Alastair Stewart

[StillSpike]

Maltby's comments fail to address the fact that Martin Shapland is a racist, or that he continually looks to provoke people on Twitter.

The situation was originated in Shapland's accusation that Stewart was racist for using 'ape' in a Shakespearian quote sent two years ago to another white person. Shapland knew he was being antagonistic - and if Stewart did bite back it must be seen at least in part as exasperation at the ignorance of English literature displayed when Shapland levelled his unfair accusation.

Is that true?

From the Mirror story quoted above:

"Stewart and Twitter user Martin Shapland were involved in a heated debate on social media over the financial relationship between the tax payer and the Crown earlier this month. The newsreader responded at one point with a quote from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.

Stewart wrote: "But man, proud man, Dress'd in a little brief authority Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd - His glassy essence—like an angry ape Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven."

"As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal.”

Shapland retweeted the comment and branded Stewart a "disgrace", writing: "Just an ITV newsreader referring to me as an ape with the cover of Shakespeare. Measure for measure, Alistair is a disgrace."


Now, if that's true, then it looks like the quote was directed at Shapland during the heated debate, not dug up from a couple of years ago. Do you have a source for the assertion that it was from 2018?

[Dunners]

Maltby's comments fail to address the fact that Martin Shapland is a racist, or that he continually looks to provoke people on Twitter.

The situation was originated in Shapland's accusation that Stewart was racist for using 'ape' in a Shakespearian quote sent two years ago to another white person. Shapland knew he was being antagonistic - and if Stewart did bite back it must be seen at least in part as exasperation at the ignorance of English literature displayed when Shapland levelled his unfair accusation.

Is that true?

From the Mirror story quoted above:

"Stewart and Twitter user Martin Shapland were involved in a heated debate on social media over the financial relationship between the tax payer and the Crown earlier this month. The newsreader responded at one point with a quote from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.

Stewart wrote: "But man, proud man, Dress'd in a little brief authority Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd - His glassy essence—like an angry ape Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven."

"As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal.”

Shapland retweeted the comment and branded Stewart a "disgrace", writing: "Just an ITV newsreader referring to me as an ape with the cover of Shakespeare. Measure for measure, Alistair is a disgrace."


Now, if that's true, then it looks like the quote was directed at Shapland during the heated debate, not dug up from a couple of years ago. Do you have a source for the assertion that it was from 2018?

I can't be bothered to dig it out, but Stewart used the same quote previously to a white person. It appears to be his 'thing'. While perhaps poor judgement, this would indicate that he did not mean any racial comment in his tweet to Shapland. But, as has been alluded to elsewhere, I suspect that there is more to this story.

Anyway, people arguing on Twitter deserve everything they get.

[ContrifibulatoryFred]

I quite agree Dunners about the foolhardiness of arguing on Twitter.
Not sure now about what Spike says though as I was pretty certain that Stewart never used that quote directly at Shapland, and the offending tweet was simply dredged up by the latter after he got involved in a debate with Stewart as a point-scoring exercise.
If there is an actual image of Stewart saying that directly to Shapland it was bad judgement for sure, but racism?I don't think so
The truth, it seems, will be lost in the ether - but Shapland's moral integrity is far below him having any entitlement to cry wolf against others, especially as he has been demonstrably racist in his attitude to others

[Currywurst and Chips]

It should also be noted that Shapland abridged the quote so that it was cut off at "Angry ape". One presumes in order add to the controversy