EastEnders actor Danny Walters apologises for homophobic tweets

His social media posts from 2012 have resurfaced

Danny Walters

by Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

EastEnders actor Danny Walters has apologised after homophobic tweets from 2012 were uncovered.

In the two tweets, which were sent before his acting breakthrough and have since been deleted, the former Benidorm star used homophobic insults when talking to a friend.

The Taylor family Eastenders
©BBC

“I am very sorry for posting these immature comments to a friend when I was 19-years-old,” Danny, who plays Keanu Taylor in the BBC One soap, told The Sun.

"It’s not language I would ever use now and I’d like to apologise to anyone I’ve offended.”

A friend of the 25-year-old actor added: “Danny is feeling absolutely mortified that something he posted when he was younger has come back to bite him.

"He doesn’t have a bad bone in him.”

CHECK OUT Eastenders spoilers: Louise Mitchell KIDNAPPED

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EastEnders spoilers week 17 2019 slider

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The week begins with Louise Mitchell being bundled into a car by Midge. A desperate Keanu watches on and rings Phil who is quick to find his daughter, alongside Ben.

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Sharon spots the pair and when she tries to find out what's happening, Phil hurries off but orders her to keep quiet. Ben is worried when Phil realises Danny is behind Louise's kidnap and races to find his daughter.

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eastenders spoilers keanu taylor louise mitchell ben mitchell

Phil and Ben arrives at the docks and as Phil heads off to find Danny, he orders Ben to stay put. Keanu manages to find Louise who is locked in a shipping container and just as he unties her, Midge knows him unconscious and locks them both in…

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eastenders spoilers keanu taylor louise mitchell ben mitchell

Back on the Square, Sharon asks Dennis and Tiffany whether the gang are involved with Louise's disappearance but Tiff is quick to put her in her place.

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Despite Phil telling his wife to keep quiet, Sharon tells the rest of the family that Louise is in danger and Kathy is left furious that Phil's implicated Ben.

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As things get out of hand Billy Mitchell tries to calm the situation but ends up putting his foot in it when he reveals too much information about Phil's latest activities. A guilty Lola watches on…

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eastenders spoilers keanu taylor louise mitchell ben mitchell

While the search for Louise continues at the docks, Phil leaves Danny a threatening message unfortunately he's not paying attention to his surroundings and someone whacks him from behind.

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eastenders spoilers keanu taylor louise mitchell ben mitchell

Sharon is stunned when Kathy reveals Ben only returned because of Phil's financial troubles and as things begin to escalate even further, they decide against getting the police involved.

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eastenders spoilers keanu taylor louise mitchell ben mitchell

At the end of the week things take a turn for the worse when Sharon makes a shocking discovery that threatens to tear the family apart.

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Over to the Slater household and Jean continues to tell everyone that she's fine but a concerned Shirley notices her friend is struggling with the kids.

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eastenders spoilers jean slater stacey fowler

As Jean opens up about her fears regarding her cancer diagnosis, Shirley tries to support her. Unfortunately things take a turn for the worse when Shirley tries to talk Jean out of contacting Sean. Jean then decides to make back in with the Slaters in the hopes that Stacey will help her find Sean.

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eastenders spoilers jean slater stacey fowler

Stacey is delighted when her mum moves back in and when Jean reveals she wants to get back in contact with Sean, Stacey explains that she's already tried to ring him but the number didn't work.

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eastenders spoilers jean slater stacey fowler

She then has a complete U-turn and reveals she lied about contacting Sean, leaving Jean furious. While she's out on the Square, Jean bumps into Habiba Ahmed and asks if she can borrow her phone – she leaves Sean a message.

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eastenders spoilers jean slater stacey fowler

Jean doesn't hear back from Sean and takes her frustration out on Stacey. At the hospital after Jean continues to keep mentioning Sean, Stacey has had enough and reveals she's spoken to brother and he's aware of their mum's cancer diagnosis.

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eastenders spoilers jean slater stacey fowler

As tension between the women reaches breaking point, Jean goes to her appointment and Stacey goes to collect the kids from school. They're both unaware that Sean is back in the Square…

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At The Vic, Kush Kazemi buys Kat Moon a drink in desperate need of some advice. He later arrives home and discovers Kat is helping a drunken Mo into bed.

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When Ruby discovers Matt Clarkson and Ross Swinden have received their sentences she wants to celebrate with Jay Brown.

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He's left feeling guilty about his kiss with Lola and confesses all but Ruby is then left in shock when he reveals he wants to go official. Luckily, she accepts.

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eastenders spoilers ruby allen lola pearce jay brown

Jay and Ruby celebrate 'going official' but he's left annoyed in The Vic when Lola arrives. Billy is desperate to keep Lola in Walford so he asks Ruby is she can give her a job.

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eastenders spoilers ruby allen lola pearce jay brown

However when Jay returns with Lola, it dawns on Ruby that she's given Jay's ex-girlfriend a job. Billy gives Lola a good luck card for her first day but when Ruby sees that Jay has also signed it she's instantly jealous and gives her new employee a tough time.

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eastenders spoilers ruby allen lola pearce jay brown

Ruby is further annoyed in a meeting when Lola bonds with her clients and when they're alone she doesn't hold back in putting her new recruit in her place.

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After a chat with Billy, Lola heads to Ruby's flat to do another task.

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Following the launch of the salon, Kim continues to give Chantelle a hard time but following advice for Karen Taylor and Gray Atkins she makes a peace offering.

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As Gray and Mitch struggle to see eye-to-eye, Chantelle hatches a plan for her dad and husband to resolve their differences.

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Karen opens up to Mitch about her issues with Chantelle. Later when Mitch mentions he hasn't heard from Bailey, Keegan offers to check in on her but is surprised to see how frail Dinah is.

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A protective Keegan tries to reassure his little sister that Dinah going into a home will be the best outcome for her.

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Finally, Adam is frustrated when Janet Mitchell makes a mess of his clothes and when he's looking for a new shirt on the market he bumps into Habiba.

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At the market, Habiba asks Adam to not mention that she and Iqra Ahmed are still staying at Mariam and Arshad's house. She's left in a panic when he reveals they're returning early.

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Later on in the week, Iqra and Habiba are relieved when Adam updates them and reveals their grandparents aren't returning anytime soon.

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eastenders spoilers adam bateman janet mitchell

Adam decides to rent one of Jack's flats so he can get his own space with Honey and the kids. At the Minute Mart he announces he's got them a flat and while Honey is stunned, Habiba is jealous.

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Danny’s apology comes a week after Emmerdale actress Shila Iqbal was fired from her role as Aisha Richards after racist tweets from 2012 resurfaced.

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

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

Shila Iqbal
©Getty

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The actress herself issued a grovelling apology, citing her young age as a factor.

She 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...

"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."

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