Yahoo Finance England rugby star's outrage after BBC uses picture of different player in article about racism
England rugby player Ellis Genge has responded furiously after an interview he conducted with the BBC was published with the wrong image.
Instead of featuring a picture of Genge, an image of his England teammate Lewis Ludlam was used.
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The Leicester prop tweeted his anger, saying: “I’m actually f***ed off with this happening to every mixed race/black sportsperson.”
I’m actually fucked off with this happening to every mixed race/black sportsperson. Must be the 15th time in less than a year just between me and @LewisLudlam . pic.twitter.com/iOSIC3XFgV
— Gengey (@EllisGenge) June 9, 2020
Ludlam also replied, saying it was “not the first time this has happened”, while adding that ITV had confused him with England and Bath winger Anthony Watson.
Current and former players, including England teammate Courtney Lawes, as well as former England captain Will Carling, have condemned the mistake.
A BBC spokesperson told Yahoo Sport: "We apologise for this human error which fell below our usual standards on the website."
I’m with Gengey on this one however , wrong mixed raced guy @BBCSport . Probably should be getting that right on an article about race issues. Not the first time this has happened pic.twitter.com/s4ZqS8D4Bs
— Lewis Wesley Ludlam (@LewisLudlam) June 9, 2020
The article was an interview with Genge – who grew up in Bristol – in which he discussed the pulling down of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol’s city centre on Sunday.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Genge said: "I've got a lot of black family in Bristol and we're all proud Bristolians but at the same time, we didn't want a big statue in the middle of a slave trader."
"I think it's warranted to pull the statue down after 10 years of asking."
Genge also discussed the racist abuse that he has received on and off the rugby field, as well as hoping to see black coaches “thrive in the game”. None of the Directors or Rugby or head coaches in the Gallagher Premiership (England’s top domestic competition) are black.
