Polish Sports Journalist Suspended for Criticising 'Imagine' Played at Olympics

Przemysław Babiarz, a Polish sports journalist with the state-owned Telewizja Polska (TVP), was suspended from his job on July 27 for criticising John Lennon's song "Imagine" during his coverage of the Olympic Games.

"Imagine" was played at the blasphemous opening ceremony and Babiarz commented on the lyrics of the song: "A world without heaven, without nations, and without religion. This is a vision of peace that should be embraced by all. Unfortunately, this is the vision of communism."

The following evening, Babiarz's punishment was announced on the 7:30 p.m. news. More than 150 current and former Polish Olympic athletes and TVP employees called in vain for his reinstatement.

Before his suspension, former Prime Minister Beata Szydło took to social media to thank him for being "the voice of reason and honesty in this politically correct madness."

After the suspension, the leader of the Left [Lewica] political alliance, Anna-Maria Żukowska, who had initially condemned Babiarz's remarks, asked, "Have you gone crazy, TVP?"

John Lennon himself had stated that the song shared a "communist vision".

Picture: TVP, #newsSfcacqnogf