ITV apologises for reporter’s foul-mouthed rant
ITV has apologised after one of its reporters was filmed threatening to ‘bang out’ a man in an expletiveridden rant on Broad Street.
Callum Watkinson exploded with fury when he was interrupted by a passer-by while delivering his piece to camera in Centenary Square.
In the clip widely shared online, Mr Watkinson said he would ‘bang him out’ and asked if he worked at McDonald’s or Footlocker.
A spokesman for the TV channel apologised for any offence caused.
He said: “ITV has spoken to the reporter and the matter is being dealt with internally. We apologise for any offence the comments have caused and will not be commenting further at this time.”
The clip opens with the ranting reporter saying to the man: “I’m not a higher class than you mate, I’ve got a job, have you got a job?”
The broadcaster continues: “Well don’t f***ing do it and I won’t come into your workplace and start f***ing with you idiot.
“You get me behind me again, I’m gonna f***ing bang you out.”
He then says, “Why don’t you go and get a job and then I’ll come behind you and start being an idiot”. while breaking out into a sarcastic, mocking dance. Where do you work? Footlocker? Or McDonald’s?
“Mate, how about sorry for trying to mess up my work? How about that? Do you know how hard it is to broadcast live to half a million people?
“Do you know how hard it is to concentrate? It’s quite hard without someone in the background going ‘Ooh I’m on TV!’”