Reggie Yates will no longer be hosting this year’s Top of the Pops Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve holiday specials after comments he made on Chuckie and Poet’s Halfcast Podcast.
Talking about the current climate in UK music the presenter said, “The thing that makes it great about this new generation of (music) artists is that they ain’t signing to majors.
“They’re independent, they’re not managed by some random fat Jewish guy from north west London, they’re managed by their brethren.”
The comments led to Yates being accused of anti-Semitism.
He apologised in a statement: “I’m hugely apologetic for this flippant comment. It was not my intention to offend or reinforce stereotypes, but I’m aware that this could have been interpreted that way and for that I am also deeply sorry.
“What I was actually trying to say was how proud I am of the new generation of artists making their success independently on their own terms and without giving away control or their rights to major labels.”
He has now tweeted saying he’s “taken the decision to step down” from hosting Top of The Pops.