BBC crisis escalates as players and stars rally behind soccer host Gary Lineker

[Carlitos Brigante]

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/11/1162870473/gary-lineker-bbc-crisis-tweet

As a growing number of English Premier League players and BBC presenters rallied to Lineker's support and refused to appear on the airwaves on Saturday, Britain's national broadcaster faced allegations of political bias and suppressing free speech, as well as praise from some Conservative politicians.

An enthusiastic social media user with 8.7 million Twitter followers, Lineker has long irked right-of-center politicians and activists with his liberal views, including criticism of Britain's decision to leave the European Union.

The latest controversy began with a tweet on Tuesday from Lineker's account describing the government's plan to detain and deport migrants arriving by boat as "an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s."

The Conservative government called Lineker's Nazi comparison offensive and unacceptable, and some lawmakers said he should be fired.

[The Magistrate]

1. The Man Was Cold But Fair, Sir

Language employed by right wing politicians, in both UK and US, is in fact quite similar to Nazi speech regarding Slavs and Gypsies and Jews, and for that matter Socialists and Communists.

People who do not like a fair description of their rhetoric as Hitlerite might try and not sound like Hitler. If you are going to talk like a Nazi, the least you can do is own up to it with a hearty Damn right I'm with the Nazis, little buddy....

[Carlitos Brigante]

2. He was more diplomatic than I would've. Good on him though and those

who stood in solidarity.

[The Magistrate]

3. We Are To The Point, Sir, Where 'Civility' Breaks Off

It is time for plain speaking in the public arena.


"Normal is what always happens."