Channel 4 star’s defiant message after being told by racists to ‘go back to where he came from’

Channel 4 presenter Lee Juggurnauth has called on the nation to educate themselves on the positive impact of immigration after receiving horrific racist abuse as far-right thugs launch riots across the UK.

Extremists have set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers, hurled abuse at people arriving at mosques to worship and scrawled Islamophobic slurs on walls in cities and towns including Sunderland and Rotherham.

The violent disorder started after the killing of three young girls – Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven – at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club last Monday.

Anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, and racist thugs have been rioting after social media posts falsely claimed the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker.

The wave of unrest and vile racist bigotry has left people afraid to leave their homes including Big Brother legend Narinder Kaur and Strictly star Will Mellor’s daughter.

A Place In The Sun star Lee, who in his 30s, said he was among those who had suffered from racist abuse with people telling him to ‘go back where I came from’.

In response, he posted a defiant message urging the UK to ‘unite’ and educate themselves about the positive impact of immigration.

Lee said: ‘After receiving several comments and messages telling me to “Pipe down” and “Go back to where I came from”, I feel I have a responsibility to speak up. If it means I’m using the small platform that I have to raise awareness, then that’s what I’m going to do.

‘Believe it or not, racism isn’t a new construct for people of colour in the UK. It is something most of us endure on a regular basis, and the sad reality is that it has become part of our daily lives, making some of us desensitised.

‘The shocking scenes currently happening in some parts of the UK are inexcusable, and unfortunately, the false rhetoric being spread by the media is preventing the allyship that we all need.’

‘Now more than ever, we need to unite and show support to all humans, as that’s what we are. Race, religion and immigration status should not matter. Whether or not this affects you directly, educating yourself on the positive impact of immigration in the UK is a small step in the right direction.’

It comes after BBC star Lauren Laverne said she was ‘heartbroken’ by the violent unrest in her home city Sunderland over the weekend.

On Instagram, she said: ‘Heartbroken for my hometown last night.

‘Sending love and solidarity to everyone beginning the cleanup today. Pic via @poprecs #sunderland.’

Former Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, who is also from Sunderland, called the violence ‘shameful.’

Yesterday evening was set to be among the most violent yet, with 6,000 officers bracing themselves for 100 race riots and 39 attacks against immigration services coordinated across a shadowy network of Telegram groups.

More than 400 people have been put in cuffs for their alleged role in the rallies, with about 140 charged so far. Two men involved in unrest in Merseyside last week are in court today.

Lee’s career began in the music industry with the presenter climbing the ladder to eventually work in management with artists including Take That, Billy Ocean and Lulu.

Before joining A Place In The Sun in 2022, he worked in property development on projects in various locations, including the UK, Mauritius and Ibiza.

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