiculous tweet and the BBC must uphold blah blah blah. Literally threw me under the bus. Could hear the suits knees knocking. #Fuckem
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) May 9, 2019
He added: “The call to fire me from @bbc5live was a masterclass of pompous faux-gravity. Took a tone that said I actually meant that ridiculous tweet and the BBC must uphold blah blah blah. Literally threw me under the bus. Could hear the suits knees knocking. #F***em.”
