what did gary lineker speak out about

Gary Lineker recently spoke out about using his platform to defend those who have no voice, particularly in the context of his social media posts criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza. This followed a controversy where he shared a post about Zionism that included an image of a rat, which is a symbol historically associated with antisemitism. He apologized unreservedly for this post, saying he never knowingly shared anything antisemitic and removed it once he realized the issue. Lineker left the BBC after this antisemitism row, stepping down from his role as the presenter of Match of the Day in May 2025. At the National Television Awards in September 2025, after winning TV Presenter of the Year, he used his acceptance speech to defend his decision to speak up on social issues, stating it might be okay sometimes to use one's platform to speak on behalf of those without a voice. His win ended Ant and Dec's 23-year streak in the category and was seen by many as a public endorsement of his activism and outspokenness, despite the controversy that led to his BBC departure.