Tongue-lashing for arts chief ’s dyslexia quip
THE head of the Barbican Centre has apologised after he compared the Welsh language to dyslexia.
Dr Giles Shilson, chairman of the world-famous London performing arts centre, sparked anger on social media after he shared a picture of a train departure board at Cardiff Central station.
The image which showed stations at Caerfyrddin, Ynys y Barri and Llundain, the Welsh word for London, was posted with a caption that said: “This must be what it feels like to be dyslexic…”
Leanne Wood, the Welsh nationalist Plaid Cymru leader, said Dr Shilson’s tweet showed “ignorance” and a “lack of culture”. The post was deleted following a backlash from other users.
Dr Shilson said: “I’d like to apologise. I sent a very thoughtless tweet and unintentionally upset lots of you.
“I’m so sorry – it wasn’t my intention to be insulting and I should have realised that it would be. I sincerely apologise.
“I have undoubtedly upset and angered many people and although some Twitter users have accepted my subsequent apology, I fully appreciate that I should not have sent the tweet in the first place.”