BBC radio DJ suspended over breastfeeding in public remarks

Alycya Taylor from Witney, in Oxfordshire, added: “I am offended and disgusted at the demeaning language he uses to describe breastfeeding mothers and women in general”.

DJ Alex Dyke said breastfeeding was “unnatural” and “has to be stopped” in public during his phone-in show on BBC Radio Solent on Wednesday.

On Thursday a BBC spokesman told Huffington Post UK: “Following unacceptable comments made on air yesterday Alex Dyke been suspended pending an investigation, so he will not be on air tomorrow”.

He said: “It is 2015”. Ladies, maybe you agree with me?’ I just thought she was cuddling a baby and then I looked over and I realised.

“Breastfeeding is unnatural. I know its natural but its kind of unnatural.

‘Sat worrying and being in that situation will put women off going out in public.

‘But when you look at a baby attached to a breast feeder she probably covers the breast with a cloth or something’. I wanted to look away but the bus was packed. I know its natural but it’s kind of unnatural.

Mrs Timms, from Breastfeeding Matters, Portsmouth, which run private sessions to support mothers’ with their feeding, says the number of people who have signed a petition protesting at the BBC Radio Solent presenter’s comments highlights what an important issue this has become.

He further antagonised listeners when he said that it “was ok in the stone age when we knew no better, when people didn’t have their own teeth … but now I just think a public area is not the place for it and fellas don’t like it”.

DJ Alex Dyke said public breastfeeding was “not a great look”, claiming the only women who do it “look like Brownie pack leaders” and “have moustaches”.

Listeners quickly made their feelings known and a petition calling for him to be taken off air had garnered more than 6,000 signatures by Thursday.

A BBC radio presenter has been suspended after saying “fat chavvy mums” should not breastfeed in public. “A classy discreet mum is absolutely fine”. The show is now unavailable to listen to on iPlayer.

Two hours later, he read the following statement: “Yesterday on the show I spoke about breastfeeding”.

He went on to complain about having to witness a mother feeding her child on the bus, which clearly traumatised the DJ but left his listeners outraged.