More than 50,000 telly fans last night backed a petition demanding ITN newsreader Alastair Stewart is given his job back.
Stewart stepped down following an online spat with a black Twitter user in which he quoted Shakespeare and referred to an “angry ape”.
But fans want him back and insist his tweet was not racist.
Robert Mowle wrote: “Alastair hasn’t a racial prejudice atom in his body.
Martin Shapland accused Alastair Stewart of being racist to him (Image: @MShapland/Twitter)
“He is the victim here – a victim of his own intellect.
“If you actually read and understand what he wrote, it is clear he has done nothing wrong.”
The news icon deleted his Twitter account after his row with the 34-year-old over funding for the Royal Family turned nasty.
Mr Shapland said he has suffered a “torrent of abuse” over the row.
ITN insiders have stressed that the newsreader, 67, was not sacked over a single offensive tweet (Image: Getty Images Europe)
ITN insiders have stressed that the newsreader, 67, was not sacked over a single offensive tweet.
They described the Twitter exchange as “nasty” and said other tweets had breached guidelines.
A host of telly stars have praised the newsreader. Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shephard tweeted: “I’ve been lucky enough to work with Alastair over the years and he’s an extraordinarily generous person.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
