A BBC radio presenter has made reference to Somali pirates while discussing the Somali Olympic team’s results at a sailing event in Rio. The joke was made on BBC Cumbria’s late show with Ian Timms on Tuesday, August 9.

But now it’s being questioned whether the joke was a little too controversial, with some calling it “savage” while others think it’s just a bit of fun. In the clip, Ian says: “We’ve got some sailing results from the Olympics in Rio tonight. Team GB have taken gold, Denmark have taken silver, and Somalia have taken a middle-aged couple who were sailing around the world.

He adds: “The Somali Olympic coach has had to apologise to officials on behalf of the team after realising that shooting and sailing were, in fact, different events.” Without another word, Timms then plays the next song.

Several social media users have quoted the joke on Twitter during several different sailing events without comment. However one user wrote: “Savage,” in response to the joke. Another added: “No one likes a racist. Stop making such insensitive comments against a poor country.”

Mirror.co.uk has approached the BBC for comment. The incident comes after the BBC were forced to apologise after an Olympic commentator’s ‘homophobic’ remark sparked outrage online. Tennis presenter Paul Hand joked “let’s hope they don’t go on to two blokes sat next to each other” during kisscam footage of couples in Rio.

Read more: Did BBC radio presenter go too far with ‘racist’ Somali Olympic sailing team joke?

Source: Mirror