Gary Lineker - man of integrity

Cossy

GrannyGravy13

So much integrity that he posted an anti semitic trope on his social media, only withdrawing it and apologising when someone pointed it out to him.

Along with his tweet two years ago accusing the Conservatives of using ^language akin to the Nazi’s^

I do think certain right wing MPs sound a little Nazi like with their choice of language.

In terms of the (alleged) anti-Semitic trope, I didn’t read it, but I would just point out that 1) he apologised and immediately removed it, 2) he’s stepping down from his job role earlier than planned and 3) If one posts or says anything in defence of the Palestinian people accusations pour out stating the comments are either supporting terrorism or are anti-Semitic.

I like Lineker and do believe him to be a man of integrity.

Not just right wing politicians cossy Sir Keir Starmer referring to an Island of strangers in his speech on immigration last Monday…

Defending the innocent people in Gaza, is totally different to posting an antisemitic trope on social media.

Gary Lineker seems to have lost any integrity he may once have had. From not being carded in his playing career he has gone on to earn in the region of £1.35 million pounds from the BBC per year. For talking about football. How does that make him a man of integrity? He may yet turn out to be a charitable man like George Michael or Bill Gates I suppose.

Since when does being rewarded for work indicate lack of integrity? Lineker’s salary is published because he works directly for the BBC.

Celebrities such as Michael McIntyre, Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones, Paddy McGuinness, Claudia Winkleman, Romesh Ranganathan, Alexander Armstrong, Richard Osman, Lord Sugar and Graham Norton escape the glare of public scrutiny over what they are paid because of a loophole which means the BBC does not have to disclose the salaries of stars whose programmes were made by independent companies.

Lineker has just done what so many people do nowadays, posted something on social media that he didn’t think through.

He has admitted his mistake and resigned. I say that it a mark of integrity.

Some people in the public eye are wittingly posting offensive content on social media every day and being paid handsomely for it. Perhaps question their integrity?

Re Charities: yes, he has contributed a great deal

www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/gary-lineker

I'm not going to comment on the general argument here simply because I have mixed feelings, I agree with some of what he has said and not on others.

He's leaving the BBC on Monday following controversy and that's the right thing to do, it follows current BBC guidelines that flagship presenters should follow the BBC's impartiality and he has broken them.

I don't think for one second that Gary L knew that the emoji was seen as antisemitic. It is just not his style. I didn't know it was antisemitic, last year it was all about blooming octopuses. It is impossible to keep up.

Strange choice , a rat ,

The more I read the more I know my comment re integrity is correct.

Lineker has made mistakes - who hasn’t? But I am so heartened to hear him speak up against the genocide.

At the very least he has brought attention to the disaster, and perhaps has made some people focus their mind on why and whether they agree with him.

The Nazis were not the first to use comparisons with rats to dehumanise people.

In 1909, the US satirical magazine Puck published a cartoon that depicted European immigrants arriving in New York City as a swarm of rodents.

As recently as 2015, the Daily Mail ran a cartoon that showed refugees arriving in Europe from the Middle East and North Africa, with rats scurrying alongside them. (theweek.com)

archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/live/paris-attacks-live-updates/anger-over-daily-mail-cartoon-equating-refugees-to-rats/

An editorial cartoon published on Tuesday by The Daily Mail, which seems to equate migrants and refugees fleeing wars in the Middle East with rats, prompted a wave of outrage across social media.

The charged image, which features caricatures of bearded Muslim men with exaggerated noses and veiled women crossing “Europe’s open borders,” along with scurrying rats, was drawn by the cartoonist Stan McMurtry, who uses the pen name Mac.

Any Daily Mail readers railing at Lineker might perhaps admit to their hypocrisy?

Lineker made a mistake. The Daily Mail published deliberately.

At the very least he has brought attention to the disaster,

I think most people are fully aware of what’s going on in Gaza.
We don’t need an overpaid, overblown ex footballer to educate us.

Quote Whitewavemark2 Mon 19-May-25 13:33:27
The more I read the more I know my comment re integrity is correct.

Lineker has made mistakes - who hasn’t? But I am so heartened to hear him speak up against the genocide.

At the very least he has brought attention to the disaster, and perhaps has made some people focus their mind on why and whether they agree with him.

He has brought attention to the disaster ? Another joke

I didn’t know rats was antisemetic either, they have been used by many different nations and I remember films and tv programmes where ‘you dirty rat’ was used regularly.

I think Lineker has been dignified as he leaves the bbc, at least he won’t be needing to get another job too soon, he shoukd have a few million in his piggy bank to keep him going.

Rats leaving a sinking ship

Used for decades

He has apologised for reposting material containing offensive
references .

The BBC ,some readers and he thought so

Man of integrity?
It depends on your view of integrity and obviously on GN that differs.
The best thing he has done is leave the BBC early and I agree thats a good idea.

Anniebach

Moral courage for his antisemitic post

No, just an inflated ego that thinks he caan say what he likes and normal rules do not apply to him.

This matter came up on the Gaza thread, so I gave detailed references as regards the use of animals/humans

used by both sides in this dreadful conflict, ie some Jewish people were using rats to talk about Palestinians, and some Palestinian people were using rats of the Israelis

Let's be clear about this, it's not one sided.

I also believe Lineker didn't know the allusion, I didn't either before I read the articles I have just referred to.

Let’s be clear about this ,We are speaking of a man who is not Palestinian or Israelite ,

Since the UK gives both money to Israel and in aid to Palestine, its a UK concern as well, as humanitarian points of view on whichever side.

No matter Wyllow you quoted insults between
Palestinians and Israelis not UK citizens

Whitewavemark2

Just that really.

So few around these days. He is to be admired for his humanity and his moral courage.

You’re having a laugh aren’t you? 🤣🤣

Can I categorically state that if someone said would you stake your life on Gary Lineker being a thoroughly decent person I would. And I think most people who don’t think that seem to have some sort of personal grudge against him.

Bless him, so sure of his moral highground that he will follow any fashionable belief to its grimmest outcome. He is nothing if not consistent in that.
If that is morality I thank god I have always considered myself immoral

Well I wouldn't MayBee and I don't have a personal grudge against him either.

Quote MayBee70 Mon 19-May-25 16:40:19
Can I categorically state that if someone said would you stake your life on Gary Lineker being a thoroughly decent person I would. And I think most people who don’t think that seem to have some sort of personal grudge against him.

Never met him, never heard him I have no interest in football,
why would I have a personal grudge against him, I dislike him
now

But this isn't the first time Lineker has been reproved for his comments, is it?
Why use a rat as an emoji?
Is the conflict in Gaza officially a genocide?

All done to provoke.
Integrity?
No.