After a massive, and completely justified, backlash against Kelvin MacKenzie's deplorable comments that were published in an article about Ross Barkley, The Sun have suspended the controversial columnist.
After making disgusting and offensive remarks about Barkley, social media was in uproar and it has sparked a reaction from the newspaper who released a statement that itself has not gone down too well.
A spokesperson from News UK said:
The Sun’s columnist Kelvin MacKenzie has been suspended from the paper with immediate effect.
The views expressed by Kelvin Mackenzie about the people of Liverpool were wrong, unfunny and are not the view of the paper.
The Sun apologises for the offence caused.
The paper was unaware of Ross Barkley's heritage and there was never any slur intended.
Mr Mackenzie is currently on holiday and the matter will be fully investigated on his return.
Statement from News UK regarding Kelvin MacKenzie: pic.twitter.com/hBEEoMtRKh
— News UK (@NewsUK) April 14, 2017
The first question that many have been asking following that statement is that if the above is to be believed, then why was it not flagged before publishing?
And it is a valid question. MacKenzie's words would surely have been checked, and cleared for publishing by one if not multiple other people at the company... In fact, The Sun even included a side-by-side comparison picture of Ross Barkley and a Gorilla, that one seriously doubts was shopped up by MacKenzie himself.
The statement absolutely reeks of passing the buck and attempting to save face, and it seemingly has done little to repair the damage done.
