Tommy Robinson Shouts At BBC's Nihal Arthanayake After Presenter Ridicules His Criminal Past

'Feel like I have been trying to spray perfume on a fart all day.'

Tommy Robinson and BBC radio presenter Nihal Arthanayake have been locked in a venomous two day social media fight over Islam.

The Twitter feud began when Arthanayake, who works for the BBC Asian Network and BBC Radio 5, took offence to the following post from Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League.

4% of our country is Muslim. What do you all really think it's going to be like when 20-30% are Muslim.more Chaos,murder, rape & terrorism

— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 25, 2016

These are the kind of tweets this man vomits out of his hateful mind. #hatespeech https://t.co/uw4fUIGQID

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

Robinson then retorted saying “apologists for Islam” don’t like “facts or statistics”.

Arthanayake then pointed out that criminals aren’t known for their honesty either. Robinson is a convicted fraudster, among other things.

@burnrecording @TherealNihal apologists for Islam don't like facts or statistics

— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 25, 2016

@TRobinsonNewEra @burnrecording neither do convicted criminals, and men who use a number of aliases. And you're a leader?

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

Robinson then implored his challenger to read his book - Enemy of the State - but Arthanayake wasn’t interested. This displeased Robinson’s supporters who called that a “cop out”.

Robinson was more biting, accusing Arthanayake of “terrible journalism”.

@TherealNihal @burnrecording Read my book, to find out why? If your answer is no, you're indeed ignorant

— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 25, 2016

@TRobinsonNewEra @burnrecording i have interviewed you a number of times. As a convicted criminal and fraudster you'll be good at spinning.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

@TherealNihal @TRobinsonNewEra @burnrecording what a cop out, nihal. Engage with his arguments, not his character

— kromesius (@kromesius) July 25, 2016

@kromesius @TRobinsonNewEra @burnrecording I have engaged with both. We don't have to separate one from another.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

@TherealNihal @burnrecording So you won't read my book but just make sweeping statements? Terrible journalism

— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 25, 2016

After a timeline filling flood of tweets, Arthanayake expressed some regrets for getting involved.

You know when you make the mistake of tweeting @TRobinsonNewEra and then all his sweary hate mongers start vomitting on yr timeline.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

Which unleashed even more.

But that still didn’t deter Arthanayake, likening his Twitter exchange with the Pegida boss to a failed attempt to subdue a fart.

Feel like I have been trying to spray perfume on a fart all day. And yet the stench of hate remains.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

One of Robinson’s supporters then returned the thread of conversation back to the topic that had dominated a large portion of commentary around their feud - Arthanayake’s race.

@TRobinsonNewEra @TherealNihal a packee will always be a packee

— Spaceman Spiff (@rajreddynyc) July 25, 2016

Arthanayake couldn’t resist poking fun at that... before attempting to sign off for the day.

Tommy's mates? Where is Pakeestan? https://t.co/jadY1lOYD5

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

Sorry Muslims but I have to take a break from arguing against people who hate your faith to spend some time with my kids.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

Robinson then replied asking Arthanayake for his reaction to a piece of writing seemingly intended to highlight what was wrong with Islam. It began: “Muslims are the vilest of animals”.

Arthanayake did not take the bait, even when baited further.

@TRobinsonNewEra @TherealNihal I wouldn't waste your time with him Tom. He clearly doesn't have the intelligence to listen to both sides.

— Paula كافرة (@XxPLWxX) July 25, 2016

Arthanayake then re-entered the feud, but only to ask Robinson to ask his followers to leave him alone.

Hey @TRobinsonNewEra can you tell your people to take a break and we can resume tomorrow. Gives them time to recharge their hate batteries.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 25, 2016

Well, that was until Tuesday morning when government plans were revealed to review policing in the wake of a spike in hate crime and to invest £2.4 million to boost security around mosques and other places of worship.

Arthanayake was interested in Robinson’s thoughts on the announcement.

Good morning @TRobinsonNewEra this is worrying isn't it. https://t.co/gIZthfqv7l I am sure yr followers would agree.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 26, 2016

Robinson replied, contrasting the spike in hate crime, to an incident in Normandy, France, on Tuesday where two men armed with knives killed a priest after taking several people hostage in a church. The men pled allegiance to the Islamic State.

He then made a video about it.

No not really. Priests getting beheaded in France is though moron https://t.co/VvXJsuaChl

— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 26, 2016

.@TherealNihal this is why pic.twitter.com/at14rNEgzt

— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 26, 2016

@TRobinsonNewEra @TherealNihal His need to feel superior to you is greater than anything else Tom. Don't waste your time on him.

— Paula كافرة (@XxPLWxX) July 26, 2016

@XxPLWxX @TRobinsonNewEra I am not a convicted criminal and mortgage fraudster who changed my name. That doesn't make me superior just diff

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 26, 2016

Arthanayake didn’t reply at first... well, until one of Robinson’s followers called him out for being “superior”.

He then cited Robinson’s alias and criminal history. His real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, though he has also been known as Paul Harris.

@TRobinsonNewEra 'moron' oh dear Tommy. But then names aren't something you worry about having changed yours so many times.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 26, 2016

Before the thread returned to racism.

Can you self deport please https://t.co/sD4xxEHnwZ

— Goy (@PantheraCantus_) July 26, 2016

What, back to Essex? Jokers. https://t.co/kmcue5llhP

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 26, 2016

My show has proved time and time again we discuss the results and sources of HATE. This guy obviously doesn't listen https://t.co/1jRKPCbCwM

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 26, 2016

While Arthanayake often avoided debate, it was easy to see why he chose the humorous approach.

So @TherealNihal attacks @TRobinsonNewEra as he uses aliases & has a criminal record. Tell me Nihal, do you feel the same of Nelson Mandela?

— Paula كافرة (@XxPLWxX) July 26, 2016

Nelson Mandela and Tommy/Stephen in the same sentence. Poor old Paula. https://t.co/vvpcTlaDG4

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 26, 2016

But in the end, an agreement was reached.... of sorts. The pair shouldn’t engage with each other.

Day two of @TRobinsonNewEra trollowers having no practical solutions to anything. No attempts to bring people together to eradicate hate.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 26, 2016

Solution?u can't even recognise the problem. Obviously we want to live in an ideal world like you, but I'm a realist https://t.co/GHcs3DGoKM

— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 26, 2016

Maybe I shouldn't engage with convicted criminal fraudsters like @TRobinsonNewEra but we should stand against ALL who seek to divide us.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 26, 2016
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