Tyson Fury apologises for 'tongue-in-cheek' comments as he loses BBC SPOTY contest

After weeks of controversy, Tyson Fury lost out on the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Award last night, but used his appearance at the star-studded ceremony in Belfast to apoligise to anyone who’s been offended by his “tongue-in-cheek” comments about women and the gay community.

The 27-year-old heavyweight boxer – who was recently pictured kissing a gay man in an apparent bid to ‘prove’ he’s not homophobic – came fourth in the public vote, behind winner Andy Murray and runners-ups Kevin Sinfield and Jessica Ennis-Hill.

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Asked about his remarks by Gary Lineker during his live on-stage interview, Fury said: “I’ve said a lot of stuff in the past you know, and none of it with intentions to hurt anybody.

“It’s all very tongue-in-cheek, it’s all fun and games to me. I’m not a very serious kind of person. Everything’s very happy-go-lucky with Tyson Fury.

“If I said anything in the past that’s hurt anybody, I apologise to anybody that’s been hurt out there. It’s not my intention to do that.”

The BBC reports that around 40 people protested against Tyson outside the arena, while the boxer also faced repeated boos from sections of the audience inside.

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Almost 140,000 people signed a Change.org petition calling for Fury’s removal from the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year shortlist over his previous sexist and homophobic remarks, which have also included comparing homosexuality to paedophilia.

Fury previously responded the the controversy by calling those who’ve signed the petition “50,000 wankers”, and told them they can “suck [his] balls”, while the BBC has defended its decision to nominate the recently-crowned heavyweight champion of the world.

Meanwhile, BBC Newsline reporter Andy West has been officially suspended pending an internal investigation after publicly criticising the BBC’s decision to nominate Fury.

West wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post that the controversy had made him “ashamed to work for the BBC”, and accused his employer of “hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile”.

The broadcaster also issued a public apology after another of its staff members – BBC News anchor Clive Myrie – referred to Fury as a “dickhead” during a live broadcast – click here to find out more.

Tyson Fury apologises for ‘tongue-in-cheek’ comments as he loses BBC SPOTY contest

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