Former Bake Off star Rav Bansal shares homophobic letter targeting his Sikh faith

Albertina Lloyd
·Contributor
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Rav Bansal of The Great British Bake Off leads a class at The Cake and Bake Show at Event City on November 10, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)
Rav Bansal appeared on The Great British Bake Off in 2016 (Credit: Getty)

Former Great British Bake Off contestant Rav Bansal has shared a homophobic letter saying it “cut deeper” than any other abuse he has recieved since coming out.

The 30-year-old vegan baker - who came out publicly as gay during Pride month this year - decided to share the letter, from a fellow member of the Sikh community, which attacks his faith and sexuality.

Bansal tweeted: “When I decided to come out publicly I expected to be faced with some negativity. For the most part I have been able to ignore it, but this letter cut me a bit deeper. Annoyingly, it upset me more than I should have allowed it to. Religion should never be used to justify hate.”

He added to the writer of the letter: “To whoever wrote this, I hope one-day YOU will find clarity, for your children's sake. Your word will only make me louder and stronger.”

Read more: Fans express horror as Bake Off contestant Rav Bansal is racially abused

Bansal appeared on The Great British Bake Off in 2016 and camed seventh. The writer of the letter states they supported Bansal on the show but after seeing his coming out story on the BBC earlier this year they felt disappointed by his “perverse lifestyle” and “lustful behaviour”.

Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar was among those to offer Bansal their support, writing: “If an idea or a person or a group is devoid of compassion and kindness, they or it, have lost any moral high ground or have not yet developed as a person or idea. Under baked, soggy bottom. Rise above it. At the very yeast. I’m stopping before I get too pun- jabi.”

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Bansal came out publicly in June, writing on Instagram: “As Pride month draws to a close, I am reminded about the importance of being visible in a world that sometimes feels so divided. For many years now I have deliberately held back from talking about my personal life out of fear of judgement and rejection, unable to reconcile feelings about my faith, the colour of my skin, my body and my sexuality.

Read more: 'Bake Off' star Helena Garcia 'had to keep leaving the tent to express milk'

“I can say this now with a smile on my face, as a proud British, Indian, Sikh, Gay man who sometimes enjoys eating cake a little too much.”

He also thanked his family for being so supportive.