Reggie Yates resigns as Top Of The Pops presenter over ‘offensive’ remarks
TV PRESENTER Reggie Yates will not host the BBC’s Top Of The Pops festive episodes after making ‘offensive’ remarks about Jewish music managers.
The 34-year-old (pictured above) had been signed up to front the Christmas Day and New Year specials with Fearne Cotton, but he will no longer be on the shows after remarking that a new generation of singers are ‘independent, they’re not managed by some random fat Jewish guy from north west London’.
In the Halfcast Podcast, hosted by DJ Chuckie Lothian, Yates had used the phrase while praising artists who chose to work with people they were close to, saying: ‘They’re managed by their brethren.’
In a statement on Twitter, Yates, who has already apologised for his comments, wrote: ‘On a recent podcast, during a discussion about grime artists, I made some ill-considered remarks which have hurt many people.
‘I can see clearly that the words I used reinforced offensive stereotypes, and that there is no context that would justify such remarks.
‘My comments are no reflection on how I truly feel, and I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community, people in the music industry and anyone else I have offended.
‘This has been, and continues to be a huge learning experience for me, and on reflection I have taken the decision to step down from hosting Top Of The Pops this year.’
Author: Simon Wilgress-pipe
