BBC host Nicky Campbell calls out ‘ridiculous homophobic’ guest on-air
BBC host Nicky Campbell
BBC host Nicky Campbell has hit back at claims of “bias” after describing an anti-LGBT protester’s views as “ridiculous.”
On Thursday (March 21), the 5Live host spoke to a parent of a child at Parkfield school in Birmingham who has taken part in protests against LGBT-inclusive education lessons.
The parent, who was identified only as Maksood as he did not want to use his real name, had claimed: “Everybody has their own free choices that are there to be made.”
Nicky Campbell: ‘Ridiculous’ to say homosexuality is a choice
Campbell cut in: “But homosexuality is not a choice. Do you think it’s a choice?”
When Maksood replied “it is, basically,” Campbell responded: “Hang, on, you think it’s a choice that somebody makes? The science goes completely against that.”
“It’s ridiculous to say it’s a choice. Did you choose to be heterosexual?”
Maksood insisted: “I don’t think homosexuality is wrong, but it’s a choice. You have a choice.”
BBC host Nicky Campbell (John Phillips/Getty)
Campbell replied: “That’s ridiculous… who you love, who you want to sleep with, your gender attraction [is not] a choice. You don’t choose your sexuality.”
He added: “Maksood, do you really believe, given the disgusting persecution of homosexuals across the Islamic world in places like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan… LGBT+ people are persecuted there and killed for who they are. Do you think they chose being homosexual?”
The guest replied: “It’s your free will, basically. But let’s look at what this protest is, not what you seem to be pushing this towards… but you have a choice to which path to take.”
Campbell responded: “Ludicrous.”
Nicky Campbell hits back at ‘bias’ claims
On Twitter, Nicky Campbell wrote: “A parent in the Birmingham LGBT row said that ‘homosexuality’ is a choice. I called his view ridiculous and dangerous.
“As if LGBT people being persecuted across the world chose their sexuality.
“People complained it was BBC bias. I make no apologies for calling out homophobia.”
Others praised Campbell for calling out the guest.
One Twitter user wrote: “Listening to someone on #5livebreakfast say that being gay or lesbian ‘is a choice’, we still have so so far to go… Bravo to @NickyAACampbell for holding him to account! #LGBT #Section28”
Another added: “Great. A Bloke on Radio 5 saying homosexuality is a choice.
“I didn’t get a choice, lived in denial most of my life and ruined my mental health. Get him off the radio Nicky.”
Maksood was not the only person to claim that homosexuality is a choice in the mainstream media on Thursday.
A guest on ITV show Good Morning Britain also discussing LGBT+ education made the claim that gay people “choose” a homosexual lifestyles.
