Aaron Walawalkar 

BBC Scotland drops shows featuring maker of dog Nazi salute video

Mark Meechan had recorded two editions of discussion show The Collective
  
  

Mark Meechan outside court
Mark Meechan waves to the crowd after being found guilty at Airdrie sheriff court. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/PA Images

A YouTube video maker who was fined for training a dog to perform a Nazi salute on camera has been dropped from a BBC One Scotland programme following public backlash.

The digital channel, which launched last Sunday, came under fire on Saturday when it was revealed that Mark Meechan, known as Count Dankula on his YouTube channel, had recorded appearances in two editions of late-night discussion show The Collective.

A statement released by BBC Scotland on Sunday confirmed that it would not air the two programmes. “We have been reviewing our new late-night discussion programme The Collective during the edit process,” it said. “In this case, we have concluded that its not appropriate to include Mark Meechan as a contributor.”

Jewish campaigners had criticised the broadcaster’s decision to use Meechan and MSPs had called on BBC Scotland to reconsider.

Meechan, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, was fined £800 after being found in breach of the Communications Act 2003 at Airdrie sheriff court in April. The offending video – entitled M8 Yer Dug’s a Nazi – was deemed “grossly offensive”. It showed his girlfriend’s pug Buddha raising its paw in response to repeated calls of “Sieg Heil” and “Gas the Jews”.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying the clip, which has been viewed more than 3.8m times, was only made to annoy his girlfriend and has comedic value. Meechan said the verdict was an infringement of his freedom of speech and he is yet to pay the fine.

In 2018, he joined Ukip and he has ties to former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, whose YouTube channel he appeared on last April.

Meechan took part in the banned editions of The Collective alongside podcaster James English and Glasgow dominatrix Megara Furie, who lamented the cancellation on Twitter.

Meechan also tweeted a response to BBC Scotland’s decision. “Due to the media getting outraged, I got deplatformed and I am being edited out of the show,” he wrote. “I fully 100% expected this. Even while filming, I was thinking, ‘No one is gonna let this air.’ So it’s not a surprise to me.”

He has been approached for further comment.

 

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