In what some would argue is a long, long overdue move, The Sun have parted ways with controversial columnist and former editor Kelvin MacKenzie.
MacKenzie sparked outrage with stunningly ill-advised comments on Ross Barkley which he then claimed were done without the knowledge that the Everton man is of Nigerian heritage.
There is something about the lack of reflection in his eyes which makes me certain not only are the lights not on, there is definitely nobody at home.
I get a similar feeling when seeing a gorilla at the zoo. The physique is magnificent but it’s the eyes that tell the story.
The Sun did not cover themselves in glory with their handling of the situation as they released a flimsy statement along with the announcement that MacKenzie had been suspended pending an investigation, but now the decision has been made, seemingly by both parties, to end the working relationship.
A News UK spokeswoman confirmed the decision on Monday afternoon:
Further to our statement on 15 April that Kelvin MacKenzie's services as a columnist for The Sun were suspended, we can confirm that Mr MacKenzie's column will not return to The Sun and his contract with News Group Newspapers has been terminated by mutual consent.
In the football world, mutual consent means saving face but you were always getting the boot, so...
According to the BBC, MacKenzie has revealed that he will continue in the industry and added that there were plenty of opportunities out there for him, although he also said that he would not let this incident tarnish the decades of work he had done with the paper, which shows such a stunning lack of self-awareness that it's difficult to fathom.
