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Nihal Arthanayake says he noticed ‘a scarcity of variety in my office over a protracted time frame,’ weeks after the Radio 5 Dwell presenter stated working on the ‘overwhelmingly white’ BBC was unhealthy for his psychological well being.
The 52-year-old presenter posted on X, previously referred to as Twitter, that the ‘lack of variety’ on the publicly-funded broadcaster was ‘isolating and lonely’.
Arthanayake additionally accused ‘gbeebies [GB News] loving varieties’ of creating him out to be ‘anti-white racist, including: If a single one among them assume I’m going to be quiet they’re much more silly’.
Talking on the Journalism Range Fund (JDF) convention at BBC Media Metropolis in Salford final month, he stated: ‘I’ve seen lots of people depart this constructing as a result of they could not cope with the tradition.’
Arthanayake, who’s of Sri Lankan descent, advised the convention: ‘It is actually affecting me that I stroll in and all I see is white individuals.’
The 52-year-old presenter posted on X, previously referred to as Twitter, that the ‘ lack of variety’ on the publicly-funded broadcaster had left him ‘feeling remoted and lonely
His colleagues’ response when he advised them this was to answer defensively that they weren’t being racist, he claimed as he stated that was lacking the purpose.
The journalist’s newest tweet was met with a powerful backlash from some customers who accused of him of being ‘anti-white’ and urged that if the identical remark got here from the other perspective of white particular person, it might branded racist.
The writer of ‘Let’s speak: How you can have higher conversations’, hit out on the criticism by posting: ‘Racists calling me a racist is peak 2023 on this platform [X],’ earlier than urging his followers to comply with him on rival platform Threads and ‘depart these racists, bigots and blue tick warriors to argue amongst themselves and shout at me’.
Professional-Brexit activist James Goddard stated: If it’s isolating and lonely then go to Sri Lanka the place you’ll really feel at dwelling. The British individuals had been by no means requested if we wished hundreds of thousands of foreigners in our nation.
‘If we had been requested, we wouldn’t be within the mess we’re in at the moment with anti white racists such as you being given a platform to spout your hate’.
One consumer stated that if the presenter felt remoted and that he was convey handled in a different way, he may have raised a grievance but when his grievance is all the way down to pores and skin color solely, then its a mirrored image of his prejudice.
However Arthanayake responded by saying: ‘Some white individuals have been seeing our color and treating us accordingly ever since we obtained right here’.
Different customers got here to indicate their assist of Arthanayake, similar to Michael Volpe OBE, founder & former CEO of Opera Holland Park, who posted on X: ‘The relentless racism that [LBC presenter] Sangita Myska, Nihal Arthanayake and [Lingo presenter] Adil Ray – 3 outstanding British broadcasters get tells a miserable story.
Nihal Arthanayake says he noticed ‘a scarcity of variety in my office over a protracted time frame’
The journalist’s newest tweet was met with a powerful backlash from some customers who accused of him of being ‘anti-white’
Presenter stated his colleagues’ response when he advised them this was to answer defensively that they weren’t being racist, he claimed as he stated that was lacking the purpose
‘Principally in case your pores and skin shouldn’t be white, for too many individuals you’ll NEVER be English/British. My pores and skin is white and I’ll by no means be British both’.
On the JDF’s convention final month, Arthanayake stated: ‘I do not assume there is a single Muslim concerned within the senior editorial processes’ at BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
He added: ‘The toughest factor is to stroll right into a room, go searching and no one appears such as you.’
The presenter made the feedback in an on-stage interview with Jo Adetunji, editor of The Dialog, on the JDF’s annual equality, variety and inclusion convention organised by the NCTJ, which trains new journalists.
The JDF awards bursaries to aspiring journalists from various backgrounds who don’t have the monetary means to assist themselves by way of their coaching.
Arthanayake added that he has seen a distinction since transferring north after residing in London for 20 years.
He stated: ‘Since transferring up right here, being referred to as the P-word – that did not occur in London.
‘You’d get a slap for that in London, not even from me.’
Following the interview, Cheryl Varley, a BBC Radio 5 Dwell producer, stated the organisation is dedicated to tackling the shortage of variety in its newsrooms.
After inviting the JDF bursary recipients for a tour of the newsroom on the finish of the convention, she advised them: ‘The BBC wants you much more than you want them as a result of if we don’t signify our viewers the long run for the BBC is grim.’
A spokesperson advised the MailOnline: ‘[Nihal Arthanayake] is talking overtly about his personal private experiences.
‘We would like the BBC to be inclusive and consultant on and off display screen of the audiences we serve, and are dedicated to setting the very best requirements on variety throughout the organisation’.
