GB News Chairman Andrew Neil Tonight Attempted To Calm The Storm Over One Of The Channel s Presenters Being suspended After Taking The Knee Live On Air
GB News chairman Andrew Neil tonight attempted to calm the storm over one of the channel's presenters being 'suspended' after taking the knee live on air.
The veteran broadcaster broke his silence on the raging row this evening with a candid statement, in which he admitted 'start ups are fraught and fractious'.
But Mr Neil, who is currently taking a break from hosting the channel, said the future remained bright for GB News - despite viewing figures falling-off since its launch last month.
In a rallying cry posted on Twitter, the broadcaster said: 'Start ups are fraught and fractious GB News is no exception. But the news channel is finding its feet and has a great future.
Watch this space.'
It comes as GB News' director of programming has quit after the channel's presenter Guto Harri was suspended by bosses for taking the knee live on television in a move that angered many of the new station's viewers.
Mr Harri took the knee on Tuesday in solidarity with black England football stars after they suffered racist abuse in the aftermath of the team's defeat on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
But it offended some viewers amid criticism that anyone who takes a knee - including police officers, sports stars and TV presenters - risks being seen to endorse some of the Left-wing ideas promoted by the Black Lives Matter organisation, as well as opposing racism.
Mr Harri's gesture sparked a viewer boycott with several GB News shows attracting zero viewers in the wake of the segment.
He was suspended by the channel and replaced on air today after GB News bosses sent out a tweet condemning him for taking the knee.
Now senior executive John McAndrew, who previously insisted the channel would be a 'place for everyone', is reported to have resigned from GB News after clashing with bosses on its direction.
Mr McAndrew was thought to be the channel's second-in-command and reportedly played a key role in convincing some of the more mainstream presenters to join GB News.
His resignation could also now lead to more senior staff quitting amid the row over Mr Harri taking the knee.
On his show, ex-BBC political correspondent Mr Harri and his co-host Mercy Muroki spoke about the vile abuse Three Lions stars Marcus Rashford, and had received online, https://incitasecurity.com/misfit-crossfit-programming-for-workout/ during which Mr Harri admitted he now 'gets' why footballers take the knee before each game.
Mr Harri then proceeded to take the knee himself on air, sparking the boycott and a public telling-off by bosses.
In a statement, the channel said it was 'unacceptable' for any presenter to take the knee and accused Mr Harri of breaking its Editorial Charter.
A GB News spokesman was unable to confirm whether Mr Harri would be leaving the channel or whether other key staff had resigned. MailOnline has approached the channel and Mr Harri for comment.
Friends of Mr Harri hit back at the channel, telling the Guardian: 'It's ridiculous to say he's breached editorial standards and almost certainly defamatory.
In reality it wasn't a breach of editorial code but 'sacked for offending the lynch mob'.'
Chairman Andrew Neil has been so far silent over the controversy after he told viewers that he was taking leave - just two weeks after the channel was launched after what he called a 'rocky start'. The former Sunday Times editor is understood to have gone on holiday to his main residence in the south of France but there is no public return date for his flagship show.
GB News chairman Andrew Neil tonight issued a rallying cry amid a public row over one of its presenters taking the knee live on air
A GB News presenter has been condemned by bosses for an 'unacceptable breach of standards' after he took the knee live on TV in protest at the racist abuse aimed at black England football stars following the Three Lions' Euros defeat to Italy
Guto Harri and his GB News co-host Mercy Muroki spoke about the vile abuse during Tuesday's show, during which Mr Harri admitted he 'gets' why footballers take the knee - an anti-racist gesture inspired by last year's Black Lives Matter protests - before each game
Amid a Twitter backlash from social media users baffled by Mr Harri's gesture on the 'anti-woke' channel, GB News publicly rebuked its presenter.
It said on its official Twitter account: 'GB News stands four square against racism in all its forms. We do not have a company line on taking the knee'
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox news halfRHS" data-version="2" id="mol-97f7ecd0-e64d-11eb-87f5-b5ca978505e0" website News director of programming quits amid Guto Harri knee row