Dumped Love Island star Danny Bibby lashes out at ‘false accusations’ after apologising twice for N-word slur
LOVE Island's Danny Bibby has lashed out at "false accusations" following his N-word race row.
Danny, 25, sparked more than 1,500 complaints to television watchdog Ofcom after eagle-eyed fans noticed he had used the slur in a comment on Instagram.
Danny has apologised twice for using the highly offensive word, once while in the villa and then again after he was dumped.
But taking to social media on Sunday, Danny wrote a cryptic post about "false accusations" while thanking his friends, family - and even enemies - for their support.
The reality star wrote on Instagram: "I'd like to say thank you to everyone messaging me support and I am making my way through all my messages as we speak, may take a few days but I want to personally thank everyone, seeing the people who know me, even people I haven't seen eye to eye with in the past supporting me and defending this false accusations has really made me proud to be from Leigh."
VIEWER COMPLAINTS
Love Island was hit with thousands of Ofcom complaints over Danny's comment made on his Instagram page.
The Sun exclusively reported the plumber used the N-word in a historic social media post that was unearthed earlier this month.
More than 1,500 complaints from viewers were sent to Ofcom for the episode on July 15 when Danny entered the villa.
The show was hit with another 426 complaints for the episode on 18 July, after the show used Jay-Z and Kanye's West's song N****s in Paris to soundtrack a preview of Danny in the villa.
Fans had called for Danny to be removed from the show since spotting the offensive slur in a comment he made on Instagram in 2019.
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In a statement last week, issued before he was dumped from the villa, he said: "I'd like to take the time to apologise to anyone that may have taken offence to my inappropriate remark. I never meant anything malicious by this comment at all.
"I am not a racist person and it's unacceptable language and ignorant. I meant no offence and feel like I have really learnt from my mistakes and will never use that word again. I am a kind loving person and hopefully you get to see that in the show."
"Whilst I was made aware of this and issued an apology whilst in the villa, the matter has always been on the front of my mind during the days in there and I would like to now add to what was said."
Danny went on to add that he was "truly sorry" for using the word after seeing the backlash on the post and across social media.
I meant no offence and feel like I have really learnt from my mistakes and will never use that word again
Danny Bibby
He added that it came from his admiration of rap music and that at the time he was not aware it would cause offence due to the way it was written.
"After seeing all the comments and reaction to the post, I understand more that the use of the word, even in the way it was written and intended, is deeply offensive to people and I am truly sorry," he went on.
"I was always aware that written in the other way was a vile term, and I would never use it. But I was unaware that the way I used it was not.
"I have listened too the likes of 50cent, drake and Eminem since I was a kid, and I used it like they do as a term of friends/bro/brother.
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"THAT IS THE TRUTH. I now know the term is unacceptable in any context, and will NEVER use it again.
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"Education is key to solving problems, and I have learned a very valuable lesson. I hope others will too. I whole heartedly apologise to anyone who I have offended and ask your forgiveness."
He concluded the apology by saying he wanted to live a "normal life" and was hoping the incident would be put in the past.
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