ELON Musk has branded Humza Yousaf a “blatant racist” as he took aim at Scotland’s First Minister on X.
The South African billionaire – who is the world’s richest man with an estimated net worth approaching £200bn – made the startling accusation after an old video of the SNP leader was shared online.
Musk branded Scotland’s First Minister ‘blatantly racist’Reuters
PAHumza Yousaf was targeted over a speech he made in in 2020[/caption]
The billionaire was responding to an old speech
Musk, who owns Twitter/X, launched the surprise attack on Thursday night after viewing a clip from a speech delivered in 2020.
In the address to Scottish Parliament, sparked by global protests following George Floyd’s murder, the First Minister, then Justice Secretary, listed examples showing the lack of non-white people in senior positions.
The footage has since been used by his critics to claim he’s bigoted.
Responding to a video posted by an account called ‘End Wokeness’ suggesting Mr Yousaf “openly despises white people”.
Musk told his 161 million followers: “What a blatant racist!”
The tweet from ‘End Wokeness’ had been viewed 7.2 million times by Friday morning. Mr Musk’s reply had been viewed nearly half a million times.
Mr Yousaf responded to the social media storm this morning by appearing to poke fun at Mr Musk and others, but did not name the Tesla owner,
The First Minister said: “Racists foaming at the mouth at my very existence.”
And then he posted “Me:”, directing people to a GIF showing Scottish Asian shopkeeper character Navid dancing in TV comedy Still Game.
The clip Mr Musk referred to in his reply showed part of a speech by Mr Yousaf at Holyrood in June 2020, during a session titled ‘Solidarity with Anti-racism’.
Mr Yousaf’s comments in the video clip were part of longer speech he made, where he said that “we have to accept the reality and the evidence that is in front of us, that Scotland has a problem of structural racism”.
In the Scottish Parliament speech, Mr Yousaf – who was Justice Secretary at the time – said that “in 99 per cent of their meetings I go to, I am the only non-white person in the room”.
He then said: “But why are we so surprised when the most senior positions in Scotland are filled almost exclusively by those who are white?
“Take my portfolio alone. The Lord President: white. The Lord Justice Clerk: white. Every High Court judge: white. The Lord Advocate: white. The Solicitor General: white. The chief constable: white. Every deputy chief constable: white. Every assistant chief constable: white. The head of the Law Society: white. The head of the Faculty of Advocates: white. Every prison governor: white.
“And not just justice. The chief medical officer: white. The chief nursing officer: white. The chief veterinary officer: white. The chief social work adviser: white. Almost every trade union in this country, headed by people who are white. In the Scottish Government, every director general is white. Every chair of every public body is white. That is not good enough.”
The Reuters news agency later carried “fact check” amid online controversy over the clip and said Mr Yousaf’s comments had been “misrepresented online by those suggesting it shows the Scottish National Party politician arguing that Scotland contains too many white people”.
Reuters said: “Yousaf’s speech was given as part of a wider discussion about racial injustice and the lack of people of colour in positions of power in the Scottish Parliament and Government.
“The speech did not assert that white people make up too large a proportion of Scotland’s overall population.”
Earlier in the June 2020 debate, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had made a similar contribution, and said it was “actions” on “representation” that would make a difference to racism – “not just words”
Mr Sarwar said: “Let me share some examples. Every chief executive of every council and every government department: white. Every director of a department in Scotland: white.
“Every principal of a college or university in Scotland: white. Every headteacher in Scotland: white. Every chair of a public sector body in Scotland: white.
“Every High Court judge in Scotland: white. Every prison governor in Scotland: white. Every editor of a news organisation in Scotland: white.
“Why? Is it because we don’t have the talent? Is it because we don’t have the ability? Or is it because the opportunity doesn’t exist, or, worse yet, is it because people don’t think they’re wanted, or they’re not welcome? That’s what we should be fundamentally addressing.”
It’s the second time in recent months that the First Minister has been abused in relation to his controversial speech.
He was attacked in August at the Fringe after a furious heckler shouted “f*** you” at him.
The incident occurred as he spoke at the Iain Dale: All Talk event at the Edinburgh extravaganza.
Political activist Niall Fraser called the SNP supremo a “pestilence on the land” and branded him “despicable”.
The former regional list candidate later tweeted a video of the incident.
Yesterday a spokesman for Mr Yousaf said: “The First Minister has been on the receiving end of racist hate, abuse and death threats his entire life, and has stood firm against hatred and bigotry, of any kind, throughout.
“Sadly, much of the racist abuse and threats of violence the First Minister faces are directed his way on X – formerly known as Twitter.
“Mr Musk should use his position to tackle racism and hatred that goes unchecked on the social media platform he owns.”
Mr Yousaf appeared to respond with a Still Game gif
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