Who is Channel 4 journalist Jon Snow and why were his comments about the pro Brexit protest controversial?
JON Snow is one of the most recognisable faces on British telly thanks to his work as a Channel 4 newsreader.
But what’s his background and why were his comments about the pro-Brexit protest controversial? Here’s everything you need to know.
Who is Jon Snow? What’s his background?
Jon Snow, 71, is a veteran news broadcaster who has worked as the main anchorman on Channel 4 News since 1989 and previously worked various journalism jobs for ITN.
He has frequently courted controversy and been chastised for his alleged left wing bias during his career.
He was born in Adringly, Sussex, to a Bishop and a pianist in 1947.
His paternal grandfather was WW1 General Sir Thomas D’Oyly Snow who played a key role on the Western Front.
BBC news presenter Peter Snow and his TV historian son Dan are among Snow’s famous relatives.
As a boy he attended St Edward’s School, Oxford, before spending a year as a volunteer teacher in Uganda when he was 18-years-old.
He claims he rejected an approach by British Intelligence to spy on “left wing people” in television in 1976 when he was starting out as a reporter.
Snow became ITN’s Washington correspondent in 1983 before eventually moving on to front Channel 4 news in 1989.
He has two daughters by his ex-partner of 35 years lawyer Madeleine Colvin.
Snow married Zimbabwean academic Precious Lunga, who is 27 years his junior, in 2010.
What did Jon Snow say about the pro-Brexit protest?
Jon Snow said: “I’ve never seen so many white people in one place” during the pro-Brexit protest held on March 29.
He made the comment in an on-air rant after thousands of Brexiteers shut down Westminster on the day Britain was due to leave the EU.
Speaking live from Parliament Square, Snow said: “It has been the most extraordinary day. A day which has seen… I’ve never seen so many white people in one place.
“It’s an extraordinary story — there are people everywhere, there are crowds everywhere.”
The “unscripted” comment immediately triggered a backlash from social media users — but now Channel 4 has issued a statement of apology about the remarks.
A spokesperson said: “This was an unscripted observation at the end of a long week of fast-moving Brexit developments.
“Jon has covered major events such as this over a long career and this was a spontaneous comment reflecting his observation that in a London demonstration of that size, ethnic minorities seemed to be significantly under-represented.
“We regret any offence caused by this comment.”
The broadcasting regulator Ofcom has not yet disclosed if it will investigate the incident.
But many social media users complained about the language shortly after the broadcast.
Did Jon Snow really chant ‘f*** the Tories’ at Glastonbury?
The Tuesday after the 2017 Glastonbury Festival a tweet surfaced featuring a picture of Jon Snow.
It showed the veteran broadcaster with a group of high-spirited festival goers and was sent from an account belonging to Danny Millea.
The tweet said: “Boss place that Glasto. Having a dance with Jon Snow and hearing him shout f*** the Tories is what dream are made of.”
It was later deleted but not before it had gone viral, being picked up by a number of news outlets and politicians.
The then 69-year-old then failed to deny the claim releasing a statement saying: “After a day at Glastonbury I can honestly say I have no recollection of what was chanted, sung or who I took over 1,000 selfies with.”
But Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “I think it’s time Channel 4 told Jon Snow where to go.”
And ex-Tory minister Rob Wilson said Mr Snow had “no credibility now for impartiality”
During the festival he tweeted: “Amazing to be among 200,000 at Glastonbury amid a real energy for a better politics.”
Following the incident, The Sun exclusively revealed that the experienced journalist was given a dressing down by Channel 4 bosses.
Station chiefs confirmed Snow has been warned about his future conduct. A spokesman said: “Jon has been spoken to and reminded of his responsibilities around due impartiality.”
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What other controversies has Jon Snow been caught up in?
Snow has been embroiled in a number of other controversies over his long career, with many including accusations of left wing bias.
He famously refuses to where a poppy while presenting the news on Remembrance Day, branding criticism of him for doing so “poppy fascism”.
The broadcaster has also been accused of being openly pro-Remain regularly posting apparently anti-Brexit statements on Twitter.
He has also been criticised for openly favouring Palestine over Israel when reporting about the region.
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