Good Morning Britain host and Money Expert Martin Lewis has apologised to his fans.
The TV favourite originally shared a request on Twitter asking if someone providing a one off-service said something “casually racist”, would they ignore it or call them out on it.
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Martin was immediately told by many of his followers why the term “casually racist” shouldn’t be used, with one person writing: “I know it isn’t your intent, so I need to say there’s nothing casual about racism.
“Some define racism as just the visually violent. The throwaway remarks & insidious acts are seen as not serious, something to be brushed aside. The effect is far from benign, please don’t dismiss.”
(Image: S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Martin responded to the fan to apologise that it had been read that way and explained he was intending to describe a situation where someone is racist in an “offhand casual manner” and “possibly unaware”.
An hour after his post, he followed it up with a formal apology, telling his followers: “I used the term ‘casually racist’ here, which I hadn’t realised was a loaded term.
“I was aiming to describe an off-hand comment, to build a picture of the situation, not in a way to diminish the fact that it is racism.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“Some people have sent me interesting posts on it, which I’ve read, thank you. It isn’t a term I’d use again.”
Fans rushed to praise Martin for the way he handled his comments, with one person writing: “I think your intention was clear but you’ve obviously taken something positive from these exchanges so, as long as they were done respectfully, it was right to bring it to your attention.”
While another said: “Thanks for considering and clarifying”.
(Image: ITV)
Of his initial questions Martin explained that he has previously called people out on the racist comments made, but added he also hasn’t when the person felt “aggressive” and added: “I just disengaged”.
Sharing his own experience, Martin said: “I once had a US barber lecture me on ‘the Jewish threat’ assuming that a Brit I mustn’t be Jewish.”
Martin’s post had 1.4million views and prompted a lot of interaction online as 80,000 people took part in the poll.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
