He isn't doing a good job with his partner anyway. It would be no great loss if he went.

Why would you sack anyone who made a remark then apologised to the person concerned who accepted it?

What business is it of ours what has passed between them?

Just because Laila has accepted his apology doesn't mean other Indian people will, they could apply alot of pressure onto the BBC and pull out the racism card.

So it's ok to make any offensive comment, as long as you apologise later?

It's our business because it's in the public eye, and the BBC have a responsibility to deal with it appropriately- otherwise they risk sending the message that racist comments aren't a big deal.

Having said that, I think sacking might be a bit of an over-reaction. I think he should face some kind of disciplinary action though, particularly since it's reportedly the second offensive comment he has made to Laila.

Seeing as the comment was made almost a month ago they've had enough time to put some sort of stop to it. Seeing as they've given him his own show really now which has started to air, after his initial remark, they would have put that whole series on hold if they had doubt about whether to get rid of him or not.

Shilpa Poppadom springs to mind

I think this is a very difficult one. Even though this was said away from the cameras if enough people complain to the BBC and lets face it they like doing that then his position could be dodgy.

I don't think he should be sacked, he probably didn't mean to be offensive and said it without thinking, and he did apologise afterwards- not that that's any excuse for being racist. That said, I agree with katie_p in that I think he should face some sort of disciplinary action.
I'm quite disappointed, Anton used to be my favourite professional but I've gone off him this series- just because he has a semi-decent partner and his own TV show he thinks he's untouchable.

It is an interesting one - probably the first time a "popular" BBC personality has been in the spotlight for a gaffe like this - unless you count Clarkson who made a few dodgy comments and he totally got away with it so I imagine Anton will as well.

At the moment the only thing that really matters is how Laila feels,everything else is secondary to this........if she is comfortable to still have Anton as her partner and has accepted his apology then it needs to be left alone.

BUT the BBC should ask her if she wants to change partners (ie Matt Cutler being the only one available) or if she feels uncomfortable with Anton.

What Anton meant or didn't mean is of secondary importance........and he and the BBC needs to take whatever comes following Laila's decision.

I do feel sorry for Laila TBH,for all this and for Anton being way out of his depth now on SCD with any Latin routines,it is a waste to give him a partner with any sort of potential to go far in the competition........its very unfair on the celeb.

I'm rather indifferent to Anton but his hamming up in Latin routines annoys me and i find it rather disrespecful to Laila.

Whatever happens i think it will be his last series of SCD purely from an ability POV and he may well have shot himself in the foot for any further presenting jobs for the BBC.

Imagine if he was in Bruce's role, and said that to one of the contestants

Are you aware how totalitarian that sounds?

Assuming that you mean that Anton needs educating about his use of language, I would agree with you. Since the BBC has a policy in place against the use of racist language, I would hope that it also issues its employees with explicit guidelines as to what is and is not acceptable. It isn't sufficient to simply leave it to people's own judgment when their careers are at stake. Presumably it also has an explicit disciplinary code that sets out the consequences of any breach of the policy. In the first instance one of these might be attendance of some kind of awareness raising course, in which case I suggest they enroll Anton straight away so that he can learn why using this sort of language, even with no ill intent, is not appropriate.

If Anton gets cancer in the next few years I'll be sooo freaked out.

Given the time elapsed, given that Anton has apologised and that apology has been accepted, and given that the BBC issued a short statement saying that it dod not condone racism in the workplace, the conclusion has to be that the matter is closed, regardless of any "I'm offended on behalf of ....." complaints.

Anton has expressed views in the past that many would disagree with. These latest comments are not a surprise to me - I think they are not out of character for him.

From what we have seen of them together, it looks to me like Laila is putting up with him and trying to put forward a semblance of getting on. I dont think Anton intended his comments as insults, but he is a rare breed in thinking that way. He seems to want to make amends, but as I said, I dont think it was out of character for him to say those things in the first place.

If they did replace him with Matthew Cutler, it would be the end of Anton, and I dont think that will happen. It all leaves Laila in an awkward situation though, so I hope she feels that she has a lot of public sympathy and support.

Prince Harry used exactly the same word. He was slapped on the wrist by the highest in the land. He apologized and was put through an awareness course.

Was it last March when Anton was quoted volunteering his opinion that all fat people should be shot? Despite the furore in DS forum he never apologized, perhaps trying to ignore everything until the public lose interest. Eventually he came out with some softly softly explanation, that he meant all fat professional dancers (if any exist) should be shot.

Someone who knows Tony Beak from way back said he does this regularly.

Why was it necessary to start a new thread to ask this question?

What was wrong with the other thread on this subject here which has been on the front page since the story broke?

Was it to give people the opportunity to have their say at least twice and so raise the profile of the story?

I doubt that will happen now even it was thought about in the past........

In any professional environment Anton would be in major serious trouble......verbal warning at the very least and packed off to do some courses to "reducate" him.

It can't be brushed under the carpet but Laila feelings do come first at this stage.

Even if she has accepted his apology and has said she is happy to carry on with him i do feel she has been let down by him in many ways........i don't want to see him back on SCD for the reasons i've said before.

To be honest, I am not offended by his comments but I don't see how anyone can say his comment stemmed from ignorance. He works and I think lives in London, which is the most diverse city in the world and seems educated enough to know that the comment is not acceptable. However I can accept that the comment could have been said to be a "joke" but he ought to know that using racist terminology is never a joke.

You are not a moderator therefore you have no right to tell people how to use the forums. Just because you have made thousands of posts and are seen as a Strictly expert doesn't mean you have a right to tell people what to do.

Well this thread'll be closed soon then :sleep:.

Thats the problem though isn't it ??........all this has made everything very awkward for her and she will feel obligated to Anton not to swop partners because she will know the consequences for him,but SCD should be about her not him.

I feel for her.

i think he should get a warning or reprimand. the way carole and ron were treated was disgusting imo.

I've no idea...but I would hope that whatever happens to him is the result of some fair and well thought-out and properly conducted process...given the size and stature and profile and nature of the employer in question.

But it hasn't left Laila in an awkward situation has it?

She has already accepted the situation and moved on. I think they are working well together as a couple based on what we have seen so far. We've all seen before the signs when a couple have not gelled on SCD and there are no such signs with Anton and Laila. Why not move on like they have?