Apology for ‘ape’ comment and other tweets would have been enough, says Martin Shapland
![Alastair Stewarts ITV exit regrettable, says man at centre of Twitter row](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4f984f4b2f544ca7d82e99cccd00c7a8e134bc7a/0_653_2457_1473/master/2457.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=d35eb650e4622ca573a340368a173012)
The man involved in a
Twitter exchange with Alastair Stewart that has been linked to the newsreader’s departure from ITN news has said Stewart’s exit is “regrettable” and that an apology would have been sufficient.
Stewart resigned on Wednesday, three weeks after he sent a tweet to a black man using the term “angry ape”. The message, quoting the Shakespeare play Measure for Measure, was sent during a disagreement with Martin Shapland on 13 January.