Gary Lineker has mockingly welcomed his inclusion on The Mail on Sunday’s first ever “Woke List”.
The newspaper claimed the run-down highlighted celebrities who are “most high-profile in their awakedness to perceived injustices in society – but who have also been accused of having an exaggerated fixation with such issues”.
Others featured included Harry Potter actress Emma Watson, journalist Emily Maitlis and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Lineker was included in part thanks to his criticism of the government’s plans to crack down on illegal immigration, which saw him being told to step back from hosting Match Of The Day in March.
Lineker commented on a video on Twitter put out by home secretary Suella Braverman, in which she unveiled government plans to stop migrant boats crossing the Channel.
He tweeted: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
The former England striker then replied to a user who challenged him because it was “easy to pontificate when it doesn’t affect you”.
Lineker wrote: “There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.
“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?”
According to the MoS, Lineker is the “mouthpiece of the metropolitan chattering classes – interpreting the term ‘commentator’ to sound off about everything from Brexit to climate change.”
It added: “As the BBC’s highest paid star (salary £1.35 million) he has likened the Tory government’s immigration policy to something out of Nazi Germany.”
Very honoured to be on such a list. Thank you to this normally unpleasant newspaper for showing a degree of kindness. https://t.co/700Fb9oYEd
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 30, 2023
But Lineker did not take it as the insult it was meant to be.
He tweeted: “Very honoured to be on such a list. Thank you to this normally unpleasant newspaper for showing a degree of kindness.”
Others took a similar line to the broadcaster.
Congrats on not being racist. The vile newspapers seem to get worse. https://t.co/a9YATMAd3b
— Eric Idle (@EricIdle) July 30, 2023
????????????????
— Carol Vorderman (@carolvorders) July 30, 2023
Show off.
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) July 30, 2023
Create a culture war. Fight a culture war. Divide through fear.
— Hardeep Matharu (@Hardeep_Matharu) July 30, 2023
We used to be a serious country. (I guess this statement will make me ‘woke’ – sadly the joke’s on us).https://t.co/ab3jC4Irz7
In the hope that it helps me get onto next years list can I just point out the lack of diversity in this year's Daily Mail Woke List. https://t.co/lLXvT1kDls
— David Olusoga (@DavidOlusoga) July 30, 2023
It should be the ambition of every politician, public servant, entertainer, commentator, faith leader. In fact anybody who cares about their fellow human beings and community to feature on the Daily Mail ‘Woke List’. pic.twitter.com/Sm5iX2i3co
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) July 30, 2023