BT Sport and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has been absolutely slated on Twitter for a pro-Piers Morgan tweet, as news broke about the controversial Arsenal supporting journalist leaving Good Morning Britain.
Lineker is best known for his glittering football career, during which he enjoyed stints with Tottenham and Barcelona, as well as being ever-present with the English National Team.
- Gary Lineker is close to his sons; George, 28, Harry, 26, Tobias, 24, and Angus, 22. MORE: Alex Jones reveals heartwarming tradition she's started with sons He said: 'It was a difficult feeling.
- Lineker married Danielle Bux on 2 September 2009, in Ravello, Italy.They went on to win £30,000 for charity on ITV's gameshow Mr and Mrs. On 13 January 2016, Lineker and Bux announced they were divorcing, after six years of marriage, the reason given being Gary not wanting more children.
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Having hung up his boots, Lineker turned to broadcasting, with Match of the Day being his first big gig, which was eventually followed by opportunities with BT Sport and more.
Lineker has never shied away from sharing his views and opinions, no matter how contentious, on Twitter, even at risk of causing disruption to his primetime presenting career.
However, could he have overstepped the mark by backing Piers Morgan via Twitter on Tuesday evening?
Has Gary Lineker made a fatal error by publicly backing Piers Morgan?
As reported by Sky News, Morgan left his role as co-presenter of Good Morning Britain in wake of a massive backlash to his comments on Meghan Markle, who revealed during an interview with Oprah Winfrey that her difficult situation as a royal was making her feel as though she “didn’t want to be alive anymore”.
Morgan, as Sky News note, said he “didn’t believe a word” of what Markle had to say, comments which caused a national uproar which has eventually resulted in his departure from GMB.
That hasn’t stopped Gary Lineker from publicly backing Morgan, though, a personal friend of his.
Whether it’s a football manager, a television presenter or any profession for that matter, it’s always sad when someone loses their job. @piersmorgan is excellent at what he does and I’m sure he’ll be back on the telly soon.
— Gary Lineker ? (@GaryLineker) March 9, 2021
While some would argue Lineker ought not to be criticised for standing up for a friend who is under-fire at current, many on Twitter would disagree.
In fact, Lineker has sparked a backlash of his own, with some Twitter users not happy with the former Tottenham and Leicester City striker for pledging his allegiance to Morgan.
No
— Gary Lineker ? (@GaryLineker) March 9, 2021
Did you miss the reason he’s lost his job Gary? Solidarity with that… not a great look
— Nick (@ManUnitedYouth) March 9, 2021
Delete before they kick you off MOTD ?
— MAH (@matissearmani) March 9, 2021
You should’ve sat there and ate your crisps.
— machine gun Kele (@kelechnekoff) March 9, 2021
It’s never sad when Piers Morgan loses a job. He’s a terrible person. You reap what you sow.
— Steven (@StevenMcinerney) March 9, 2021
hard disagree. he accused a woman of lying when she said she felt suicidal. then he flounced off set when being held to account for it. that’s not “excellent” by any stretch of the imagination
— Siobhán Moore (@SiobhanMoore90) March 9, 2021
It’s people like you that put tweets like this out that encourage Piers Morgan’s that what they’re doing is right. Look at his track record and tell me how anything he does is “Excellent” he shouts over guests is Racist and mocks mental health.
— joshua mccormick (@JMccormick007) March 9, 2021
Misjudging the public mood a little here Gary. I rarely find myself disagreeing with you, but Morgan was toxic. I’m not sure how he clung on after Leveson, but he did. Those with a public platform on TV have some duty towards fair and balanced reporting.
— Julian Leyland (@DrJulianLeyland) March 9, 2021
Oh Gary, mate. He hasn’t lost his job because the football team he manages have had a bad run of results, he’s lost his job for being a bully on national tv. That doesn’t warrant any sympathy.
— Scott Arthur (@Scott_Arthur) March 9, 2021
And right here is why you should be sacked as well @GaryLineker, the fact that he hounds and bullies people daily and you call it doing a good job,you should be ashamed of yourself but I’ve a feeling you won’t be.
— Mark Tuite (@tuite147) March 9, 2021
Harry Styles, Gary Lineker and Demi Lovato are among this year's nominees for the British LGBT Awards, which recognise those who 'stood shoulder to shoulder' with the community in the last year.
The annual awards are voted on by the public, and celebrate personalities from across charity, the media and business who have helped to advance the rights and lives of LGBT+ people.
Celebrities nominated in the ally category, which was won by the Duke of Cambridge in 2017, include Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, Killing Eve's Jodie Comer and Spice Girl Mel C.
Umbrella Academy star Elliot Page, who recently came out as transgender, is up for the celebrity award, alongside actor Andrew Scott, model Cara Delevingne, Queer Eye fashion expert Tan France and US pop star Demi Lovato.
Harry Styles, who has been praised for his gender non-conforming fashion style and his staunch support of the LGBT community, is up in the music category.
Styles is up against the likes of Call Me By Your Name rapper Lil Nas X, Good As Hell singer Lizzo and indie-pop trailblazers The 1975.
It's A Sin, Channel 4's hit drama about the 1980s HIV/Aids crisis has been shortlisted in the media moments category, along with Netflix's thriller Haunting Of Bly Manor, Strictly Come Dancing's first same-sex pairing and CBBC's The Next Step, which featured a lesbian love story on children's television.
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The lack of openly gay Premier League footballers will also be addressed at the awards with a new category.
The football ally award will recognise those who are working to break down the taboo in the sport, with Jordan Henderson, Gary Lineker and Jamie Vardy all in the running.
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Gary Lineker Twitter Motd Running Order
Elsewhere, UK Black Pride, It Gets Better and The Outside are among the charities up for awards, while Starbucks, Cadbury and Marks & Spencer feature in the business categories.
Sarah Garrett, British LGBT Awards founder, said: 'These awards shine a light on those who have stood shoulder to shoulder with the LGBT+ community, during what has been an extremely challenging 12 months.
'The nominees, which include an exciting mix of famous LGBT+ faces, allies and organisations have all demonstrated a commitment to advancing LGBT+ rights.
Gary Lineker Twitter
'The awards on 27 August, which will take place after lockdown restrictions are eased, will be a huge celebration that's needed more than ever.'