'I've hurt many people': Reggie Yates resigns from Top of the Pops after making 'ill-considered' offensive Jewish slur

The 34-year-old TV presenter previously came under fire after he referred to music managers as the 'fat Jewish guy', for which he apologised for at the time.

But he has now decided to step down from hosting the show's Christmas special after admitting his comments have 'hurt many people'.

Stepping down: Reggie Yates has resigned from Top of the Pops after making 'some ill-considered remarks'

In a statement released via his Twitter account, he said: 'On a recent podcast, during a discussion about grime artists, I made some ill-considered remarks which have hurt many people.

'I can see clearly that the words I used reinforced offensive stereotypes, and that there is no context which would justify such remarks.

He continued: 'My comments are no reflection on how I truly feel, and I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community, people in the music industry and anyone else I have offended.


Resigning: The 34-year-old TV presenter previously came under fire after he referred to music managers as the 'fat Jewish guy', for which he apologised for at the time. But he has now decided to step down from hosting the show's Christmas special after admitting his comments have 'hurt many people' (Pictured with Top of the Pops co-host Fearne Cotton)




Statement: In a statement released via his Twitter account, he said: 'On a recent podcast, during a discussion about grime artists, I made some ill-considered remarks which have hurt many people

'This has been, and continues to be a huge learning experience for me, and on reflection I have taken the decision to step down from hosting Top of the Pops this year. (sic)'

Reggie wrote in the caption of the tweet: 'I am stepping down from hosting Top of the Pops this year, please see below (sic)'.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take these issues very seriously and Reggie is in no doubt about the BBC's view of his comments'.

Reggie made the comments during an interview with DJ Chuckie Lothian in an episode of a podcast titled, #Halfcast Podcast: Take Back The Power.

Comments: Reggie made the comments during an interview with DJ Chuckie Lothian in an episode of a podcast titled, #Halfcast Podcast: Take Back The Power

On the show, he said: 'The thing that makes it great about this new generation of [music] artists is that they ain't signing to majors.

'They're independent, they're not managed by some random fat Jewish guy from north west London, they're managed by their brethren.'

Reggie said sorry shortly afterwards, saying: 'I'm hugely apologetic for this flippant comment.

Interview: On the show, he said: 'The thing that makes it great about this new generation of [music] artists is that they ain't signing to majors. 'They're independent, they're not managed by some random fat Jewish guy from north west London, they're managed by their brethren'

'It was not my intention to offend or reinforce stereotypes, but I'm aware that this could have been interpreted that way and for that I am also deeply sorry.

Adding: 'What I was actually trying to say was how proud I am of the new generation of artists making their success independently on their own terms and without giving away control or their rights to major labels."

Reggie was due to co-host the Top of the Pops Christmas and New Years special with Fearne Cotton.  

Host: Reggie was due to co-host the Top of the Pops Christmas and New Years special with Fearne Cotton (Pictured in 2009)

The presenter first got his break into the industry as an eight-year-old on Channel 4 comedy Desmonds - which ran from 1989 - 1994.

However, he changed tack in 1998 when he began presenting The Disney Club and Diggit alongside pal Fearne Cotton. Before the pair presented BBC children's show Smile also.  

The beginning of a long-standing presenting relationship Fearne and Reggie went on to present on BBC Radio One together and Top of the Pops. 

Kick-start: The presenter first got his break into the industry as an eight-year-old on Channel 4 comedy Desmonds - which ran from 1989 - 1994 


Career: However, he changed tack in 1998 when he began presenting The Disney Club and Diggit alongside pal Fearne Cotton. Before the pair presented BBC children's show Smile also (Pictured in 2002)

In 2007, Reggie made a brief appearance the third series of Doctor Who as Leo Jones, the brother of the Doctor's time travel sidekick Martha. 

Back on the presenting front, he joined forces with Fearne's best pal Holly Willoughby to co-host The Voice in 2012 and 2013. 

And in recent years, Reggie has fronted documentaries for BBC Three, including Reggie Yates' Extreme Russia, Extreme South Africa and Extreme UK.

Since 2015, he has co-presented the primetime BBC One game show Prized Apart, alongside Emma Willis.

Recent: Back on the presenting front, he joined forces with Fearne's best pal Holly Willoughby to co-host The Voice in 2012 and 2013 (Pictured in 2013)