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# BBC reporter suspended over Fury comments
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/bbc-reporter-suspended-over-fury-comments/
- Published: 2015-12-15T11:26:47.000Z
- Updated: 2015-12-15T22:27:59.000Z
- Description: BBC suspends gay reporter pending an investigation into his public criticism of the broadcaster. Andy West, a gay man, who works for BBC Northern Ireland was suspended after posting on his Facebook that he was “ashamed” to work for the broadcaster.
- Author: Gary Hart
- Tags: In The South, News, Sport

## BBC suspends gay reporter pending an investigation into his public criticism of the broadcaster.

![WEST and Fury](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/west-and-fury.jpg)

**Andy West, a gay man**, who works for BBC Northern Ireland was suspended after posting on his Facebook that he was “*ashamed”* to work for the broadcaster.

It followed the BBCs decision to nominate at a late stage, world champion boxer **Tyson Fury** for its annual *Sports Personality of the Year* Award after winning his World Heavyweight Boxing Championship fight against **Wladimir Klitschko** last month.

**In an interview with the Mail on Sunday Fury said:** *“There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home: one of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other one’s paedophilia.”*

He has also been accused of sexism after a video emerged of him saying Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill *“slaps up good”*.

**Adding:** *“A woman’s best place is in the kitchen and on her back – that’s my personal belief.”*

**Mr West wrote in his original Facebook post:** *“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.*

*“It’s tempting to see him 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 bravery to admit it is making a mistake.”*

Later on Twitter Mr West confirmed he had been suspended by the BBC pending investigation and could not say anymore.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are investigating a hate crime allegation against the boxer.

**To sign the petition in support of Mr West, [click here:](https://www.change.org/p/bbc-let-s-get-andy-west-reinstated-at-the-bbc-after-being-unfairly-dismissed?recruiter=427906914&utm%5Fsource=share%5Fpetition&utm%5Fmedium=facebook&utm%5Fcampaign=autopublish&utm%5Fterm=mob-xs-share%5Fpetition-reason%5Fmsg&fb%5Fref=Default)**

Over a hundred and thirty thousand people have also signed a Change.org petition calling for Fury’s removal from the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year shortlist over his sexist and homophobic remarks.

**To sign the petition to remove Fury from BBC shortlist, [click here:](https://www.change.org/p/the-bbc-should-remove-homophobic-tyson-fury-from-sports-personality-of-the-year-shortlist/u/14574566?tk=mS5ygc%5FiScRGl2KwCjqESOP6%5FCvFj3WR56UfCwLChkM&utm%5Fsource=petition%5Fupdate&utm%5Fmedium=email)**