Pak-born actor sacked from TV show for racist tweets against Indians

world

Updated: Sep 25, 2016 22:44 IST

A prominent television channel has sacked Pakistan-origin actor Marc Anwar from one of Britain’s most popular television soaps Coronation Street for posting tweets that were “racially offensive” against Indians.

ITV said Anwar, 45, who joined the world’s longest-running TV soap opera in February 2014 as a member of the serial’s first Muslim family, would not be returning to the show “with immediate effect”.

Screenshots of tweets by Anwar, who plays Sharif Nazir in the series, were first posted by the Sunday Mirror.

They referred to events in Jammu and Kashmir and also called for Pakistani actors to stop working in India.

In a statement, ITV said: “We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar.

“We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect.”

“Indians killing our Kashmir brothers and sisters,” he wrote in one of the tweets.

He called Indians “b*****ds” and used other insulting terms.

His character will still appear in scenes that have already been filmed for upcoming episodes.

The actor has appeared in Hollywood films including “Captain Phillips” and “51st State”.

Famed for its cobbled streets and wistful big-band theme tune, “Coronation Street”, which began in 1960, became the longest-running soap opera of the world in 2010.

Set in a fictional suburb of Manchester in northwest England, it remains one of Britain’s most-watched programmes with around eight million viewers.

It has also been syndicated in dozens of countries around the world.

Guest stars have included Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne. (with inputs from agencies)

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