Dancing On Ice bosses ‘refuse to axe Rufus Hound after historic racist and homophobic tweets resurface’

• The comedian, 41, has reportedly been told he ‘won’t be kicked off the show’ after old tweets resurfaced in which he used the word ‘r****d’ in 2011
• He also referred to Ed Sheeran as a ‘gay lord’ and tweeted racist words, including the n-word  in 2012
• A source claimed to the website that ITV was being hypocritical following the axing of I’m A Celebrity star Jack Maynard back in 2017 over historic tweets 
• A representative for Dancing On Ice declined to comment to Mailonline. A spokesman for Rufus Hound has also been contacted for comment 
• Hound has branded his past tweets ‘stupid and hurtful’, writing: ‘If anything I’ve said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it’s because I can be stupid ‘
• Dancing on Ice bosses faced calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack 
• Comedian shared tweet in 2017  stating the timing of bombing was ‘fortunate’ for May 
• He later said he was not alleging it as true but government not ‘incapable of evil’
• Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke said it is ITV’s ‘moral’ obligation to sack him from show 

Dancing On Ice bosses are ‘refusing to axe Rufus Hound’ after historic tweets by the star using racist and homophobic slurs resurfaced, it has been claimed.

The Sun reports the comedian, 41, has been told he ‘won’t be kicked off the show’ after old tweets from the star emerged in which he used the word ‘r****d’ in 2011, referred to Ed Sheeran as a ‘gay lord’ and tweeted racist slurs including the n-word in 2012.

A source claimed to the website that ITV was being hypocritical with Hound –  following the axing of I’m A Celebrity star Jack Maynard back in 2017 after tweets emerged of him using racist and homophobic slurs. 

Claim: Dancing On Ice bosses are ‘refusing to axe Rufus Hound’ after historic tweets emerged of using racist and homophobic terms, it has been claimed 

A source told the website: ‘Dancing On Ice have made their position clear and while Rufus’s tweets have been quietly condemned, right now it’s not being seen as an offence which would require his removal.

‘It seems there is one rule for some, and one for another. After Jack was taken off I’m A Celebrity for the same kind of tweets, it was assumed that Rufus would be told he should step down.

‘But it’s been made clear to those working on the show that they’re standing by him.’

A representative for Dancing On Ice declined to comment to Mailonline. A spokesman for Rufus Hound has also been contacted for comment.

Backlash: The Sun reports the comedian, 41, has been told he ‘won’t be kicked off the show’ after old tweets from the star resurfaced in which he used offensive slurs (pictured on the show with partner Robin Johnstone)

Earlier this week it was reported Dancing on Ice bosses were facing calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack. 

The comedian stirred outrage among MPs and bomb victims who want him axed from the show for retweeting the unsubstantiated claims – coincidentally Mr Hound is now isolating for ten days after coming into contact with coronavirus and will not be appearing on this week’s show.  

Mr Hound retweeted: ‘Given the attacker was known to MI5, the timing seems fortunate for May that an attack ‘slips through’ as Labour are making progress.’ 

He then added his own comment, suggesting that May, the Prime Minister at the time of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombings, had planned the attack to help the Tories win the election, The Sun on Sunday reports.  

Unearthed: Hound used shocking racist slurs in a tweet from 2012 which contained the n-word 

Tweets: He also branded Ed Sheeran a ‘gay lord’ in a 2012 tweet and used the word ‘r****d’ in a 2011 tweet

The conspiracy theorist wrote: ‘Apologies for mild tinhattedness, but I’ve been thinking the same. Esp. as she was Home Secretary for so long.’

He later tweeted that he was not suggesting it was true, but that he believed it could be possible, adding: ‘I guess I’m not really alleging it as true, more that I don’t believe our establishment is incapable of such evil. Especially during an election.’

MP Rob Halfon told The Sun on Sunday: ‘This is horrific.’These trivial remarks are deeply offensive to victims of the Manchester attack.’

Whilst another Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke told the publication that it was ITV’s ‘moral responsibility’ to ‘chuck out’ contestants using the show as a political platform. 

Report: Earlier this week it was reported Dancing on Ice bosses were facing calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack

Horror: A scene following the Manchester Arena attack at an Ariana Grande concert

Jade Clough, 33, from Stockport, who was hit by shrapnel at the Manchester attack carried out by Salman Abedi, told The Sun on Sunday that the claims were ‘outrageous’ and said the celebrity’s actions could make people feel it was ok to share similar unsubstantiated claims. 

ITV declined to comment on the matter, MailOnline has contacted Hound’s representatives for comment.

Ahead of the report on his historic tweets on Sunday, Hound shared a link to tweets originally posted in September 2020, in which he responded to criticism of his posts.      

The thread read: ‘Hi there Occasionally for different reasons, people trawl through my timeline (I’ve been on this site for 11 years, so that’s a fair bit of material) to find stuff that they can take offence at or inspire offence in others with.  

Tweets: In a series of tweets made in 2017 Mr Hound shared his view that the government were not ‘incapable of such evil’

‘So, I just want to make something abundantly clear: When I was a stand-up and a younger man, the culture on here was much darker and edgier. I made jokes about race, sexuality, politics… everything.

‘You may not like those jokes. You may find those jokes offensive or upsetting. And if you do, there’s a very good chance that I hadn’t thought about them or the subjects they covered enough.

‘Hell, I put out a Comedy Central Special that was almost entirely about oral sex and when I watch it back (I have done this only once in the last 6 years) there’s stuff I wish I hadn’t said, or said differently or just flat out don’t like.’  

He continued: ‘My point is this. For the last few years, I have largely absented myself from the pop mainstream. Stopped doing panel shows, only went on quizzes when I could win money for charities etc. Theatre’s what I’ve been doing and that comes at enormous personal cost.  

‘Cost of time, money and relationships. But I LOVE it. As anyone who knew me from birth to 19 and they’ll tell you. It’s all I ever wanted to do. And now I get to do it. Or did, before… y’know….’

He branded his past tweets ‘stupid and hurtful’, writing: ‘If anything I’ve said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it’s because I can be stupid and hurtful. I, sincerely, try to understand and do better. Ask anyone who knows me. I am not short of thinking. Paralysingly, sometimes.

‘I’m not aware of anything specific coming my way, hand on heart. This isn’t one of those moments where my publicist has phoned me and said they’ve found my prints on the body (I don’t even have a publicist. Well, I did but they died in mysterious circumstances. And I wear gloves)

Response: Ahead of the report on his historic tweets on Sunday, Hound shared a link to tweets originally posted in September 2020, in which he responded to criticism of his posts

Regret: He branded his past tweets ‘stupid and hurtful’, writing: ‘If anything I’ve said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it’s because I can be stupid and hurtful’

‘… it’s more that I just want to say people change. People grow. People improve. Whilst I still have endless improvements to make, undoubtedly, I’m trying.

‘So, if a load of old s**t I came out with years ago offends you or upsets you, know that there’s a very good chance it offends and upsets me too, which is why I stopped saying it.’  

He continued: ‘I believe in equality of opportunity, in love as a superpower, in women. I believe you should be free to do anything you like as long as it doesn’t endanger the physical wellbeing of other people.

‘I believe that who you are and who you choose to be should be met with kindness by the world. I believe no one person has any more intrinsic value than any other. I believe we should be working together to make the world a better place for all of humankind.

‘I believe we can all be better if we choose to be and shouldn’t be defined by our worst days. I believe that, when all is said and done, Salt and Vinegar Squares are the absolute best crisps.’

‘And all I can ask you to think of me is this: Imperfect man, trying to be kind, sane and funny in an unkind, mad, bleak world. Thank you for coming to my [bloa]TED [sense of self regard] talk x.’

 It comes after the former Celebrity Juice star caused a stir during week one’s show by criticising the UK Government over free school meals. 

Mr Hound took aim at the government’s stance on free school meals and said his video game-inspired performance was the ‘least mad thing that has happened in a long time.’ 

Missed a week: Sources say Mr Hound has tested negative for the coronavirus and is now isolating at home. Mr Hound pictured with Robin Johnstone

He said: ‘I’ve spent most of this year not being emotionally stable because the world stopped making sense and this does not make more sense of it.

‘We live in a world where the people we elect don’t want to feed hungry children, this is the least mad thing that has happened to me in a long time.’

Ofcom has since received 341 complaints about the episode, with the majority made about Mr Hound. On Sunday the comedian has had to pull out of the show in accordance with government guidelines, which state that he now has to quarantine at home for 10 days.  

Mr Hound was set to perform in a group routine on Sunday night and again the following week for his individual skate, but he will now be forced to miss both. 

A spokesperson for ITV told MailOnline: ‘This week Rufus Hound came into contact with someone outside of the show who tested positive for Covid 19.

This means, following government guidelines, he will isolate for ten days. We are hoping to welcome him back to the ice soon.’

‘We continue to have a robust set of measures in place to operate safely within Covid-19 guidelines and to ensure the wellbeing of everyone connected with the production.’

Sources say he has tested negative for the coronavirus and is now isolating at home.

They added that while Rufus will have to isolate, his professional partner Robin Johnstone will not as she hasn’t come into contact with anyone covid positive.

She will not appear on Sunday evening’s show however.

It is currently unclear whether the skating duo will return to the show once his isolation period ends.

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