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BBC Alex Dyke Ofcom

Ofcom launches investigation in BBC DJ Alex Dyke's on-air anti-breastfeeding rant

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By Tony Connelly, Sports Marketing Reporter

September 14, 2015 | 2 min read

Ofcom is investigating BBC radio DJ, Alex Dyke, in relation to his controversial on-air remarks regarding breastfeeding which sparked outrage among listeners and led to him being temporarily suspended.

The media regulator announced today that it would investigate comments made during Dyke’s morning show on 12 August in which he said breastfeeding in public was “unnatural” and “must be stopped”.

A spokesperson for the media watchdog confirmed that it is “investigating whether the potential for offence caused by the presenter’s comments about breastfeeding were justified by the context".

During the show Dyke also said that only “librarian-type, moustachioed” women breastfed in public and men who were not repelled by breastfeeding were “wimps”.

In an attempt to defend his rant, during the phone-in show he added that his “point was fat chavvy mums with their boobs out on buses isn’t a good look. A classy discreet mum is absolutely fine".

His comments evoked a quick response from angered listeners with hundreds of complaints on social media and 32 people complaining to Ofcom. This was followed by more than 6,000 people signing an online petition calling for him to be taken off air.

The BBC briefly suspended Dyke and released a statement saying that the DJ had “been told in no uncertain terms that his comments were unacceptable, and he has apologised for any offence caused on and off air”. One week later however he was back at the helm of his morning BBC Radio Solent show following the BBC’s decision to lift the suspension.

BBC Alex Dyke Ofcom

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