Anwar dropped from soap ‘Coronation Street.’
British police, on Monday, said they have launched an investigation into the racist comments made by the Pakistan-born actor Marc Anwar about Indian people.
The police have received a report about the offensive comments made by Anwar on Sunday, reported The Hindustan Times.
“On Sunday, 25 September 2016 police received a report of a hate crime. Police have launched an investigation and inquiries are ongoing. Hate incidents will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and should be reported to police,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
The Sunday Mirror had published the tweets of Anwar criticizing Indians over Kashmir in offensive language. Though the 45-year-old actor apologized for his comments, he was dropped from Coronation Street, the world’s longest-running soap.
In a video posted on YouTube, Anwar had apologized for the comments calling it a “moment of madness.”
“I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone that I may have offended with my tweets on Friday evening and especially people from India,” he said.
“This was never my intention and the language was unacceptable. I feel that I have let a lot of people down, my family, my friends and my former colleagues. This I … very sincerely apologize for,” he added.
But, ITV, the channel that makes the series, said that they were deeply shocked by the comments of the actor and he would leave the show immediately as an effect of his comments.
“We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar. We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect,” said ITV.
However, the pre-filmed episodes with the actor will be aired.
Anwar joined Coronation Street in 2014 playing Sharif Nazir, a member of the show’s first Muslim family. Anwar has also acted in Hollywood films, including Captain Phillips and 51st State.
His comments were in the wake of a terrorist attack on an Indian military base in Uri that killed 18 soldiers.
https://youtu.be/XFceIay0flY