‘You cancelled yourself’: GB News torn apart by critics after apologising for presenter taking the knee

Guto Harri took the knee live on GB News earlier this week (Picture:GB News/Getty)

GB News has been widely criticised for apologising after a presenter took the knee live on air in support of England’s football team.

The broadcaster released a statement, describing the act as an ‘unacceptable breach of our standards’, after Guto Harri took the knee to show support and solidarity in the fight against racism.

‘GB News stands four square against racism in all its forms,’ they wrote. ‘We do not have a company line on taking the knee. Some of our guests have been in favour, some against. All are anti-racist. We have editorial standards that all GB News journalists uphold.

‘On Tuesday a contributing presenter took the knee live on air and this was an unacceptable breach of our standards.’

The statement concluded: ‘We let both sides of the argument down by oversimplifying a very complex issue.’

Although GB News has had ‘zero’ viewers after the demonstration, many people have voiced their confusion over the apology, with even the likes of David Baddiel weighing in.

‘Wondering if in between these two tweets the GB News feed person had some kind of funny turn,’ he wrote, alongside a screengrab of the statement.

Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu branded the broadcaster ‘bloody hypocrites’.

‘You can’t be FOR anti-racism then have “standards” AGAINST antiracism denouncing someone for a LIVE #TakeTheKnee,’ she wrote. ‘Your “standards” are NOT AGAINST racism but FOR.

‘With your ratings no one was watching @GBNEWS anyways – you cancelled yourself.’

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 controversy comes after Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were later targeted on social media with racist abuse after they missed in the penalties against Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

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