TV chef James Martin is getting roasted by the internet for saying he now identifies as an otter
Chef James Martin teaches a cooking class (Nora Tam/Getty)
TV chef James Martin is getting roasted by the internet after getting very upset about Fireman Sam and claiming that he identifies “as an otter”.
The former Saturday Kitchen presenter, who left the BBC in 2016, was apparently angered by reports that children’s character Fireman Sam is being phased out as a mascot by the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service as part of a drive to encourage more female firefighters.
James Martin: I wish to be known as an otter.
Taking to Twitter, the TV chef wrote: “Right that’s it, Fireman Sam is the last straw I’m done with this pc bollocks and 100 identities being taught.
“In a last stand to this outrageous madness I now wish to be known as an Otter.
“I like other Otters and when you get bored of this crap in the world join me under water with other Otters, both male and female, and call enough and an end to this madness.”
Chef James Martin attends the Chelsea Flower Show 2018 on May 21, 2018 in London, England. (Jeff Spicer/Getty)
The straight 47-year-old appeared to be unaware of the alternate meaning of “otter”, a subculture for hairy but slim gay men.
A Twitter user wrote: “Massive fan of James Martin accidentally wishing himself to be referred to as a small hairy gay man (an otter) while having a pop at identity diversity.”
Massive fan of James Martin accidentally wishing himself to be referred to as a small hairy gay man (an otter) while having a pop at identity diversity. #theotterformerlyknownasJames https://t.co/xcDWZowhjG
— Thom Feeney (@ThomFeeney) September 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1172095545478909952
https://twitter.com/pryorandy/status/1172110755099025408
Hi James, will you commit to getting the word 'Otter' tattooed to your right thigh in order to bolster your position? Thanks— Josh Barrie (@joshbythesea) September 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/misslucyp/status/1172057367241998336
One user responded: “James, you are neither lean nor hairy enough to be an otter pal. Maybe look into leather daddies instead x”
Another viral response asked: “Is Fireman Sam like your dad or something, you seem very upset.”
Fireman is ‘outdated’ term that discourages women.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said the term “fireman” was outdated and put off female recruits.
Chief fire officer Les Britzman said: “There’s been a lot of research that says that images that young people have about what careers they want to do are formed when they are about four or five.
“If you are promoting that image we might be stopping people wanting to apply for the fire service 20 years down the line.”
The decision was backed up by the Fire Brigades Union, which said: “We’re not bothered about Fireman Sam. We’re bothered by the subconscious message the term fireman has created as an issue in our recruitment.”
