One BBC presenter called Tyson Fury a “d—head” on the air and another characterized himself as “ashamed” to work for the broadcasting behemoth after it nominated the colorful, charismatic, and controversial heavyweight champion for its Sports Personality of the Year award.
“You cannot be a d—head and win Sports Personality of the Year,” Clive Myrie announced on the BBC News program The Papers. “Having heard him interviewed, he seems to be confusing having ‘a personality’ with having ‘a good personality.'”
BBC Northern Ireland’s Andy West unleashed a fury against Fury on Facebook.
“My employer is hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile and who believes homosexual people are helping to bring about the end of the world,” West wrote. “It’s tempting to see him for the laughable idiot he is but sadly there are many other idiots who will be inspired and encourage by his naive, juvenile bigotry. I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks bravery to admit it is making a mistake.”
Fury repeatedly states his belief that the legalization of abortion, homosexuality, and abortion signal the endtimes. The talkative Tinker said in a freewheeling interview with iFilm London TV, “I believe a woman’s best place is in the kitchen and on her back. That’s my personal beliefs. Making me a good cup of tea—that’s what I believe.”
His comments sparked an ongoing hate crimes investigation by Greater Manchester Police and an online petition demanding that the BBC revoke its nomination of him for the annual award won by Sebastian Coe, Princess Anne, Barry McGuigan, Lennox Lewis, David Beckham, and Andy Murray during the last 61 years.
The 6’9” boxer defeated Wladimir Klitschko for the lineal, legitimate heavyweight championship in late November. The affable giant dressed in a Batman suit to promote the fight and displays a super-sized personality not contained by his towering, 260-pound frame.
The BBC apologized to “viewers,” but not to Fury, for Myrie’s vulgar comment. West remains on the air despite multiple reports that the BBC threatened him with a suspension.