Sky News presenter Adam Boulton has apologised after Twitter users came out in force to slam him for alleged anti-Semitism.
On Wednesday (May 8), Boulton commented on an incident that reportedly involved Jews being spat at on London’s Edgware Road.
Journalist Harry Cole tweeted: “Caught up with some friends over from DC and felt a terrible stab of shame when I asked how their trip had been and they said they got spat at on Edgware Road for wearing yarmulkes. What is going on in this city. How is this being tolerated?”
Caught up with some friends over from DC and felt a terrible stab of shame when I asked how their trip had been and they said they got spat at on Edgware Road for wearing yarmulkes. What is going on in this city. How is this being tolerated?
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) May 8, 2019
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Commenting on the post in a now-deleted tweet, screengrabs of which were shared by Jewish News, Boulton said: “No excuse but it is a Middle Eastern quarter.”
Following an immediate backlash, he argued his tweets were being “misunderstood and misinterpreted” but added: “I apologise for any offence given which was never intended and will delete the comment.”
My recent tweets are being misunderstood and misinterpreted. I apologise for any offence given which was never intended and will delete the comment.
— Adam Boulton (@adamboultonSKY) May 8, 2019
It follows the BBC’s decision earlier today (May 9) to sack broadcaster Danny Baker for posting a tweet that appeared to compare the royal baby to a chimpanzee.
Some Twitter users wondered why Sky News hadn’t taken a similar stance to the BBC and sacked Boulton for his comment.
One said: “Glad they sacked him, now are you going to do the same to Adam Boulton, after yesterdays [bleep] show?”
Another, responding to political commentator Jane Merrick, wrote: “I’m waiting for your call to sack Adam Boulton then Jane. Or are Sky presenters to be treated differently? Not entirely sure @adamboultonSKY apologised for implying Jews were asking for trouble by walking around central London looking like, er, Jews.”
Jack Mendel, of Jewish News UK, tweeted: “Astonishing… that Adam Boulton’s remark yesterday didn’t even get a response from Sky News, but Baker gets sacked.”
ED! has reached out to Adam Boulton’s reps for comment.
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Danny Baker announced the BBC’s decision to fire him earlier today, posting about the experience on Twitter and following it up with a foul-mouthed rant at his old employers.
He raged: “The call to fire me from @bbc5live was a masterclass of pompous faux-gravity. Took a tone that said I actually meant that ridiculous tweet and the BBC must uphold blah blah blah. Literally threw me under the bus. Could hear the suits’ knees knocking.”
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