Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has opened up about his past experiences with racism, revealing how he was subjected to abuse as a teenager that has left a lasting impact on him. As the allegations against former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage escalate, Khan has urged the Reform leader to issue a formal apology to those who claim they were targeted by his racist behavior during their school days.
Khan's recollections of being called the "P-word" at age 13 have brought back vivid memories of how racism shaped his life. He explains that such experiences can be incredibly hurtful, changing not just one's name pronunciation but also interactions with friends and even walking down the street. Khan stresses that it is crucial to acknowledge the long-lasting effects of racism on individuals, particularly when considering its normalization over time.
The mayor emphasizes the significance of Farage's alleged behavior during their school days in south-east London. In 2019, Khan revealed how practically everyone outside his immediate family mispronounced his name as "Sad-eek" instead of "Saad-ick." Similar claims have been made by other individuals who attended Dulwich College with Farage.
Peter Ettedgui, an Emmy and Bafta-winning director, shared a harrowing account of Farage's alleged abuse during his time at school. He stated that the former Brexit leader would frequently use vile racist and antisemitic language towards him and others. These claims have been corroborated by multiple individuals who attended the same college.
Khan believes that it is imperative to hold those responsible accountable for their actions, particularly when they involve racism. "Growing up in London in the 70s and 80s, I was no stranger to racist abuse," he said. "Those responsible might have thought it was harmless banter, but I'll never forget how their words made me feel."
Farage has repeatedly denied making racist comments during his school days, with his lawyers stating that such allegations are "categorically denied." However, the former Brexit leader's response to the claims has been deemed insincere by many. Khan argues that Farage's refusal to apologize speaks volumes about his character and is a reflection of his views on racism.
The government has seized upon these allegations, leading Farage to claim they were politically motivated. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed concern over the impact of antisemitism on individuals, particularly young people who have been affected by it in their daily lives.
Khan's recollections of being called the "P-word" at age 13 have brought back vivid memories of how racism shaped his life. He explains that such experiences can be incredibly hurtful, changing not just one's name pronunciation but also interactions with friends and even walking down the street. Khan stresses that it is crucial to acknowledge the long-lasting effects of racism on individuals, particularly when considering its normalization over time.
The mayor emphasizes the significance of Farage's alleged behavior during their school days in south-east London. In 2019, Khan revealed how practically everyone outside his immediate family mispronounced his name as "Sad-eek" instead of "Saad-ick." Similar claims have been made by other individuals who attended Dulwich College with Farage.
Peter Ettedgui, an Emmy and Bafta-winning director, shared a harrowing account of Farage's alleged abuse during his time at school. He stated that the former Brexit leader would frequently use vile racist and antisemitic language towards him and others. These claims have been corroborated by multiple individuals who attended the same college.
Khan believes that it is imperative to hold those responsible accountable for their actions, particularly when they involve racism. "Growing up in London in the 70s and 80s, I was no stranger to racist abuse," he said. "Those responsible might have thought it was harmless banter, but I'll never forget how their words made me feel."
Farage has repeatedly denied making racist comments during his school days, with his lawyers stating that such allegations are "categorically denied." However, the former Brexit leader's response to the claims has been deemed insincere by many. Khan argues that Farage's refusal to apologize speaks volumes about his character and is a reflection of his views on racism.
The government has seized upon these allegations, leading Farage to claim they were politically motivated. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed concern over the impact of antisemitism on individuals, particularly young people who have been affected by it in their daily lives.
his refusal to apologize is super telling, and Khan is right that we need to hold ppl accountable for racism 
also, think about how these allegations could be a lesson in how to use our words better - if Farage was able to recognize how his language affected others back then, maybe he wouldn't have become so emboldened with his rhetoric 
what's even more cringeworthy is that the gov is trying to politicize this, like can't we just focus on making sure ppl are held accountable for their actions? 
. It's not just about apologizing to the individual who was hurt, but also about showing that he understands the impact of racism on our community and society as a whole 
. Khan is right in saying that growing up with racist abuse can shape your life in ways you can't even imagine 
. It's also refreshing to see the government stepping in to address these allegations and show support for those who have been affected by racism 
. Let's create a culture where everyone feels safe and respected, no matter what their background is 
.
! Sadiq Khan is speaking out about his experiences with racism and I am HERE. FOR. IT 
. I mean, can you even imagine being called the "P-word" at 13? 
It's not just a harmless joke, it's a way to strip away your identity and make you feel like an outsider. And Farage is still denying any wrongdoing?! 
It's like he thinks racism isn't real or something. But we all know that's not the case 
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. Like, no! This isn't about Farage's character, it's about holding him accountable for his actions. And if he can't even be bothered to apologize for making people feel like crap 
, then what does that say about his values? 
. We need to create a culture where people can speak freely without fear of being belittled or marginalized 
. And we need to hold our leaders to account for their actions, not just when they're convenient but always 
.
. And now, Farage is refusing to apologize? that's like, super bad form 
. Khan's right, holding people accountable for their racist behavior is a big deal 
. It's crazy how some people can just sweep it under the rug and claim they're being silenced 
I mean, Farage's response is 
. If Farage does apologize, I hope he takes responsibility for his actions and acknowledges the hurt he caused 
.
. And as for Khan, he's not just talkin' about himself, he's talkin' about the impact of racism on people, and that's somethin' we gotta acknowledge 
.
. But if he did do it, then he needs to own up and apologize already 
. Either way, this whole thing is just a mess 
. And btw, has anyone else noticed how hard it is to get a decent cup of coffee around here 
️?
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. Holding people accountable for their actions is important, especially when it comes to racism and hurtful behavior 
. It's not just about the person who was targeted, but also about sending a message that this kind of behavior won't be tolerated 
. Its like the impact of racism can stay with you long after it ends 
. I think we need to hold people accountable for their actions, especially when they involve racism and hurtful behavior. It's not just about apologies, it's about taking responsibility for the impact your words can have on others. I'm so tired of politicians using these kinds of incidents as a way to deflect from their own behavior 
.
Farage's response to the allegations is so suspect, what's he hiding? The fact that his lawyers are saying they're "categorically denied" doesn't make them true