Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow sparks fury by saying ‘I’ve never seen so many white people in one place’ as he watched Brexit protesters
- Snow, 71, made the comments while reporting on pro-Leave protests last night
- He drew criticism from Brexiteers arguing the Remain rallies were equally white
- But others agreed, saying speakers like Tommy Robinson discourage diversity
Jon Snow has been accused of anti-Brexit bias after commenting that he had ‘never seen so many white people in one place’ while covering last night’s protests – despite a similar lack of diversity at last weekend’s Remain rally.
The Channel 4 News broadcaster made the observation as thousands of Brexit supporters descended on Downing Street on the day Britain was scheduled to leave the European Union.
Speaking live from Parliament square over images of the demonstrations near Number 10, Snow, 71, said: ‘We’ve just got these pictures in which were taken nearby. Police are now wearing riot gear. Police dogs are patrolling. The mood has changed.
Jon Snow (left) made the controversial statement while reporting for Channel 4 on last night’s Brexit protests in Westminster
‘We cannot confirm whether any arrests have been made.
‘It has been the most extraordinary day. A day which has seen… I’ve never seen so many white people in one place.
‘It’s an extraordinary story – there are people everywhere, there are crowds everywhere.’
His quip caused a barrage of online response – with some Twitter users pointing out that those marching for Remain last Saturday were also predominantly white.
Journalist and broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer described his comments as ‘unbelievably shocking’, and uploaded a photograph of a demonstration calling for a second referendum.
Brexiteers complained that Jon Snow had displayed a pro-Remain bias for commenting on the racial make-up of a Leave protest, with one saying he was ‘beyond the pale’
‘Here’s a pic of one of the People’s Vote marches that Jon “I’ve never seen so many white people in one place” Snow loves so much,’ she wrote on Twitter.
Leave supporters said they felt that Snow’s remarks were ‘inflammatory’ and ‘designed to get reactions’.
Others described the statement as ‘reckless’ and unnecessarily intended to sow division.
‘It would have been fine if Jon Snow regularly commented on the racial make up of groups/protests in his reporting,’ wrote Katharine Birbalsingh.
‘But he doesn’t. It’s the inconsistency in his behaviour that damns him.’
Some Twitter users could not understand why Snow was under fire, and said he was merely pointing out an obvious lack of diversity at the pro-Brexit rally yesterday
However many others jumped to Snow’s defence, saying he was merely commenting on an obvious lack of diversity at last night’s protests.
They pointed out that anti-immigration figures Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage had addressed protesters earlier in the day, and were unlikely to draw a diverse crowd.
‘That protest last night was the “March 4 Leave” one which featured speeches from Tommy Robinson and Gerald (sic) Batten among others,’ wrote Dara Peyton.
‘Both men that don’t have the most diverse following – so when Snow says he hasn’t seen so many white people, he means it it’s not a very diverse crowd.’
Most people, however, poked fun at the absurdity of his comments, with one person implying he would see as many white people in Waitrose
Twitter users also poked fun at Snow’s comment, as well as those taking it seriously.
Have you never been to Waitrose?’ one asked, while another reminded Snow that he had been educated at a private boarding school in Oxford.
Julia Hartley-Brewer also posted images from Glastonbury and the Hay Literary Festival, both of which Snow attended, that appear to show an entirely white crowd.
‘Like yellow snow, Jon Snow is best avoided,’ mused one person.