TV star Zack: I was called n word Actor racially abused
YouTube recommended horror vids to our kids
YOUTUBE is directing children to clips pushing extremism, violence and self-harm, say parents.
One toddler who loves Thomas the Tank Engine ended up viewing graphic footage of train crashes.
A 10-year-old girl looking for dance videos saw clips promoting self harm and extreme weight loss. And vulnerable young people looking for advice on LGBT issues were advised to watch videos with extreme homophobic content.
Adults were also affected. One looking for Vikings content was sent to white supremacy videos.
They were all promoted by the site’s recommendation function, EASTENDERS’ Zack Morris has been left shaken and upset after suffering a vile racist attack in a car park.
The actor, who plays Keegan Baker in the soap, told how the random man spat abuse at him, including the n-word.
The horror comes days after England’s footballers were taunted with racist chants throughout their match in Bulgaria.
In the late night attack on Friday, he was also called Uncle Tom – a derogatory term for a lower-class person based on race.
Zack, 21, said yesterday: “Last night I was walking through a car park to my car and was getting abuse from this random guy calling me a ‘ N*****’ and ‘ Uncle Tom’ repeatedly.
“This is the sort of mentality that is still destroying our generation and it must stop.”
Sources close to Zack, who helped EastEnders to a best soap Bafta in May, said he was left “very upset” and shaken by the attack.
The actor’s soap pals rallied around him last night.
Co- star Shona McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean, called the incident “disgraceful”.
On- screen mum Lorraine
Disrespectful, I don’t get why people are racist and think it makes them the big man
FAN OF ZACK MORRIS SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT AFTER ATTACK
Stanley, Karen Taylor in the show, vented her shock and anger online, writing: “Shame on him!!! Love you son, wish I was there.”
One of the soap’s writers, Daran Little, added: “Oh man... hanging head and sending love.”
Fans showed support on Twitter, with one writing: “Disrespectful, I don’t get why people are racist and think it makes them the big man, it doesn’t and people shouldn’t get judged by the colour of there skin.”
Essex-born Zack joined the show in 2017 as Keegan alongside the rest of the Baker family. He has featured in many major storylines, including a hard-hitting knife crime plot.
HARINGEY Borough’s FA Cup clash against Yeovil was abandoned yesterday after goalie Valery Pajetat was racially abused. Minutes after Yeovil scored, Haringey boss Tom Loizou led his team off the pitch after Pajetat said he was spat at. The FA is investigating research by internet safety group the Mozilla Foundation revealed.
The girl’s mum said: “She’s now restricting her eating and drinking. I tried to delete all recommended videos and put in parental controls but she’s finding ways to log on using browsers and school computers.”
A YouTube spokeswoman said its systems ensured authoritative content was recommended first.
She added: “We’ve introduced over 30 changes to recommendations this year, resulting in a 50 per cent drop in watchtime of borderline content and harmful misinformation from recommendations in the US. This update has also begun rolling out in the UK.”