Cybernats hurl ‘vile’ online abuse at BBC’s Nick Robinson following tumour scare
BBC political editor Nick Robinson has been targeted for online abuse by so-called cybernats, critical of his coverage of the Scottish independence referendum, following news that he will be off air to undergo surgery to remove a lung tumour.
Whilst the health scare evoked primarily sympathy from well-wishers a number of political activists provoked anger online by tweeting invective at the journalist.
One individual tweeted: “Looks like @DavidCameron's director of communications is off sick, poor man,” whilst another wrote: “A bit of chemotherapy would do the biased beeb man good.”
Users were quick to condemn the remarks however with one labelling abusive nationalists as ‘arseholes’ and another describing such sentiments as ‘sick’.
If you revel in Nick Robinson's cancer diagnosis, you're not a nationalist or a Scottish patriot or a radical. You're just an arsehole.
— Stephen Daisley (@JournoStephen) February 28, 2015Just a reminder for anyone down south seeing the vile 45er tweets at Nick Robinson: they are not Scotland. They shame Scotland.
— Gillian Philip (@Gillian_Philip) February 28, 2015Disgusted by Nationalist SNP member @StefanAlba45 sick comments about BBC Nick Robinson.
— Jack McConnell (@LordMcConnell) February 28, 2015.@bbcnickrobinson best wishes for a speedy recovery.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 28, 2015