Celebrities including as Piers Morgan, Dan Walker, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Osman have rushed to Gary Lineker’s defence following the announcement of his departure from Match Of The Day.
The 62-year-old sports commentator made headlines after criticising the government’s recently revealed contentious policy to prevent illicit boats carrying migrants from reaching the UK.
He had replied to a video posted on Twitter by Home Secretary Suella Braverman in which she called for a new Illegal Migration Law to’stop the boats,’ calling it a ‘immeasurably brutal policy geared at the most vulnerable individuals in language very unlike to that employed by Germany in the 1930s.’
Lineker then stated that he stood by his post and will return to present Match Of The Day on Saturday, but the BBC has since confirmed that he will not appear on the show until a ‘understanding on social media use’ is achieved.
Unsurprisingly, the whole issue has caused heated controversy, with a swarm of celebrities stating unequivocally where they stand.
Controversial broadcaster Morgan was left in amazement, describing the BBC’s decision ‘pathetically cowardly’.
‘I now demand the BBC suspend every presenter who has made public comment about news or current affairs – starting with Sir David Attenborough and Lord Sugar’, he tweeted.
Ex-BBC Breakfast and Football Focus presenter Dan Walker tweeted: ‘I used to sit in for @GaryLineker on MOTD… not sure I’d fancy it this weekend. What a mess!’
The newsreader also stated that he had spoken with Lineker about the incident on Channel 5 News.
Walker said: ‘It’s one of those strange situations where I’m actually texting the man himself (Lineker) at the moment.
‘And I have asked Gary Lineker the question about whether he is stepping back or whether the BBC have told him to step back and I’ve told him that if he responds to me that I will read out that text on air.
‘There’s one word in there I can’t use, but he has said, “No, they’ve told me I have to step back.”
‘So Gary Lineker wants to continue to present Match Of The Day and is not apologising for what he’s said, but he’s said it’s a BBC decision to force him to not present the programme at the moment.’
In reaction to Ian Wright, former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson tweeted his support.
‘Everyone knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow,’ Wright said in a Facebook post. Solidarity.’
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‘Good on you mate’, Clarkson replied.
Former BBC Newsnight anchor Emily Maitlis, who was chastised by the corporation for sending a ‘controversial’ tweet, claimed her former employer might face a ‘much, much greater struggle’ as a result of its decision.
‘I’m not sure when they suggested to Gary Lineker he step back from (Match Of The Day) the BBC realised it might be starting a much much bigger battle,’ she tweeted
‘Ian Wright refusing to present on Saturday. In the name of solidarity.’
Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling also replied to Wright’s message with: ‘Well played Wrighty.’
Ben Foster, a retired England goalkeeper, responded to the tweet with, ‘Heck yes Wrighty.’
Former Pointless host Osman mirrored their comments, telling his fans that Lineker stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day ‘is awful for so many reasons’.
Ex-Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville, who commentates for , tweeted in response to a news story: ‘When you take on the Tories and the system! Awful people who we need gone. Off for a (wine glass emoji).’
Alastair Campbell has called the BBC’s decision about Lineker’s tweets “an act of political cowardice” that undermines democracy.
The former journalist and Labour spin doctor condemned the move to announce Lineker was stepping down from Match Of The Day as ‘pathetic’ and ‘craven’ during an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Asked about his stance on the matter, he said: ‘I’ll be even more outspoken now because this is, I’m afraid, an act of complete political cowardice. If it was wrong in principle then they should have sacked him the other day.’
Campbell added: ‘It is absolutely pathetic and craven and it’s happened because… a few Tory MPs and a couple of ministers and the right-wing rags have got themselves worked up into a lather, and as a result of that Gary Lineker has to go.’
He described the move as ‘Trumpian’ and ‘utterly obscene’ and accused the BBC of ‘pander(ing) to a right-wing agenda’, before adding: ‘What has happened today is about more than a football commentator. It is dangerous to who and what we are as a democracy.’
Source My Celebrity Life.
