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Welsh broadcaster Guto Harri blasts GB News as an ‘absurd parody’

18 Jul 2021 2 minute read
Guto Harri. Pic: GB News

Guto Harri has blasted GB News as an ‘absurd parody’ that is pandering to the far right.

The Welsh broadcaster was speaking out after his recent dismissal from the ‘anti woke’ channel for having taken the knee while presenting a live show.

He describes how he faced a ‘tsunami of disappointment, resentment and hate’ after his on-air gesture had offended the ‘lynch mob’.

In a Sunday Times column, he says: “I joined, part-time but with an ongoing commitment because I liked and trusted those in charge and supported the broad vision.

“But the channel is rapidly becoming an absurd parody of what it proclaimed to be. Rather than defending free speech and confronting cancel culture, it has set out to replicate it on the far right.”

‘Racist’

He said he was inspired to take the knee after seeing racist abuse being aimed at England’s black players following the team’s defeat in the Euro 2020 final.

“When I saw Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane and the fine young men around them drop a knee ahead of their Euro matches, it reminded me more of my Catholic upbringing — a symbol of humility, a recognition of a bigger picture, shared values and core principles,’ he said.

He says that his taking the knee was not unplanned and that,  ‘immediately before going on air, I mentioned that I was considering making the gesture. “If you do it, do it to camera three,” I was told.’

He also rejects claims that his actions had caused the ratings to plummet, saying that the ‘figures actually dropped pretty swiftly after launch and kept slipping.’

Nation.Cymru revealed how viewing figures have continued to slump since the channel’s June launch with many GB News shows attracting smaller viewerships than episodes of S4C’s Welsh language Paw Patrol.

GB News has recently enlisted Nigel Farage to try and turn around the fortunes of the struggling channel.


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Mark
Mark
3 years ago

is this his attempt at an apology? GB news is a far right racist news channel in the same vein as Fox news, everybody knew this before it’s launch, the presenters being employed by the channel was a big hint at what its output would be. But surprise surprise Guto didn’t see it. Too late, we see you for what you are.

CapM
CapM
3 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Poor Guto, how was he to know what sort of people were recruiting him.
Having never ventured out of his milltir scwar Guto was plucked by these people to be a political tool to be used as they saw fit.
From reporting on the machinations of Merched y Wawr and allotment politics for his Papur Bro to fronting a tele-visual programme in London is a journey and a half. No wonder he went down on one knee Guto was tired out.

Bruce
Bruce
3 years ago
Reply to  CapM

“was plucked by these people to be a political tool to be used as they saw fit.” – I think you just meant “tool” didn’t you?

hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Mark. Don’t define everything you disagree with as “left wing”, although the targets of your derision often label themselves as left wing too. You need to distinguish between the genuine socialist who strives to improve the lot of a large slice of the population and the now fashionable “lifestyle leftie” mob some of whom are also “woke”. These are the politically naive itinerants, intellectually rootless types who hop from ishoo to ishoo as the thought leaders of their shallow demographic dictate. It’s a new form of dependency culture, a need to be seen to be radical without taking any real… Read more »

Chris
Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

And yet that also sounds suspiciously like the current Conservative party. Except for the woke bit. The Tories are very definitely asleep at the wheel. They roused the hateful mob for their own ends and now don’t know how to control them

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
3 years ago
Reply to  Mark

So you dislike and fear public sector people like Chief Constables, senior oncologists and binmen?

I bet they won’t sleep tonight.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Oh just because y Senedd doesn’t rubber stamp your business proposals!

Hannergylch
Hannergylch
3 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Mark R-R: You seem to be getting more and more radicalised with every comment you post here. I challenge you to prove me wrong by posting a polite comment.

You can disagree with someone without resorting to cheap attacks on their character. If you make a regular effort to disagree politely, you might find after a while that you acquire the ability to assemble a coherent argument.

CJPh
CJPh
3 years ago

OOOOOr you could argue that he couldn’t find a home at a channel that purported to be about freedom of speech and expression when he dared to exercise both those rights. Your opposing view, as welcome as you are to express it, is not an exemplar of these principles – Guto’s taking of the knee was. He fully elucidated why he did it and the symbolism behind it. If you still see it in such a monochromatic way, then you are simply the other side of this rusty old penny. Groupthink goes both ways. As to his “made up name”… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by CJPh
John
John
3 years ago

Mae’r frwydr nawr rhwng Gwil a’i Gwn a Forage am y ratings uchela’

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
3 years ago

Boris Johnson’s former spin doctor shocked to find GB News is even more fascist than himself.
“Oh dear, how sad, never mind.”

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
3 years ago

So for exercising his right to free speech Guto got cancelled by a channel supposedly created to ‘resist the cancel culture’ and to ‘defend free speech’ 🤔

Last edited 3 years ago by Leigh Richards
Mick Tems
Mick Tems
3 years ago

Has GB News recruited Farage to improve their already laughable viewing figures so they can goose-step up their circulation?

Meryl Darkins
Meryl Darkins
3 years ago

Fel Pabydd da, fe ddylai Guto wybod bod angen llwy hir iawn wrth swpera gyda’r diafol. As a good Catholic, Guto should know that a long spoon is needed when supping with the devil. We all knew this was a right wing set up and he shouldn’t have got involved with them.

Vaughan
Vaughan
3 years ago

What has happened to Rhydderch-Roberts’s posting?
Was it taken down or did he delete it himself?
If the former then quite unacceptable, particularly when we’re discussing free speech.
Don”t agree with anything he says personally but he does not deserve to be censored.

defaid
defaid
3 years ago
Reply to  Vaughan

Mark, I enjoy some of your posts (for as long as they last). Your opposite end of the spectrum perspective helps me to clarify my own thoughts when I compose a (consequently equally short-lived) reply.

I agree entirely that reasoned dissent is essential in any discussion and some of the deletions have disappointed me too, but…

… insulting your host is never appropriate.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Vaughan

Remind you of anyone else? What’s good for GBeebies …

Padi Phillips
Padi Phillips
3 years ago
Reply to  Vaughan

As a platform Nation Cymru has an absolute right to delete or remove your comments without contravening your right to free speech. You’re still free to spew your bilge elsewhere, and always have the option to establish your own online platform, running your own servers if need be.

You may have a right to express yourself, but no one has to provide you, or me, or anyone else for that matter, a platform on which to do it.

Bruce
Bruce
3 years ago
Reply to  Padi Phillips

Quite right, this isn’t down to government censorship after all.

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
3 years ago

What was he thinking when he joined the channel?

Quornby0
Quornby0
3 years ago
Reply to  Stephen Owen

“what’s the salary?”

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

In a Sunday Times column, he says: “I joined, part-time but with an ongoing commitment because I liked and trusted those in charge“

Well more fool him then. This is just the frog and the scorpion story. If the frog was slightly less of a fascist than the scorpion and was looking to seascape whilst trying to save face, letting the scorpion reich to take the blame

Phil Davies
Phil Davies
3 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Perhaps those in charge liked and trusted him, too… and he let them down badly.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Phil Davies

My heart bleeds for them 🙄

Johnny Gamble
Johnny Gamble
3 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Maybe Pepe the Frog should be Gbeebies logo

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

Oh well, Guto is out and Froggy Hitler is in.
Should see GB “News” viewers rise to 4 figures!

Johnny Gamble
Johnny Gamble
3 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Do you mean by 4😂

Alan Reilly
Alan Reilly
3 years ago

Why is there even talk about Great B0ll0cks news channel?

Here’s how its audience works out… Anyone with a shred of intelligence and respect for themselves, whether in England, Scotland or Wales barely knows it exists. Anyone who is as thick as porridge, follows it incessantly and swallows every word it says.

In short, fũck Great B0ll0cks news channel.

Phil Davies
Phil Davies
3 years ago
Reply to  Alan Reilly

Why would you need a shred of intelligence and self-respect to barely know it exists? Doesn’t make sense. Oh.. and watch the language, please.

Alan Reilly
Alan Reilly
3 years ago
Reply to  Phil Davies

Why? Does it offend you lol?Why are fash always the first to scream snowflake but also the first to melt at the sight of “naughty words”? It really is so fũcking funny lol!

Phil Davies
Phil Davies
3 years ago
Reply to  Alan Reilly

I’m neither offended nor do I think I’m a fash, whatever that is., I was always taught that resorting to bad language shows a lack of vocabulary and an inability to argue reasonably, just like your reply.
I still think that the remark featuring the phrase ‘shred of intelligence’ was lacking any sense.

Erisian
Erisian
3 years ago

I liked much of his work when he was with the BBC.
After two stupid career choices in a row, let’s hope his next choice is better (asuming he has not entirely destroyed his credibility by working for Truth-Free-BJ and GB “News”.

hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago

Someone has been at it again taking down comments and responses. No profanities, no personal abuse just a mild disagreement on underlying ideology and /or logic. I sosmeone at N.C towers bored or just enjoying the censorship role a touch too much ?

Hannergylch
Hannergylch
3 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

I wonder if the commenting software has an algorithm that deletes heavily down-voted comments.

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