Iain Lee leaves BBC show after calling anti-gay Christian guest ‘bigoted’
By Will Stroude
Comedian and presenter Iain Lee has announced he has left his BBC breakfast radio show, days after the corporation issued an apology on his behalf for calling an anti-gay Christian guest “bigoted”.
The 42-year-old made the comments on his Three Counties Radio Breakfast Show last week, during a discussion with Christian Legal Centre lawyer Libby Powell about a prison reverend who reportedly told inmates that homosexuals must ‘repent’ their sexuality during a service.
Lee repeatedly labelled the Bible, and Powell’s adherence to its teaching, “homophobic” and “bigoted”, before asking her if she “supported bigotry”.
After Powell responded that calling homosexuality a sin was not bigoted, Lee told her: “I guess you don’t know what the definition of bigotry is and considering you are from a legal centre that is a little bit worrying.”
After several viewers complained about Lee’s conduct, the BBC issued an apology on his behalf, calling his tone “at several points inappropriate”.
“The BBC – and Iain Lee himself – wish to apologise for any offence that may have been caused,” the corporation said in statement.
The BBC has now confirmed to PinkNews that Lee has left the show permanently.
“Iain Lee will no longer be presenting his shows on the station but we want to take this opportunity to thank him and wish him well for the future,” they said.
Lee also confirmed the news on twitter, answering a fan who asked if he’d be back on the radio this week by saying simply: “No”.
https://twitter.com/iainlee/status/665364891197448192
Fans have been voicing their support of the presenter on Twitter, with author Emma Kennedy blasting the BBC for not having the “balls” to support him.
https://twitter.com/EmmaKennedy/status/665956823602720770
https://twitter.com/SamWatt111/status/665274250723532800
@iainlee So sorry you are in this situation. No need for you to apologise. We need to be unafraid & unapologetic when calling out homophobia
— Stella (@ubiquitousnewt) November 13, 2015
The BBC treatment of @IainLee is a disgrace. If I had said what he did and stood up to bigotry @LBC would have praised me, not sacked me.
— Iain Dale (@IainDale) November 16, 2015
Seemingly teasing his departure last Friday during the height of the controversy, Lee had written: “Thanks everyone. I’ve enjoyed every second of it. See you sometime in the future. X”
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