BBC presenter shares footage of him being racially abused outside pub

BBC 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake told his social media followers he was racially abused outside a pub in Manchester as he waited for his wife.

The host explained he was chatting to a ‘drunk man’ outside a pub in Altrincham and was asked if he was a doctor before being called a p*** and then the N-word.

In a video shared on Twitter, he wrote: ‘We got talking and he said, “Are you a doctor?” So I started laughing because as an Asian it’s the kind of question you might get asked. And I went, “Why would you ask that?”

‘And he said “because you’re a p***’. Then he went “I guess I can’t say p***’..” Then he said the N-word.’

Nihal continued: ‘Then he kind of looked at me and was like, “Oh sorry, you’re offended aren’t you.” And I said, “Well why did you say that word, why did you need to say that word?”

‘He said, “Oh I’m sorry, I’m a massive C word.”

‘I said, “You’re not a massive C word, you’re just an average one. Dictators are massive C words, you’re just an average one,” it was so weird.’

In a separate tweet, Nihal explained that he wouldn’t name the pub close to where the incident happened.

‘I wont be mentioning the name of the pub because I had a great time in there before encountering that racist man and pubs are finding it hard enough as it is to stay open without being stained unfairly,’ he tweeted.

Since posting about his ordeal online, Nihal has been flooded with messages of support.

Poet Lemn Sissay said: ‘Sorry brother. These invisible guard rails made by the mouth are the last feeble vestiges of the colonial project.

‘He is lost, a trapped fox, drunk & lonely, cornered by your kindness, shadow boxing himself, in search of meaning: You are strong. You are the absolute shizzle!’

Another follower added: ‘That’s horrible. Sorry to hear that happened to you mate.’

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