GB News condemns presenter taking the knee live on air as an ‘unacceptable breach of our standards’

Guto Harri said that he ‘gets’ why the England team take the knee (Picture: GB News)

GB News has released a statement regarding the controversy sparked by one of the channel’s presenters taking the knee live on air in support of England’s football team, describing the act as an ‘unacceptable breach of our standards’.

During a GB News programme that aired earlier this week, presenter Guto Harri said that he ‘gets’ why the England men’s team refused to listen to critics about taking the knee as a statement against racism.

As Guto knelt down on one knee on air, he said that he understands that it is an ‘important gesture’, prompting some GB News viewers to accuse the station of being ‘too woke’.

In a new statement released on Twitter, GB News said that it ‘stands four square against racism in all its forms’.

The channel outlined that it does not ‘have a company line on taking the knee’, with some guests ‘in favour’ and others ‘against’ it.

‘All are anti-racist. We have editorial standards that all GB News journalists uphold,’ the statement said.

In a second tweet, GB News added: ‘On Tuesday a contributing presenter took the knee live on air and this was an unacceptable breach of our standards.’

In the editorial charter published on the GB News website, it states that the channel stands for ‘the right of every individual to form and share their views’.

The charter also states: ‘We value freedom of expression but not by causing unjustifiable offence or exposing our audience to harm, particularly in regards to our vulnerable viewers.’

In response to the GB News statement, one Twitter user expressed their confusion over the channel saying that it didn’t have a ‘company line on taking the knee’, before the company said that Guto taking the knee on the channel was an ‘unacceptable breach of our standards’.

In a tweet shared earlier this week, Guto defended his decision to take the knee live on GB News, writing that the channel is ‘about free speech’ and ‘having the debates others won’t.

More: Racism

‘English footballers have made it clear that when they take the knee they are making a clear statement about rejecting racism (not endorsing the narrow divisive aims of BLM). I support them,’ he added.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently condemned the racism that members of the England men’s football team have faced following their Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy, stating: ‘Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted GB News and Guto Harri for comment.

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