It was in the program “Qui Studio a Voi Stadio”, which is broadcast on the local venue Telelombardia in Lombardy in northern Italy, that the journalist Luigi Furini called Romelu Lukaku the n-word – in connection with discussing Lukaku’s imminent transfer to Roma.
Football Italia reports that Furini, who has been part of the show since 2010, was kicked out of the studio after the statement.
Furini is said to have apologized with the explanation that the n-word is “often used in rap music”.
Now the journalist has come up with a defense speech after the scandal, reports journalist Siavosh Fallahi on X, formerly Twitter.
Furini: “Insulted me”
“The politically correct on social media have insulted me without remorse,” begins Furini and continues:
“I want to remind everyone that the n-word was often used by Martin Luther King. Many years have passed and a lot may have happened since then. These days social media is unforgiving and that word can no longer be used”.
Furini goes on to write that “hundreds of women and children of African origin die every week crossing the Mediterranean” and that “the politically correct on social media forget these deaths”.
“Instead, the important thing is not to use the n-word,” he concludes.
Has previously been exposed to racism
The channel manager Fabio Ravezzani he has also stated on X.
“We do not accept that this should be a misunderstanding. And apologizing far too late is not enough,” writes Ravezzani.
Romelu Lukaku, who previously played for Inter, has encountered racism several times during his time in Italy. As recently as last spring, Lukaku was booed by Juventus fans after the Belgian scored for his Inter side. Juventus’ heel section was then suspended in a match.
2023-08-27 09:45:41
#Thrown #studio #words #Lukaku
