BBC journalist Andy West speaks out on suspension for Tyson Fury comments
BBC journalist Andy West posted a five-minute YouTube video last Sunday in anticipation of the Sports Personality of the Year in Belfast explaining why he objected to Tyson Fury being nominated for the award.
West is a TV reporter for BBC Newsline, and was suspended on the 9th December when he posted on his Facebook page that he was "ashamed to work for the BBC" after Fury’s name was added to the nomination list.
In his online post, West wrote: "My employer is hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile and who believes homosexual people are helping to bring about the end of the world."
"It’s tempting to see him for the laughable idiot he is but sadly there are many other idiots who will be inspired and encourage by his naive, juvenile bigotry. I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks bravery to admit it is making a mistake."
West confirmed his suspension from the BBC the following day, tweeting: "I can't say more but, as of yesterday, I am suspended by the BBC pending investigation."
On Sunday 20th, the day of the SPOTY awards in Belfast, West shared a YouTube video in which he broke the silence over his suspension and the comments that led to it, saying that he "chose between being an objective journalist and being a human being with thoughts and opinions with principles."
West recognised he "shouldn’t have given my opinion on something that was current" but added that he "couldn’t forget the little boy I was when I was nine or 10 at school and I was being bullied for being camp and being gay."
West went on to say: "I've almost ruined my career because my employer is saying someone who is saying I'm akin to a paedophile is worthy of a pedestal in front of other people, and that's what I take exception to."
Tyson Fury’s original comments that caused the controversy were made in an interview with The Mail on Sunday, he said: "There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home. One of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other is paedophilia. Who would have thought in the 50s and 60s that those first two would be legalised?"
He added: "When I say paedophiles could be made legal, it sounds crazy. But if I had said to you about the first two being made legal in the 50s, I would have been looked upon as a crazy man."
The BBC has so far declined to comment publicly on the matter, responding with: "we do not routinely comment on individual staff matters."
When the awards ceremony took place at the SSE Arena last Sunday, around 30 gay and equal rights campaigners protested the event.
Fury apologised on stage when he was interviewed by host Gary Lineker: "I have said a lot of stuff in the past and none of it is with the intention to hurt anybody. It's all very tongue-in-cheek. Its all fun and games for me. I am not really a serious type of person"
"Everything is happy-go-lucky with Tyson Fury. If I've said anything in the past that has hurt anybody, I apologise to anybody who has been hurt. It was not my intention to do that."
The Drum has contacted BBC for comment, and is awaiting a response.