BBC SPOTY row: Greg Rutherford slams Tyson Fury’s comments – Daily Mail

Greg Rutherford has spoken out against fellow BBC Sports Personality of the Year nominee Tyson Fury’s homophobic and sexist remarks. 

Rutherford has issued a statement confirming he entered talks with the broadcaster, where he raised concerns about Fury who ‘had views that are so strongly against my own’. The 29-year-old confirmed on Wednesday that he had initially pulled out before reversing his decision.

The boxer’s invite to the British Sports Awards also taken away by the Sports Journalists’ Association due to previous ‘threats’ made towards members.

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Fury was a controversial addition to the BBC list after securing the world heavyweight boxing title because of comments he made about the gay community, controversially equating homosexuality with paedophilia in an explosive interview in the Mail on Sunday last month.

Since Fury’s selection on a 12-person shortlist a debate has raged over his suitability for the award. 

Rutherford has since issued a statement explaining his position, confirming he raised a number of points about his appearance at the event, but will be there on December 20. 

Rutherford said: ‘I have been in discussions with the BBC regarding my involvement with SPOTY after hearing what I believe to be very out-dated and derogatory comments from a fellow SPOTY nominee.

‘Everybody has the right to freedom of speech, which is something that we as a society have struggled with and fought for generations to get to where we are now but by the nature of these comments, undermine the struggles that we have been through. 

‘As such, I wanted to speak with the BBC about sharing a stage with somebody that had views that are so strongly against my own. After doing so, I can confirm that reports that I am withdrawing from the ceremony are not true. 

‘The BBC have been hugely supportive in hearing my own views and I am hugely honoured and privileged to be included on the shortlist for such a prestigious event alongside so many remarkable sporting personalities, majority of whom I will proudly say to my son I had the chance to meet.’ 

In a series of tweets, he then added: ‘I have opinions, of which I was privately clear. I DID pull out of SPOTY, on Sunday I wrote to the BBC requesting removal.

‘Throughout the next 2 days the SPOTY team asked me to stay on. Also, I realised my nomination meant so much to my family.

‘I then asked myself, do I really want to disappoint my own family just because of a bigot’s views? The answer was no.

‘Next thing I know, someone leaks my withdrawal request and the private decision I’ve made suddenly changes to something much bigger.

‘So, I will still attend SPOTY, to make my family proud and to thank them for the support in my career, and that’s what I plan to do.

‘I’m mega keen to meet Tyson Fury’s riveting, personality-filled little toe.’ 

On Wednesday the Sports Journalists’ Association removed him from their British Sports Awards in London on December 17.

In a statement on their website the officers of the SJA took the decision ‘reluctantly’ but it ‘was made as a consequence of threats made by Fury against at least one sports journalist, an SJA member, who has written about the boxer’s repugnant comments on homosexuality and women.’ 

A spokesman for the SJA said: ‘We are aware of threats made by Tyson Fury against one of our members, and therefore feel that it would be incompatible with the nature of our event, or the interests of our members, our other guests and our sponsors, for us to continue to extend a welcome to Tyson Fury to our awards next week.’ 

On Wednesday morning, Fury tweeted: ‘The end is near repent of your sins, Remember what the bible says,!’ [sic] along with a meme. The image which depicts his celebration after beating Wladimir Klitschko reads: ‘Take my belts sign your petitions but you will never take this night from me #history #andthenew.’

Rutherford’s stance is the latest problem for the BBC to consider over keeping Fury on the 12-man shortlist, after he appeared in an online video in which he says Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill ‘slaps up good’.

The new world heavyweight champion is shown in footage on YouTube giving his views on women and says: ‘A woman’s best place is in the kitchen and on her back, that’s my personal belief.’

One of the BBC’s employees, Andy West has been ‘reprimanded with action’ after lashing out at the organisation’s inclusion of Fury on their shortlist.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, he wrote on his Facebook: ‘My employer is hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile and who believes homosexual people are helping to bring about the end of the world.

‘It’s tempting to see him for the laughable idiot he is but sadly there are many other idiots who will be inspired and encourage by his naive, juvenile bigotry. I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks bravery to admit it is making a mistake.

‘I criticise the BBC for offering him as an idol to be celebrated and admired not just for his sporting achievements but also his “personality”.’

A BBC source told BuzzFeed News that as a result of his comments West, who is a news reporter for BBC NI, was ‘reprimanded by a manager, told an investigation would be launched into his conduct and warned he could be suspended.’

West also reportedly sent an email to Tony Hall – the BBC Director General. Leaked to BuzzFeed it reads: ‘I appeal to you as an equal opportunities employer and proud bastion of fair-thinking to consider whether it is appropriate to celebrate someone who has stated that gay people are sign of a coming Armageddon and equates homosexuals to paedophiles.’

‘Can it be that my own employer is happy to suggest that this individual is an example for us to follow?’

A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We do not routinely comment on individual staff matters.’

Meanwhile, promoter Kellie Maloney has called for world boxing authorities to take collective action against Fury over his comments.

The promoter told BBC Breakfast that Fury’s achievement in the ring was ‘fantastic’ but his comments outside it ‘leave a lot to be desired’.

She said: ‘I believe the (British Boxing) Board of Control are having a hearing today. They will discuss it and he will be called up in front of the board but what can they do to him? They can fine him. It means all the world governing bodies should take some action against him.

‘I think his comments will harm him to get endorsements. I don’t think you will see the likes of adidas, Nike or any of the blue-chip companies wanting to endorse Tyson Fury. I think he has made a terrible mistake and his management team should have realised this because they know what he is like.’

Maloney’s comments come after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed they were investigating hate crime allegations against the boxer.

Fury said in an interview with Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 this week: ‘Homosexuality, abortion and paedophilia – them three things need to be accomplished before the world finishes. That’s what the Bible tells me.’ 

After that clip was played on Victoria Derbyshire’s BBC Two show, a spokeswoman for GMP said: ‘At 10:30am (on Tuesday) we received a report of a hate crime following comments made about homosexuality on the Victoria Derbyshire programme.

‘As with all allegations of hate crime we are taking the matter extremely seriously and will be attending the victim’s address to take a statement in due course.’

An online petition, set up by LGBT campaigner Scott Cuthbertson, has collected more than 122,000 signatures demanding he is removed from the list but the BBC does not intend to alter the initial selections.

The footage has a publication date of November 25 and, when asked his opinion on women in boxing, Fury focused on the ring girls rather than athletes.

‘I like them actually, they give me inspiration, when I’m tired and I see them wiggling around with their round two, round eight…I think women in boxing is very good,’ he said.

‘But I believe a woman’s best place is in the kitchen and on her back, that’s my personal belief. Making me a good cup of tea, that’s what I believe.’

Ennis-Hill, who returned to action this year after giving birth and overcoming injury, is also on the 12-person shortlist for the BBC award, which will be handed out in Belfast on December 20.

The panel who selected the dozen candidates includes the director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater, former England international Jermaine Jenas, presenter Hazel Irvine and journalists from the Times, Guardian and Sun.

The BBC said although the corporation did not endorse his views, he would not be dropped.

A BBC spokesman told Sportsmail: ‘Tyson Fury’s victory and subsequent crowning as world heavy weight champion was widely covered by media outlets and his inclusion on the shortlist is similarly recognition of his sporting achievement – it is not about endorsing his personal views.

‘It will be for the public to decide who will be crowned Sports Personality of the Year 2015.’

Fury first aired his views on homosexuality in an interview with the Mail on Sunday before he beat long-reigning champion Klitschko in Dusseldorf last month.

In his interview with Oliver Holt, in which he also labelled Klitschko ‘a devil-worshipper’, the boxer said: ‘There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home: one of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other one’s paedophilia.

‘Who would have thought in the 50s and 60s that those first two would be legalised?

‘When I say paedophiles can be made legal, that sounds like crazy talk doesn’t it? But back in the 50s and early 60s, for them first two to be made legal would have been looked on as a crazy man again.’

Fury has continually claimed that he was misquoted by Holt before issuing his threats.

He was filmed with his entourage, pointing to a member he referred to as ‘big Shane’, who Fury said will break Holt’s jaw.

‘See ‘big Shane’ there. He’s 6ft 6in and 25 stone. He’s going break his (Holt’s) jaw completely with one straight right hand. I won’t do it as I’ll get in trouble but the big fella there will annihilate him,’ Fury said.

‘Oliver, take a good look at him because that’s the face you’re going to see before you hit the deck.’

Sportsmail responded last week by publishing Holt’s audio recording of the Fury interview along with the entire transcript of their meeting.