BBC radio host fired over racist tweet about royal baby Archie Harrison
His debut Wednesday was met with glee and adulation from most of the world, but one radio personality took the opportunity to share an insensitive jab about the royal baby and his parents.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, introduced their son to the public two days after his birth. His name, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, was announced later in the day, after he’d met his great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
BBC radio host Danny Baker, however, tweeted a photo of a chimpanzee in a suit holding hands with a well-dressed woman. A well-dressed man was on the other side of the chimp. Baker captioned the photo, “Royal baby leaves hospital.”
After the post was met with criticism about its racist connotations, Baker deleted the tweet and apologized, via another tweet.
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Once again. Sincere apologies for the stupid unthinking gag pic earlier. Was supposed to be joke about Royals vs circus animals in posh clothes but interpreted as about monkeys & race, so rightly deleted. Royal watching not my forte.
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) May 8, 2019
Also, guessing it was my turn in the barrel. pic.twitter.com/86cQGbAhDc
Thirteen hours later, Baker tweeted he’d been fired.
Just got fired from @bbc5live.
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) May 9, 2019
For the record - it was red sauce. Always.
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Twitter users condemned both Baker’s tweet and the BBC’s response:
I actually like Danny Baker but what I don't like is Danny treating people like they are stupid. It was a racist tweet. He knew it was.. Lay off
— The Happy Turtle (@HappyTurtleLtd) May 9, 2019
What? Danny Baker got fired? But he immediately apologised and deleted the tweet! I mean, literally, in the event of mistakenly causing offence, what else can you do? Genuinely amazed by that.
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) May 9, 2019
What troubles me with your argument is how can he have been ignorant of the racial context. Danny Baker is deeply involved in football culture. Surely no football fan can have missed the many racist incidents involving monkey chants or throwing bananas at black players?
— Mark Fairbrass (@BrassHammer) May 9, 2019
Danny Baker clearly didn't mean what people think he meant..... but then again this is 2019 and a lifetime of being a decent bloke doesn't give you the benefit of the doubt does it ffs
— Matteo (@matteoj17) May 8, 2019
‘A baby who hasn’t even had a chance to really experience the world is already stripped of his humanity because of his blackness. I want better for Archie, for my unborn child and for all our children.’ @kelechnekoff
— Wahiba (@WahibaASA) May 9, 2019
https://t.co/t7DT9iHB3Q via @MetroUK
Can’t help but feel Danny Baker has been well and truly thrown under the bus. The Chimp pic was regrettable.. massive faux pas, however do I think he meant it in any racist context? Not a chance. It’s sad people will actively look for meanings where there are none.
— Jonny (@mancmaestro) May 9, 2019
Danny Baker (a man I’ve worked with in the past) knew full well what that tweet was suggesting. No comedian in their right mind could overlook that, that’s not how our brains work. We see a joke from every angle. He knew it was racist, thought it was funny and posted it anyway 👍🏾
— London Hughes (@TheLondonHughes) May 9, 2019
@SkyNews @prodnose no no no to Danny Baker being sacked, it was meant to be humour about a rich family and in no way racist. Bloody country has gone PC mental.
— Steve (@smurfybhoy17) May 9, 2019
DANNY BAKER HAS BEEN FIRED!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/aTX6JMaJTR
— Carina Sports ✊🏾 (@_CarinaWh) May 9, 2019
About the Author
Nancy Clanton is a lead producer for The AJC's platforms team, but also writes stories about health, travel, events and entertainment. A native of Knoxville and graduate of the University of Tennessee, she has worked at the AJC for 24 years.
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