"ASHAMED TO WORK FOR THE BBC" NI NEWSREADER THREATENED WITH SUSPENSION

BBC NI newsreader and former GNI MAG cover star Andy West has been “threatened with suspension” after a personal Facebook post criticized the BBC for keeping Tyson Fury on the nominations list for Sports Personality of the Year.

Tyson Fury sparked outrage following his comments regarding gay people, which he compared with paedophilia. In the post which was passed to BuzzFeed News Andy stated that he was “ashamed to work for the BBC” and accused them of “hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile”. Andy’s status has since been removed but a source told BuzzFeed News that as a result Andy was “reprimanded by a manager, told that an investigation would be launched into his conduct and warned that he could be suspended”.

In a comment below the original update, Andy added; “I criticize the BBC for offering him as an idol to be celebrated and admired for his sporting achievements but also his ‘personality’.”

In an email leaked to BuzzFeed News from Andy West to Tony Hall (the BBC Directory General) he writes: “I appeal to you as an equal opportunities employer and proud bastion of fair-thinking to consider whether it is appropriate to celebrate someone who has stated that gay people are sign of a coming Armageddon and equates homosexuals to paedophile.”… “Can it be that my own employer is happy to suggest that this individual is an example for us to follow?”

A BBC spokesperson responded to a BuzzFeed News request for comment with: “We do not routinely comment on individual staff matters.”

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