Lee Mack’s new TV show The Chop has been cancelled after a contestant appeared with “tattoos” on his face in a preview trailer for the series which viewers thought could reference the nazis.
This claim has been strongly denied by the contestant.
Sky History suspended the show last week after an investigation was launched into Darren Lumsden’s inkings.
The inking, which included a large ’88’, have now been branded too offensive to be on air.
According to reports, the investigation proved the symbols on Lumsden’s face “could be connected to far-right ideologies and could cause offence” and the series has been axed.
Lee Mack’s new TV show The Chop has been cancelled (Image: @HISTORYUK/Twitter)
An A+E Networks UK spokesman said: “Following an independent investigation, AETN UK has made the decision not to broadcast any further episodes of The Chop on Sky HISTORY.
“A contestant’s tattoos included symbols that could be connected to far-right ideologies and could cause offence; we sincerely apologise for that and we are sorry that our processes did not prompt further investigation at an earlier stage.
“The contestant continues to strenuously deny that he has, or ever had, far-right leanings.
Sky History suspended the show last week after an investigation was launched into Darren Lumsden’s inkings (Image: @HISTORYUK/Twitter)
“We are thoroughly reviewing our internal processes following the investigation. AETN UK and Sky HISTORY stand against racism and hate speech of all kinds.”
Daily Star Online has contacted Sky History for comment.
The investigation came after the channel released a clip from the show as they called Darren “the Bloke-With-All-The-Tattoos”.
However some, including comedian Katherine Ryan, claimed they had spotted neo-Nazi inkings.
The investigation found Darren’s tattoos included symbols that could be connected to far-right ideologies (Image: @HISTORYUK/Twitter)
A spokesman for Sky History told The Sun last week: “While we further investigate the nature, and meaning, of Darren’s tattoos, we have removed the video featuring him from our social media pages.
“We will not be broadcasting any episodes of The Chop: Britain’s Top Woodworker until we have concluded that investigation.
“Sky History stands against racism and hate speech of all kinds.”
The Anti-Defamation League claims that 88 – which appears on the man’s cheek – is a white supremacist code for “Heil Hitler”.
Their website also reads: “H is the eighth letter of the alphabet, so 88 = HH = Heil Hitler.” It is said to be among the most common of white supremacist symbols.
Darren has insisted that 1988 is the year of his father’s death however and said he does not have Nazi tattoos.
‘Homegrown’ was also spotted by viewers above his top lip and they said he seemed to have 23 and 16 on his temples.
These numbers are often used to signify letters W and P – initials of White Power.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
