Farage's Non-Apology Sparks Outrage: 'I'm Sorry If I Hurt You', Says School Contemporaries Accuse Him of Racism and Antisemitism
For the first time since the scandal erupted, Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has expressed some remorse for his alleged past behavior. However, critics argue that his latest comments amount to a "non-apology" and fail to adequately address the hurtful actions he allegedly took against his fellow schoolmates at Dulwich college.
During an interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Farage stated that if his behavior genuinely hurt anyone, then he was sorry. But in a clear attempt to downplay his actions, he claimed that his behavior would have been seen as "banter" in 1970s Britain and maintained that there was no intention to wound or hurt.
Peter Ettedgui, a film-maker who attended Dulwich college with Farage, has responded to the latest comments by accusing the Reform leader of being disingenuous. In an interview, Ettedgui stated that Farage's initial response to the allegations had been to deny them outright, and he questioned why his predecessor had chosen not to apologize sincerely for his actions.
Ettedgui also raised concerns about how Farage's alleged racist views may have influenced his politics today. He pointed out that 34 school contemporaries, including students who suffered or witnessed the abuse, had come forward with their accounts of Farage's behavior, which included taunting him with antisemitic comments and labeling Hitler as "right".
Farage initially threatened legal action against the Guardian and denied any racist or antisemitic conduct. However, his latest comments seem to have shifted his stance, leaving many to wonder about the extent to which his behavior has shaped his current political agenda.
The controversy surrounding Farage's alleged past behavior has sparked a heated debate about the nature of "banter" versus hate speech, and whether some forms of ridicule can be excused as harmless when they are directed at individuals who may already hold vulnerable identities.
For the first time since the scandal erupted, Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has expressed some remorse for his alleged past behavior. However, critics argue that his latest comments amount to a "non-apology" and fail to adequately address the hurtful actions he allegedly took against his fellow schoolmates at Dulwich college.
During an interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Farage stated that if his behavior genuinely hurt anyone, then he was sorry. But in a clear attempt to downplay his actions, he claimed that his behavior would have been seen as "banter" in 1970s Britain and maintained that there was no intention to wound or hurt.
Peter Ettedgui, a film-maker who attended Dulwich college with Farage, has responded to the latest comments by accusing the Reform leader of being disingenuous. In an interview, Ettedgui stated that Farage's initial response to the allegations had been to deny them outright, and he questioned why his predecessor had chosen not to apologize sincerely for his actions.
Ettedgui also raised concerns about how Farage's alleged racist views may have influenced his politics today. He pointed out that 34 school contemporaries, including students who suffered or witnessed the abuse, had come forward with their accounts of Farage's behavior, which included taunting him with antisemitic comments and labeling Hitler as "right".
Farage initially threatened legal action against the Guardian and denied any racist or antisemitic conduct. However, his latest comments seem to have shifted his stance, leaving many to wonder about the extent to which his behavior has shaped his current political agenda.
The controversy surrounding Farage's alleged past behavior has sparked a heated debate about the nature of "banter" versus hate speech, and whether some forms of ridicule can be excused as harmless when they are directed at individuals who may already hold vulnerable identities.
I'm so done with Farage trying to spin his way out of this one 
. Like, sorry if you hurt someone's feelings isn't gonna cut it 
. He's basically saying that being a racist and antisemitic is just "banter" now 
? That's not okay at all 
. I mean, even if he was trying to be funny back in the day (which I highly doubt 
), that doesn't excuse the hurt he caused or make it acceptable today #NotMyBanter.
. It's like, too little, too late 
. Farage needs to take responsibility for his actions and not try to downplay them or make excuses #AccountabilityMatters.
. It's not about the past being different, it's about how our words and actions can still hurt people today 
.
his excuse about it being banter in 70s britain is super dodgy tho. like even if that was the cultural context, doesnt mean its okay to hurt people's feelings or perpetuate hate speech. and its not just the racist/antisemitic comments thats a big deal, its also the fact that he made those students feel uncomfortable & scared 
what i think is most insidious is how hes trying to downplay his own role in creating this toxic environment 
... Farage's words still don't sit right with me. Like, sorry if you got hurt, but it's not the same as actually owning up to what you did and being like "oh no I was wrong". And to me, it sounds like he's trying to justify his old behaviour by saying it was just 'banter' back in the day 