Weeks after he made headlines for confrontingPiers MorganonGood Morning Britain, weathermanAlex Beresfordis speaking out about the racism he has been subjected to on social media.
In a new essay forThe Telegraph, Beresford, 40, said he has taken a step back from social platforms as a result, and recounted how growing up mixed race in England has affected his perspective.
His on-air interaction with Morgan, 55, occurred last month, when theBritain’s Got Talentjudge made disparaging remarks onGood Morning BritainaboutMeghan Markleand therevelations about her mental healthshe made during her sit-down withOprah Winfrey. Beresford spoke up and called his co-panelist’s behavior “pathetic” and “diabolical.”
The move prompted Morgan to storm off set during the broadcast, and later that day it was announced that he would beleaving his postat the morning news show.
“Since then I have been subjected to relentless racism myself on social media,” Beresford wrote in the story published Wednesday. “I haven’t announced it … but I have been forced to step away from Twitter and Facebook myself, because it was getting too much. I am a strong person, but I am not made of steel.”
“Growing up mixed race was at times a lonely journey, but it’s also beautiful discovering yourself and finding out where you stand,” he wrote. “Of course, all of us regardless of colour are trying to find our place in this world and it’s great having two very different points of origin, but there are times when you feel like you’re being pulled in both directions.”
“Thankfully I feel very well balanced,” he added. “Some have, at times, questioned why they never hear me defending the white British side of my heritage, and that’s simply because it’s never been attacked, but I’d stand just as strong.”
Beresford compared Markle’s impact to that of former PresidentBarack Obama,the United States' first Black president.
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Beresford concluded his piece with a call for people to continue having the necessary but “uncomfortable” conversations around race and racism.
“Social media has clearly had an impact on our ability to engage in open discourse and listen to opposing views,” he wrote. “In order to move the conversation on we will have to have those difficult conversations. Part of that process might just have to be agreeing to disagree.”
source: people.com
