Guto Harri takes the knee on GB News as he slams racism
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In July, Guto Harri took the knee on GB News and the news programme deemed his actions “unacceptable” for the show that stands for its “anti-woke” coverage. Harri later resigned from the show after being suspended and the broadcaster has continually criticised their decision.
After Harri took the knee, GB News claimed it was against all forms of racism.
However, the news programme was widely criticised for condemning Harri’s actions, claiming that they punished him for something the news programme claims to believe in.
The former BBC correspondent took the knee in a show of solidarity for the horrific racist abuse suffered by the England footballers who missed the winning penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
Now, the broadcaster has spoken to the Stories of Our Times podcast to express his anger over his suspension and eventual axe.
In his only interview, Harri criticised the show, saying: “They’ve ended up replicating it on the right – they’ve chosen to go down a dark narrow avenue that goes anywhere.
“Then to add insult to injury they employ Nigel Farage,” he added.
Farage joined the news channel to host the Sunday morning political discussion programme The Political Correction.
Harri also revealed on the podcast that he approached his bosses after the incident and said: “If you need to fire me for upsetting the audience then absolutely, I get it.
“It’s caused you [GB News] a nightmare and if you have to fire me, no hard feelings.”
However, he explained that only a summer break was discussed and the word “suspension” was never uttered, though Harri admitted that he quickly realised that he knew a suspension was where it was headed.
He revealed that he found out about his suspension from friends texting him and then found out by the statement GB News wrote on Twitter.
At that moment, Harri said: “I changed my very relaxed attitude towards it because they basically said that I had been taken off air for breaching editorial standards.
“For somebody who’s spent decades in broadcasting and 18 years full time at the BBC under immense scrutiny, I think I know the editorial rulebook that applies in most newsrooms pretty much inside out.”
Harri added: “[The suspension] was not on and I tried to get it corrected straight away but I was ignored.
“It’s a bizarre state of affairs so far from combatting cancel culture, what they’ve ended up doing is replicating it on the right,” he continued.
“They’ve chosen to go down a daft, narrow alley, which goes nowhere.
“To add insult to injury, they bring on Nigel Farage gloating in all his glory and, the first thing he does is [state he won’t take the knee on the show ever], which is apparently not a breach of editorial standards to declare that.”
GB News’ statement on Twitter read: “GB News stands four square against racism in all its forms.
“We do not have a company line on taking the knee. Some of our guests have been in favour, some against.
“All are anti-racist. We have editorial standards that all GB News journalists uphold.
“On Tuesday a contributing presenter took the knee live on air and this was an unacceptable breach of our standards,” the statement concluded.
Harri responded to his decision to take the knee, by writing on Twitter: “GB News is – above all – about free speech; having the debates others won’t.
“English footballers have made it clear that when they take the knee they are making a clear statement about rejecting racism (not endorsing the narrow divisive aims of BLM).
“I support them,” he stated.
However, the broadcaster was soon “suspended” for his actions and GB News immediately hired Farage.
GB News is available on Freeview channel 236, Sky HD 515, Virgin Media HD 626, YouView 236 and Freesat HD 216.
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