David Whitely, a Black radio host, has resigned from BBC after the station allowed a white reporter to use a racial slur during a news report.

On Saturday (Aug. 8), Whitely announced his departure from the station, adding that he didn’t condone the behavior. In the viral clip of the broadcast, journalist Fiona Lamdin says the n-word. “Just to warn you, you’re about to hear highly offensive language because as the men ran away they hurled racial abuse, calling him a ‘nigger,’” she said during the televised report.

Whitely explained that the station took things a bit too far. He added that there is a long road to progress regarding the world’s current social climate. “I understand transition. I understand it’s not something that’s going to happen overnight, that there will need to be a lot of learning, and unlearning and tearing down of certain building blocks of our society that took a long time to build up. So I’m OK with process; I’m OK with waiting, within reason, for certain things to change,” he said.

After Whitely announced his departure, BBC responded. Deadline also confirmed that the station received over 18,600 complaints as a result of the viral report. “The decision to use the word was not taken lightly and without considerable detailed thought: we were aware that it would cause offense,” the organization said.

“In this specific context we felt the need to explain, and report, not just the injuries but, given their alleged extreme nature, the words alleged to have been used – a position which, as we have said, was supported by the family and the victim,” the statement continued.

Some Twitter users said that BBC’s response came a little too late, explaining that it’s unfortunate that it took Whitely’s departure for a statement to be issued. Take a look at the post below.