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BBC DJ Alex Dyke suspended over breastfeeding remarks | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A BBC radio presenter has been suspended over "appalling" comments he made on air about breastfeeding. | |
DJ Alex Dyke said breastfeeding was "unnatural" and "has to be stopped" in public during his phone-in show on BBC Radio Solent on Wednesday. | |
His remarks led to an online petition, which has so far attracted more than 6,000 supporters, calling for him to be taken off air. | |
The broadcaster, who has apologised, will not present his show on Friday. | |
The BBC has not yet said how long the suspension will last. | |
Dyke apologised on air for "any offence caused" during his show on Thursday. | |
He had asked callers to ring in about the "taboo subject" of breastfeeding in public during the programme, which is broadcast to parts of Hampshire and Dorset. | |
'Mums with moustaches' | 'Mums with moustaches' |
During the phone-in, Dyke said: "Couldn't mums just stay at home and do it? I'm not offended by it, I'm just made to feel uncomfortable about it. | |
"You wouldn't get 'yummy mummies'... breastfeeding in public. Those kind of women wouldn't do it because they're very image-conscious and they know it's not a great look." | "You wouldn't get 'yummy mummies'... breastfeeding in public. Those kind of women wouldn't do it because they're very image-conscious and they know it's not a great look." |
He added: "I blame the Earth mothers, you know the ones I mean, the ones with the moustaches, the ones who work in libraries, the ones who wear hessian, the ones they're always on Radio 4 on Women's Hour, they are always pushing the boundaries and making us feel uncomfortable. | He added: "I blame the Earth mothers, you know the ones I mean, the ones with the moustaches, the ones who work in libraries, the ones who wear hessian, the ones they're always on Radio 4 on Women's Hour, they are always pushing the boundaries and making us feel uncomfortable. |
"Breastfeeding is unnatural. It's the kind of thing that should be done in a quiet, private nursery. | "Breastfeeding is unnatural. It's the kind of thing that should be done in a quiet, private nursery. |
"It was ok in the Stone Age when we knew no better, when people didn't have their own teeth... but now I just think a public area is not the place for it and fellas don't like it." | "It was ok in the Stone Age when we knew no better, when people didn't have their own teeth... but now I just think a public area is not the place for it and fellas don't like it." |
Dyke's remarks led to a backlash on social media and online forums and led to the petition. | Dyke's remarks led to a backlash on social media and online forums and led to the petition. |
Lisa Mills, from Stapleton, Bristol, wrote: "What an idiot. Why are we still defending our rights to feed our children in this day [and] age?" | Lisa Mills, from Stapleton, Bristol, wrote: "What an idiot. Why are we still defending our rights to feed our children in this day [and] age?" |
Alex Dodd, from Scholes, West Yorkshire, added: "His opinions are outdated, unwanted and ill thought through. | Alex Dodd, from Scholes, West Yorkshire, added: "His opinions are outdated, unwanted and ill thought through. |
"My wife went through incredible pain with breastfeeding in order to give our son the best possible start in life." | "My wife went through incredible pain with breastfeeding in order to give our son the best possible start in life." |
Emily Greenwood, from Bournemouth, said: "To say breastfeeding is unnatural is just disgusting. He has no clue." | Emily Greenwood, from Bournemouth, said: "To say breastfeeding is unnatural is just disgusting. He has no clue." |
The BBC said it had made it clear his comments were "unacceptable". | The BBC said it had made it clear his comments were "unacceptable". |