Sir Alan Sugar is once again mired in controversy after he tweeted about puffs in the boardroom.
The host of BBC show The Apprentice responded to a fan who jokingly said they found his next business venture and sent him a picture in which his face is copied onto a Sugar Puffs cereal poster.
He responded with: hah…..I have enough puff s [sic] who come through my boardroom.
The reply was seen as tasteless and offensive by some people online. They took offense to the use of the word puff, which is a derogatory colloquialism for gay men.
”Puffs”? Really? Newsweeks picture editor tweeted. Looks like Lord Sugar had another go at trying to be funny at around 3:30 in the morning.
A bit of advice, Alan: The next time you come up with a hilarious tweet you know will wind people up, maybe leave it until the morning., when you have a clearer head.
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He wasnt alone with his criticism.
Is it not 2019 next week? Another exasperated Twitter user asked.
"Puffs"? Really? Looks like Lord Sugar had another go at "trying to be funny" at around 3:30 this morning.
A bit of advice, Alan: The next time you come up with a hilarious tweet you know will wind people up, maybe leave it until the morning, when you may have a clearer head. pic.twitter.com/V1EMLtbB87
— David Sim (@davidsim) December 24, 2018
Bit “Jim Davidson” 1970s if you ask me. Not offended but can understand why people are. Is it not 2019 next week?
— Byron Harries (@misterbiro) December 24, 2018
What pisses me off is the people making light of the fact that others might be offended by this term. Unless you've been called a "puff" in the past you will not understand, so to sit back and laugh at the "offended brigade" etc just makes you part of the problem…
— ??????? (@_NormSki) December 24, 2018
This isnt the first time the 71 year old businessman tweeted something that was seen as offensive to a group of people.
Back in June Sir Alan sparked outrage after he posted a tweet about the Senegal World Cup football team that was perceived by many to be racist.
Writing on Twitter, the BBC host wrote alongside a composite picture featuring sunglasses and handbags on sale, I recognise some of these guys from a beach in Marbella. Multi tasking resourceful chaps.
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Needless to say, the tweet hadnt gone down well, with many seeing the comparison as racist. Eventually, after asking why he had to apologise and writing I cant [sic] see what I have to apologise for…you are OTT…its a bloody joke, he received so much backlash he responded with a half-hearted apology.
Just been reading the reaction to my funny tweet about the guy on the beach in Marbella. Seems it has been interpreted in the wrong way as offensive by a few people. Frankly I cant see that I think its funny. But I will pull it down if you insist.
Metro.co.uk reached out to Alan Sugars reps for comment, and BBC did not provide one.
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MORE: Lord Sugar nearly spoiled The Apprentice winner last week – and no-one noticed
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