Gary Lineker recently said he did not notice that a social media post he shared included an image of a rat, a symbol historically associated with antisemitism. He apologized sincerely for the distress caused and stated that he would never intentionally share anything antisemitic. He recognized the mistake and decided to step back from presenting duties at the BBC as a responsible course of action. Lineker emphasized that he advocates addressing humanitarian concerns but acknowledges the importance of how things are expressed. He removed the post immediately upon realizing the issue and accepted full responsibility for the error.
Additionally, after leaving the BBC following this incident, Lineker said at the National Television Awards that it might be okay sometimes to use a platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice, reflecting his ongoing engagement on social issues despite the controversy.
