ThisisBigBrother.com - UK TV Forums - Emmerdale star Shila Iqbal sacked from Aiesha Richards role over old racist tweets

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Update (5.57pm): Emmerdale plans to air Shila Iqbal's remaining scenes after sacking the actress for old racist tweets.

The show films several weeks in advance, and so the character of Aiesha Richards will continue to be seen on screen for 14 more days.

https://i.imgur.com/VHncy4t.jpg

Earlier today, Iqbal said that she was "terribly sorry" and takes "full responsibility" for social media posts made in 2013, in which she used the N-word on multiple occasions.

Original story (2.38pm): Emmerdale star Shila Iqbal has been fired from the show after old racist tweets were brought to ITV's attention.

Iqbal, who plays Aiesha Richards, was recently promoted to a show regular but Twitter posts made back in 2013, when she was 19 years old, saw her use the N-word on multiple occasions.

The actress has since deleted her Twitter account.

"As a consequence of historic social media posts, Shila Iqbal has left her role as Aiesha Richards on Emmerdale," an ITV spokesperson said.

"The programme took the decision not to renew her contract as soon as these posts were brought to the company's attention."

In a statement apologising for her comments, Iqbal said: "I am terribly sorry and take full responsibility for my use of such inappropriate language. I have paid the price and can no longer continue the job I loved the most at Emmerdale.

"Although I was young when I made the tweets, it was still completely wrong of me to do so and I sincerely apologise.

"The only consideration I would ask is that I have recently received hateful tweets telling me that as a Muslim my Emmerdale role means that I am 'committing sinful acts, promoting sin and deliberately going against the Quran'.

"We live in sensitive times for members of all communities and especially those in multi-racial Rochdale where I grew up.

"I regret that I too have let people down by the use of such language, albeit six years ago. I, like everyone else, have a responsibility about the language I have used on social media as well as in conversation."

Iqbal first played Manpreet's daughter Aiesha last year and returned to the village in March to move in with the Sharmas.

At the time of Aiesha's return, Iqbal described her promotion to show regular status as "like a dream", adding: "I'm really grateful to the producers for bringing me back!

"Aiesha very much represents the new generation of social media fascination, and her phone is her third hand. She is always camera-ready!"

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emm...racist-tweets/