BBC officially suspends gay reporter for criticising Tyson Fury SPOTY nomination

A gay BBC reporter has been officially suspended by the BBC pending an investigation into his public criticism of the broadcaster’s decision to nominate homophobic world champion boxer Tyson Fury for its annual ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ Award.

Andy West, a reporter on BBC Northern Ireland’s Newsline programme, wrote in a now-deleted update on Facebook that the ongoing row 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”.

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Over a hundred thousand people have already 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 included comparing homosexuality to paedophilia.

The boxer has since called those who’ve signed the petition “50,000 wankers”, and told them they can “suck [his] balls”, while the BBC has repeatedly defended its decision to nominate the recently-crowned heavyweight champion of the world.

After it was reported earlier this week that senior BBC staff had reprimanded Mr West following his criticism of the corporation, the former Radio 2 producer confirmed on Twitter yesterday (December 10) that he had been officially suspended pending the results of an internal investigation.

I can't say more but, as of yesterday, I am suspended by the BBC pending investigation. I made my bed now I have time to lie in it!

— AJ West (@AJWestAuthor) December 10, 2015

“I can’t say more but, as of yesterday, I am suspended by the BBC pending investigation,” Mr West wrote.

“I made my bed now I have to lie in it!”

In his original Facebook post criticising the BBC’s stance, Mr West had written: “It is tempting to see [Fury] for the laughable idiot he is but sadly there are many other idiots who will be inspired and encouraged by his naive, juvenile bigotry.

“I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks the bravery to admit it is making a mistake.”

As the BBC faces mounting public pressure over the Fury fiasco, Fury’s fellow SPOTY nominee Greg Rutherford has revealed he has taken his concerns about the heavyweight boxer’s nomination directly to the broadcaster.

Rutherford issued a statement earlier this week confirming that he will remain in the running for the prestigious annual award alongside Fury, but denounced the 27-year-old’s “very out-dated and derogatory comments”.

Earlier this week the broadcaster 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.

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Meanwhile, police have concluded that Fury’s controversial comments on BBC2 earlier this week did not constitute a hate crime and no further action will be taken, after a viewer lodged a criminal complaint.

Fury – who also had his world IBF title stripped yesterday after arranging an unsolicited rematch with the boxer he won it from – reiterated his previous comments that homosexuality will bring about the end of days during an appearance on the Victoria Derbyshire programme on Tuesday (December 8).

“Officers spoke with the man that made the report and he provided a statement to police”, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

“This matter has been investigated in line with national hate crime policy and has been recorded as a hate incident.”

“The circumstances in which these comments were made suggest that no criminal offence has taken place and this matter will not be investigated any further.”

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