BBC’s Andrew Marr Show slammed for ‘legitimising fascism’ with upcoming guest

Following the election of Donald Trump, there has been widespread condemnation of mainstream media platforms for their appeasement of or failure to condemn fascist elements in the United States.

Similarly, the growth of far right elements in the UK - and the rise of racist and xenophobic attacks - has been attributed in part to the platform provided to garden variety racists, under the pretext of balance. https://twitter.com/opaIlynch/status/747569268783448064 https://twitter.com/krishgm/status/747543112780779520 So you can understand the reaction to the announcement that the BBC's Marr Show is set to welcome Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right Front National, as a guest this weekend. Le Pen was found not guilty of inciting religious hatred after comparing Muslims praying on the street to the Nazi occupation of France, while she has also called for bans on religious dress in public places and called the burkini a "fundamentalist uniform". The 48-year-old politician has embraced the US election result, seeing it as a potential precursor for the Front National's election in France, and has been invited onto this weekend's Marr Show. https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796645033650880512 However, following the announcement from editor Rob Burley, people have been quick to speak out against the BBC for what is seen by many to be a legitimisation of fascism. https://twitter.com/janhopis/status/796662997611638784 https://twitter.com/RyanHoulihan/status/796665798102319104 https://twitter.com/huwlemmey/status/796663726262906880 https://twitter.com/PaytonQuinn/status/796659016223039488 https://twitter.com/Pixelian_DPI/status/796646505625112577 https://twitter.com/saharaguts/status/796654331877556224 https://twitter.com/bronzetrex/status/796666160779497472 https://twitter.com/watermelon5ugar/status/796671841108627456 https://twitter.com/rey_z/status/796672178741772288 Burley has since defended the move in a series of tweets, noting that Le Pen is 'a serious contender for the French Presidency whatever you think of her views'. https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796661453772259328 https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796661798774722560 https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796662079830814720 https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796662374069600256 https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796662720871493632 https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796663252725993472 https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796664789556752384