Arsenal legend Ian Wright hits back at New Forest councillor Alexis McEvoy over 'typical black hypocrite' tweet

ARSENAL legend Ian Wright has slammed New Forest councillor Alexis McEvoy after she called him a "typical black hypocrite" in a tweet.

Speaking on the Wrighty's House podcast, the Match of the Day pundit said: "I would love these racists to come out, who don't think before they tweet, and own your ******* racism."

Cllr McEvoy, who sits on the New Forest National Park Authority, district council and county council, sent the tweet on Saturday in relation to the row over Gary Lineker's comments on the government's language on immigration.

She has since apologised for making the tweet and has suspended herself from local Conservative groups, pending investigations by the party, district council and county council. She has also deleted her Twitter account.

In an angry response to the furore, Wright hit back at the shamed councillor, saying: "There is one person that I want to address directly: the Hampshire councillor Alexis McEvoy.

"I just want to say to her: please just keep your fake apology to yourself.

"'I don't give a ras about your apology – whether you disagree with my stance, whether you agree – but a 'black hypocrite'? A 'typical black hypocrite'?"

He continued: "I want to read her statement.

"She said: 'I am aware that a tweet I sent and then deleted has caused offence,' and this is the one that you will always get in these racists' statements: 'I did not mean to do so and I am deeply sorry.'

"A woman in power, she's gone onto Twitter and put out something so racist and said she didn't mean to do so.

"And then she says, which is another thing that always happen when these people are coming out to protect themselves: 'I find racism in any form abhorrent. I have therefore reported myself to the monitoring officer at both Hampshire County Council and the New Forest District Council. I have suspended myself from the Conservative groups pending investigations.'

"All I would like to say to her is... please. I would love these racists to come out, who don't think before they tweet, and own your ******* racism.

"Don't come with these fake apologies about 'I didn't mean it', because these people are the ones that give me energy to continue to try and fight for what is right and speak up for what is right."

Wright is the latest to round on the councillor over her tweet.

NFDC issued a statement saying: "The council is aware of significant media attention and complaints about content posted on Twitter by Alexis McEvoy, a serving district councillor, on Saturday, 11th March 2023.

"New Forest District Council opposes all forms of discrimination, harassment and victimisation and takes its responsibilities very seriously to eliminate all such conduct when carrying out its functions and delivering services to our local community.

"The matter is under review by the Conservative Group and Cllr McEvoy is suspended. Complaints received will be responded to by New Forest District Council."

NFDC's Conservative Group leader Jill Cleary added: “Following receipt of a number of complaints regarding a social media post made, and then deleted, by Councillor Alexis McEvoy on her personal social media account, Councillor McEvoy is suspended from the district council’s Conservative Group pending investigation.”

Conservative New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne told the A&T it "sounds right" that Cllr McEvoy is now suspended from the party pending investigations.

Her fellow county councillor Prad Bains, leader of the Independent Group, called for her to do the "honourable thing" and resign from her post.

New Forest NPA chairman Gavin Parker said Cllr McEvoy's tweet, which was not made in her capacity as an authority member, "in no way reflects the views of the authority".