Gary Lineker has blocked a Labour activist whose views he disagrees with on social media - despite his Twitter profile picture showing the BBC presenter standing in front of free speech quote.
Paul Embery, a Blue Labour campaigner, shared a screenshot online, which shows that the Match of the Day presenter has blocked him.
It means that the former trade unionist cannot see posts shared by the former footballer or send messages to him.
Embery hinted at hypocrisy in Lineker’s decision, as he noted that the presenter was standing in front of the BBC Broadcasting house which is inscribed with a quote about free speech.
The quote by George Orwell reads: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
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Social media users on X, formally known as Twitter, reacted to the post – which accumulated over 2,000 likes.
One joked, “Consider it a badge of honour”, whilst another said: “Congratulations! There is a large club out there!”
Meanwhile others disagreed with Embery calling out Lineker for allegedly going against the principles of free speech.
One said: “Nobody has to listen to anyone though. People can block who they like, even if it’s a bit childish sometimes.”
The exact reason of the blocking has not been confirmed by either Lineker or Embery.
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Lineker's Twitter profile picture
Twitter/X
Lineker and other top BBC stars were given advice last month by the broadcaster on how to express their political opinions online.
A review was launched into free speech on social media platforms after Gary’s Lineker’s controversial tweets about the Government earlier this year.
The Match of the Day presenter was taken off air by the BBC after he stated that the government's asylum policy used language “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.
Now, the BBC has claimed that high-profile presenters should be allowed to express their political views.
BBC presenters have to adhere to new rulesPAHowever, the guidance reminds its stars that they still have “a particular responsibility to respect the BBC's impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC”.
Lineker approved the new rules, sharing an article about the changes, with the caption “All very sensible”.
Summarising the guidance, the BBC stated: “While a programme is on air, and for a two-week window before and after the series, presenters on flagship shows must not endorse or attack a political party.”
Flagship presenters have also been discouraged from attacking politicians’ individual characters online.
