Times Editor apologises for gay, Holocaust, paedophilia tweet
A senior gay editor at The Times, Dominic Kennedy, has apologised for causing offence after he tweeted that most well known paedophiles were “Jewish or gay” and should be identified “a system of triangles and stars”.
Outraged Jewish community leaders have blasted comments from Mr Kennedy – the paper’s investigations editor – who tweeted: “So many of the VIPs accused of being paedophiles are Jewish or gay.
“Maybe we could have a system to identify these people: triangles, stars…”
Simon Johnson, chief executive at the Jewish Leadership Council, told the Jewish News: “I utterly condemn the words and the tone of Mr Kennedy’s tweet.
“What on earth does religion or sexuality have to do with the investigations?
“The suggestion to brand or identify suspects in the way that he suggests harks back to the worst of Nazi ideology.”
Mr Johnson also said The Times should apologise for its association with Kennedy’s “vile” comments.
Some Twitter users have defended Mr Kennedy’s comments, claiming the tweet was meant satirically and should not have been taken seriously.
However, among most users, it caused disgust and upset, with one Twitter user replying: “You should investigate how not to invoke the holocaust to justify baseless sensationalism. Or better yet: delete your account.”
Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush said: “What he said was stupid. I suppose he was being satirical but I find such comments extraordinarily misplaced and offensive.”
Senior Vice-President at the Board, Richard Verber, added: “While Mr Kennedy’s forced apology is welcome, further action is required.
“Millions of Jews and gay people died at the hands of the Nazis.
“For anyone, let alone a senior journalist, to trivialise the Holocaust in such a way is unacceptable.”
He also suggested that Mr Kennedy be forced to take a trip to a concentration camp, and even offered to arrange the visit himself.
“Mr Kennedy should also visit the Nazi death camps to help him understand why his remarks are so offensive.
“The Board of Deputies would be happy to arrange that for him. Mr Kennedy’s ignorant remarks are a timely reminder of the importance of Holocaust education.”
Mr Kennedy later took to Twitter to apologise, writing: “I apologise to anyone who has been upset by the message.
“I am a gay man and hate to see any witch-hunt or persecution of vulnerable minorities or individuals, alive or dead, who cannot answer back.”
During the holocaust – in which millions were killed – homosexuals were forced to wear an identifying pink triangle by the Nazis, while European Jews were legally compelled to wear yellow stars. PinkNews is named PinkNews in memory of the Pink Triangle.
