Collymore’s racial jibe at TV rival Wright
FORMER England strikers Ian Wright and Stan Collymore were at the centre of an extraordinary public racism row yesterday. The pair re-ignited a long-running feud after Collymore, 47, blasted Wright with a foul-mouthed rant on social media.
Ian Wright blasts Arsenal for 'embarrassing' manager pursuit
After an exchange of messages, Collymore appeared to dismiss Wright, 54, as an “Uncle Tom” – an offensive term meaning a black person who is subservient to whites.
The former footballers are in Russia covering the World Cup which kicks off on Thursday.
While Wright is working for ITV, Collymore has his own show on Russian state television channel RT.
The row erupted after Collymore gave a newspaper interview in which he discussed diversity in football and the lack of opportunities for black players in broadcasting.
He suggested Wright and fellow TV pundit Chris Kamara were successful broadcasters because they were “comedians”.
Collymore also hit out at former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas and England female star Alex Scott.
He said: “To be a black pundit you either need to be a comedian, like Chris Kamara or Ian Wright, or Jermaine Jenas and Alex Scott who are completely inoffensive. What
you’re not allowed to do is call out the status quo, which is what I do.”
But Wright hit back on Twitter saying: “Representation matters. Opportunities matter. I feel sorry for you but you have to let the chip on your shoulder go and take some responsibility for why broadcasters and brands won’t be associated with you.”
Wright then posted a picture of himself and Kamara laughing.
Collymore wrote back: “You know what you are, Ian, and always have been, which is why only you are employed by every British broadcaster. The epitome of a Tom.”
Collymore was at the centre of a storm during the 1998 World Cup when he attacked then-girlfriend Ulrika Jonsson in a bar.
Collymore added in the interview: “Opportunities have been denied to me and it’s got nothing to with what happened with Ulrika Jonsson.
“No, it’s because I’ve become increasingly outspoken and that’s not allowed in this country if you’re not white.”