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Strictly star Anton ‘must be axed from show for Paki slur’
Rashid RazaqUpdated 14:06pm on 5 Oct 2009
The BBC came under pressure today to sack Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke after receiving 63 complaints from the public over his “Paki” remark.
Du Beke has apologised for using the slur to describe his dancing partner Laila Rouass, 38, two weeks ago during rehearsals.
Hope Not Hate, the anti-racism campaign run by the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight, has now called for Du Beke, 43, who also hosts the programme Hole In The Wall, to be axed from the show.
The group compared the situation to that of Carol Thatcher, daughter of the former prime minister, who was sacked earlier this year from the BBC's The One Show after referring to a tennis player as a golliwog.
A Hope Not Hate spokesman said: “The BBC took a clear line on the Carol Thatcher comment. If anything this is even more offensive. If calling someone a Paki is not racist then what is?”
Du Beke used the insult a two weeks ago during rehearsals when the former Footballers' Wives star came in with a spray tan. The actress was reportedly “gobsmacked” by his comment, which was overheard by several members of the Strictly team. Du Beke said that he had used the term “in jest” and denied that he was a racist. He added: “There was no racist intent whatsoever but I accept that it is a term which causes offence and I regret my use of it. I apologise unreservedly for any offence my actions might have caused.”
Rouass, who has an Indian mother and Moroccan father, has since acceptted Du Beke's apology. She added: “It was a situation which happened that we have moved on from.” A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC does not condone offensive language in the workplace.” The spokesman also pointed out that Du Beke had apologised and Rouass had accepted, while Thatcher did not apologise.
Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan returned to This Morning for two hours today to mark the show's 21st birthday. Richard, 53, said his 13 years co-hosting the ITV chat show with Judy, 61, was as the “best gig in town”.
Reader views (13)
..oh how terrible.
Now let us ban all Australians for calling us poms.
- Alex Simmonds, Glastonbury, UK, 26/01/2010 09:41
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For goodness sake have a sense of humour. Anton is not racist, has apologised and his apology has been accepted. If someone called me a "paddy" I would not be offended.
- Rose, Belfast Northern, 08/10/2009 13:13
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Just because someone makes a racist/sexist remark doesn't mean that they are acutally racist/sexist. I make remarks that people would describe as insensitive to certain nationalities and orientations but that doesn't mean I dislike those people. In fact I love them and all that they bring to the country. I think were are much better off culturally because of gays and other minorities and I truly believe that a great many of them are truly better people than a great many of the native born here, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to tell a good joke once in a while. Btw, no one has ever accused me of racism or the like, at work or anywhere.
THat should be the final comment on the issue because it is the correct one!
- Jimbojones, Everytown, 06/10/2009 22:52
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Anthony Beek,his real name,the pretentious prat, feels he can use the word "paki" in an environment where most people would realise it could cause offence. what would happen to most of us if we had use this term in our workplace,what would have happend to an ordinary BBC employee? at the best some form of disiplinary action or at worst ths
sack! the Director of the BBC needs to grow some balls and kick "Beek" of the show!!
- Roger Chadwick, Barnsley, 06/10/2009 20:47
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if somebody says or does something wrong and then apologises then that should be the end of it
why should any other other person have the right to take his job away from him ...this is totally wrong
keep everthing in persective , people are allowed to make comments and he has said sorry has,nt he ?
live and let live
- Anna, birmingham, 06/10/2009 13:10
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Darren - since when has there ever been any racism against white people?
Any prejudice you've faced is not for being white, but for being a bit dim!!
- Nick, Battersea, 05/10/2009 16:00
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Let's stop trying to pretend this isn't a racist insult, he has admitted that himself.
- Nolan, Londonist, 05/10/2009 15:52
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Okay he was an idiot, he used the remark in jest, he's apologised, lets not start another witch hunt. Get over it. Oh and before anyone complains, I'm a Paki and proud of it 
- Pa, London, 05/10/2009 15:05
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Not again!! Why is it that any joke/slur against a white British person is OK, and we have to suck it up, yet against another race/colour all hell breaks loose?
It was not meant maliciously, there had been abnter between the pair of them, so therefore why has Laila Rouass made her remarks. Hope against Hate are making the matter worse, by the mere action of asking for the removal of Anton DuBek they are going against their name (Hope AGAINST HATE) and I for one would now have no support to them. As much as I hate racism, I also think that sometimes common sense should reign, If they get rid of Anton, they should not give Laila Rouass another partner, therefore she would also be out of the show. I will now NEVER vote for her, and hope that others will give her the boot, that Hope against Hate are asking for Anton.
- E Sullivan, London, 05/10/2009 14:55
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Here we go again with the PC lobby trying to stoke things up again. If immigrants spent a bit more time trying to understand our culture rather than trying to convert us to theirs their would be far less trouble with these sensitivities.
There is no racist intent when we call Americans 'Yanks', New Zealanders 'Kiwis', Australians 'Diggers' and the French 'Frogs', the list is endless and nobody takes offence.
I certainly don't have a problem being called a Brit, Limey, Pommie or Les Rosbifs (by the French) and many other things.
This is just a nickname for people from Pakistan in exactly the same genre; it's not the word - it is how it is used.
Trouble is nowadays nobody dares address the issue for fear of being regarded as a racist - so there, now I've done it.
- John Bull, London, 05/10/2009 14:54
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This PC dominated country gets sadder and sadder and yet more sad.
Why is it no longer possible to take things like Anton De Beke's remark in the spiri intended?
As a joke.
- Stuart Baker, Leeds UK, 05/10/2009 14:53
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This is nothing more than a vile witch hunt.
What about racism against white people? That passes without a whisper.
The man has apologised that should be enough.
- Darren, london, 05/10/2009 14:24
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SACK HIM!!
He is a disgrace.
- William Jenkins, london, 05/10/2009 14:24
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