Ant Middleton has issued an apology for labelling the Black Lives Matter movement ‘absolute scum’.
In a now-deleted tweet, the SAS: Who Dares Wins star, 39, claimed the organization – dedicated to bringing ‘justice, healing, and freedom’ to black people in protest against police brutality – and EDL ‘aren’t welcome on our streets’ after far-right groups gathered around British memorials and clashed with police on Saturday.
The ex-soldier has since expressed his regret over his comments, insisted he ‘didn’t want to imply that BLM and EDL are equivalent’, and declared he’s ‘anti-racist and anti-violence.’
‘I am anti-racist and anti-violence’: Ant Middleton has issued an apology for labelling the Black Lives Matter movement ‘absolute scum’
According to The Mirror, the original tweet read: ‘The extreme left against the extreme right. When did two wrongs make a right.
‘It was only a matter of time. BLM and EDL are not welcome on our streets, absolute scum. What a great example you are to your future generation. Bravo.’ (sic)
The media personality attempted to clarify his comments as he uploaded a video to apologise for his ‘inappropriate and offensive’ message.
Ant, who joined the British Army aged 17 in 1997 before he served in the Royal Marines from 2005 until 2012, said: ‘I would just like to clarify a tweet I made this weekend, which I deleted after I realised it could cause offence.
Regret: In a now-deleted tweet, the SAS: Who Dares Wins star, 39, claimed the movement and the far-right EDL ‘aren’t welcome on our streets’ after groups clashed with police on Saturday
Backtrack: The ex-soldier has expressed his regret over his comments, insisted he ‘didn’t want to imply that BLM and EDL are equivalent’, and declared he’s ‘anti-racist and anti-violence’
‘I retweeted a video of the violence, terror and chaos which was happening in the streets of London.
‘At no point was I calling the BLM scum and comparing the two organisations. The word scum was used to describe those who was causing terror and setting a bad example for the future generation.
‘I was angry and I just wanted to get that tweet out to say it was unacceptable. For people who know me, I’m a people’s person.
‘I love people, I am anti-racist, anti-violence, having lived and seen what violence does to people and countries. I apologise if my tweet came across as offensive, I’m here to push positive change.’
‘I want to be clear’: The media personality attempted to clarify his comments as he uploaded a video to apologise for his ‘inappropriate and offensive’ message
‘Can’t you thugs see what you’re doing?!’ Ant shared his disappointment at the violence he witnessed at demonstrations in the English capital
The TV star captioned his clip: ‘Posting a message in relation to a tweet I took down over the weekend. I took it down immediately but I wanted to make sure I’ve been clear and upfront about why I took it down…’ (sic)
Over the weekend, he also tweeted: ‘What I have witnessed today has truly saddened me! Extreme groups running riots, threatening the very safety of the country that I’ve fought and sacrificed for!
‘How are we to bring up our children in this country when you are destroying it! Can’t you thugs see what you’re doing?!’ (sic)
The official Black Lives Matter protest planned for Saturday in London was cancelled by the movement over fears it would be hijacked by far-right groups.
Caution: The BLM protest planned for Saturday in London (some anti-racism protesters pictured) was cancelled by the movement over fears it would be hijacked by far-right groups
Terror: A large number of far-right hooligans attacked police as they claimed to protect the country’s historical monuments
Anti-racism protesters marched peacefully, while a large number of far-right hooligans attacked police as they claimed to protect the country’s historical monuments following calls for the statues to be removed, after slave trader Edward Colston’s sculpture was thrown into the river in Bristol.
Weyman Bennett, of Stand Up To Racism, told The Mirror it was ‘mad’ for Ant to compare BLM with the EDL, stating: ‘There is a side calling for justice and the other is not.
‘Channel 4 have to go through a process of educating and making sure Ant Middleton takes the right side of history.’
MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 representatives for further comment.
Taking a stand: George Floyd’s death has sparked weeks of demonstrations across the world over police brutality against black people (protest in London pictured earlier this month)
George Floyd’s death at the hands of a white police man has sparked weeks of demonstrations across the world over police brutality against black people.
George, 46, an African-American man, died on May 25 after Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The policeman accused of killing George was taken into custody last month and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, officials said.
Black Lives Matter, which was first founded in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman and was nationally recognized for its involvement in the Ferguson protests in 2014, has been galvanized once more following the death of George.
Troubling: George, 46, an African-American man, died on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota