Tyson Fury Apologizes for Sexist and Homophobic Comments at BBC SPOTY

On paper, the BBC's decision to include Tyson Fury as a candidate for their Sports Person of the Year award was a no-brainer. He is the first heavyweight champion to hail from the UK since David Haye in 2009, beating the seemingly unstoppable Wladimir Klitschko, putting an end to the giant Ukrainian's ten-year winning streak.

However, controversy follows Fury like a bad smell. In fact he often relishes in it as one of the most polarizing figures in British sport. But, the UK public thought Fury was not an appropriate nominee for the award after a string of derogatory remarks regarding homosexuals, women and abortion.

The awards are a fairly big deal in the United Kingdom—kind of like a more formal version of the USA's ESPYs. But, Fury's inclusion in the list of 12 sportsmen and women eligible to win the competition drew the ire of the British public, with 140,000 people signing a petition to rid him of the position as a potential winner. It's reported that a further 40 people protested outside of the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland while the event was taking place.

Fury was initially incredulous at the critics who had questioned the validity of his candidacy and had wanted him removed from the awards altogether, telling YouTube boxing channel iFL TV: "They can't knock my achievement, can they? I beat the man who nobody could beat. So until somebody can go in and beat him again, a man with 23 title defenses, they can suck my balls."

The figure cut by Fury at the BBC SPOTY awards was rather less certain of myself, perhaps influenced by the smattering of boos heard across the arena whenever Fury's name was announced as a potential winner for the big prize.

Fury took the big platform to make a public apology for the comments made. When interviewed by former football star and SPOTY host Gary Lineker, he said: "I've said a lot of stuff in the past and none of it with intentions to hurt anybody. It's all very tongue in cheek, it's all fun and games to me. I'm not a very serious kind of person - it's all very happy-go-lucky with Tyson Fury."

As it turns out, it wasn't to be for Fury as he came fourth in the final results with British tennis star Andy Murray emerging the winner. In third place was Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill, the subject of one of the comments Fury made which drew the ire of the baying mob known as the British public.

In an interview prior to the win of his career against Klitschko, a video from British newspaper the Mail on Sunday emerged of Fury discussing Ennis-Hill. According to reports, he said: "That's the runner, isn't it? She's good, she's won quite a few medals, she slaps up good as well. When she's got a dress on she looks quite fit." With a profile as big as Ennis-Hill's in the country, these words did not go down well.

However, the above wasn't helped when the same video purportedly records Tyson Fury making additional comments when discussing female boxing: "I'm all for it. I'm not sexist. But, I believe a woman's best place is in the kitchen and on her back. That's my personal belief. Making me a good cup of tea, that's what I believe."

The apology made by Fury fell on deaf ears of John O'Doherty, the founder of the protest group present at the SSE Arena called The Rainbow Project, saying Fury shouldn't have been named on the SPOTY shortlist in the first place:

"It is very disappointing that the BBC have ignored public opinion and refused to remove Tyson Fury from the shortlist, even though his late addition came after his disgraceful and inflammatory comments about women and gay people.

"An excellent boxer Tyson Fury may be, however his extremely callous and erroneous remarks about our community make him an unworthy candidate to be recognized among the UK's excellent sporting personalities and ambassador."

The resulting public outcry of the comments made by Fury did stir up some support for the Manchester-born boxer, though, as his fans made the bold attempt to usurp the big prize and vote enough times to earn their favorite boxer the award. But, their efforts ultimately come up short as Andy Murray emerged the victor and this was not without controversy.

Followers of Fury took to social media to complain about a so-called conspiracy against the boxer as their phone votes were not logged.

Technical fault or not, those whose votes were wasted were perturbed to say the least as they claimed the voting system was fixed to not allow such a controversial character win the award.

Controversy will never leave Fury as his public profile grows as a world champion and it would appear those who opposed his inclusion as one of the frontrunners for the SPOTY award have won. At least this means some peace and order can be restored until he next opens his mouth.