Adil Ray

Adil Ray has risked causing controversy once again (Image: ITV)

Adil Ray has risked causing fresh controversy just months after he came under fire for appearing to back Sharia law. The Good Morning Britain presenter was reportedly hauled in for crisis talks by ITV bosses after he was accused of supporting the implementation of Sharia law following Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York Mayor.

After facing severe backlash, he said: “To clarify, I am not actually suggesting Mamdani would implement Sharia law. But many of the issues he campaigned for are also some of the positive values of Sharia that Muslims try to live by. Something many of us would agree on.” The 51-year-old stepped away from social media shortly afterwards, with his X account still disabled. He has since returned to Instagram, where he recently reshared a clip of a comedian joking that they “hate white people” during their set.

 

Adil Ray

The presenter reposted a clip of comedian Blank Peng joking she “hates white people” (Image: Instagram/Adil Ray)

In the clip taken from Channel 4’s The Last Leg, comedian Blank Peng jokes: “At first in the UK, it’s really hard for me to make friends here because of the racism.

“Yeah, because I hate white people,” she adds, sparking laughter from the audience.

In the caption, Peng wrote: “Racism in UK is fabulous. Big thx to @thelastlegofficial @openmike.tv to let me warm up last week’s wonderful episode.” (sic)

The clip was originally shared on Peng’s Instagram account on December 12, before Ray reposted the footage on New Year’s Day.

The initial post ignited a heated debate in the comments, with one remarking: “Ah yes you hate them so much you came here to be amongst them.”

Ray and his co-host Kate Garraway recently came under fire for their treatment of a World War II veteran (Image: ITV)

Some argued that the joke wouldn’t be acceptable on primetime television if it targeted any ethnic group other than white Brits. However, several fans defended Peng in the comments, with one writing: “Great punchline. The amount of people who fail to realise that this is a comedian making a joke is shocking.”

Another agreed: “White people in the comments not getting that it’s a joke.”

It comes after Ray sparked major backlash following his interview with a World War II veteran on Good Morning Britain. Alongside Kate Garraway, Ray spoke to 100-year-old Alec Penstone, who admitted he felt winning the war “wasn’t worth it” due to the current state of the country.

Ray probed: “What do you mean by that, though?,” sparking outrage from viewers, who accused the presenters of being “disrespectful” and “patronising” towards the veteran. Fans were so furious that more than 500 complaints were made to Ofcom.