Danny Baker has been fired from his programme on BBC Radio 5 Live following what the BBC has called "a serious error of judgement."
The broadcaster probably thought he would be spending Wednesday evening watching and tweeting about the Champion's League. Instead he found himself at the centre of an online controversy over a picture he tweeted earlier in the day.
Baker posted a picture of a smart couple with a monkey in a suit between them and added the caption: "Royal baby leaves hospital". This was quickly picked up by critics on social media and Baker was accused of being racist.
The broadcaster, who is currently touring with his latest show, deleted the tweet and apologised: "Sorry my gag pic of the little fella in the posh outfit has whipped some up. Never occurred to me because, well, mind not diseased. Soon as those good enough to point out it's possible connotations got in touch, down it came. And that's it. Now stand by for sweary football tweets."
He was still on the end of criticism so later tweeted the following: "Once again. Sincere apologies for the stupid unthinking gag pic earlier. Was supposed to be joke about Royals vs circus animals in posh clothes but interpreted as about monkeys & race, so rightly deleted. Royal watching not my forte. Also, guessing it was my turn in the barrel."
He also tweeted: "Ha! I see my silly unthinking gag pic earlier has me trending. Last time that happened it had been announced I had head cancer. On balance..."
After the Tottenham v Ajax game was over he tweeted: "Incredible. Astounding. I'd say I was living in a fantastical dream state if it hadn't been for trending as a notorious racist earlier tonight. #YinYang""
Baker has previously posted other archive pictures of animals dressed in suits along with irreverent captions to coincide with news stories. No offence was intended here, but maybe it was understandable why people took umbrage at this joke given the parentage of the new royal baby. His apology hasn't stopped the press pursuing him. This morning he tweeted: 'Here we go. Opened door, grinning Mail hack. "Do you think black people look like monkeys?" Any other time you'd knock someone right on their arse for saying that. No mate. Gag pic. Posh baby chimp. Alerted to circs. Appalled. Deleted. Apologised. He asks again! #MailonRacism'
Following news of him being fired Baker tweeted: "Just got fired from @bbc5live. For the record - it was red sauce. Always."
He added: "The call to fire me from @bbc5live was a masterclass of pompous faux-gravity. Took a tone that said I actually meant that ridiculous tweet and the BBC must uphold blah blah blah. Literally threw me under the bus. Could hear the suits knees knocking. #Fuckem"
