World Jewish News

Sunday Times columnist fired over anti-Semitic comments on Jewish women's pay at BBC

A Sunday Times columnist in Ireland has been fired over anti-Semitic comments on Jewish women’s pay at the BBC.

A spokesperson for the British newspaper said the columnist, Kevin Myers, would not be writing for the paper again.

"We can confirm that Kevin Myers will not write again for The Sunday Times Ireland,’’ he said.

In an article about the gender pay gap at the BBC, Myers wrote that two of the best-paid female presenters, Claudia Winkleman and Vanessa Feltz, were Jewish.

He wrote further: “”Good for them. Jews are not generally noted for their insistence on selling their talent for the lowest possible price, which is the most useful measure there is of inveterate, lost-with-all-hands stupidity."

Myers also argued that men usually work harder, get sick less frequently and seldom get pregnant.

The article, which was only published in the Sunday Times’ Irish edition, was removed from the paper’s website.

"A printed apology will appear in next week's paper," Sunday Times Editor Martin Ivens said.

Ivens said the comments “were unacceptable and should not have been published. It has been taken down and we sincerely apologize for the remarks and the error of judgment that led to publication.”

Frank Fitzgibbon, editor of the paper’s Ireland edition, echoed Ivens.

“I apologize unreservedly for the offence caused by comments in a column by Kevin Myers and published today in the Ireland edition of the Sunday Times,” he said.

“It contained views that have caused considerable distress and upset to a number of people... I take full responsibility for this error of judgment.This newspaper abhors anti-Semitism and did not intend to cause offence to Jewish people,” he added.

Ivens said earlier: "It has been taken down and we sincerely apologise, both for the remarks and the error of judgement that led to publication."

Mr Myers has penned a number of outspoken columns for various newspapers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for many years.

EJP