VIDEO: Great British Bake Off’s Ali Imdad racially abused on Birmingham bus
A videograb shows the confrontation on the bus.
The baker, who appeared on the fourth series of the cookery competition in 2013, was verbally abused while travelling on a bus in his hometown of Birmingham.
In the clip, a woman is heard telling Imdad that Asian people are “everywhere”, asking him: “What have you done to the country? All these bombings… people like you.”
She then asks Imdad if his parents were “born in this country”, calling him a “liar” in response to his answer.
Imdad shared the clip on social media on Monday (21 December), writing: “Not only was I called a bomber and accused of ruining the country for being Asian, when I challenged the Karen, the driver threatened to throw ME off the National Express West Midlands bus. In a packed bus, no one said a thing.
“No. Despite the undying urge to, I did not reply with ‘I was on the Great British Bake Off b****, you can’t get any more British than that.’”
Imdad’s followers commented in horror at the video, with one person writing: “On a packed bus and no one else stood up and said anything, disgraceful.”
Shaista Aziz wrote on Twitter, “Solidarity, Ali. It’s beyond disgraceful that you had to experience this racism. @nxwestmidlands, you should also report this woman to the police and share CCTV footage with police. These pasangers are witnesses to potential hate crime. You have a duty of care to your customers.”
“Tell MAMA UK” Twitter said, “Sorry to hear about this Ali. We have flagged the incident as well with West Midlands Police. We are here to help.”
Hasan Patel highlighted the COVID-19 issues and commented, “I’ve heard a lot of complaining about borders being shut for Britons in the last 24 hours. Now imagine how refugees from the poorest, war-stricken regions of the world feel when we ignore and demonise them. You all need some perspective.”
The Independent
