'You b******, you have to stay in line': Boris Becker stuns Wimbledon viewers by launching bizarre outburst about how he skips passport queues thanks to his Central African Republic diplomatic passport
- Retired tennis ace Boris Becker appears on 1st day of BBC's Wimbledon coverage
- He hit headlines recently after his Central African passport was branded a 'fake'
- The three-time Wimbledon champ - who denies bankruptcy - swore live on air
- Twitter reacted with amusement and horror at the sportsman's outburst
Boris Becker has left Wimbledon viewers stunned after a bizarre outburst about how he skips the passport queue thanks to his Central African Republic diplomatic passport.
The tennis ace left viewers and presenter Sue Barker apparently agog during the BBC's first hour of their rolling live coverage of the two-week event.
The three-time Wimbledon champ, who has recently declared himself not bankrupt after a troublesome few months, laughed loudly about the benefits of the passport, saying: 'My friends keep shouting at me, "You *******! You have to stay in line!'
Tennis ace Boris Becker has just turned the airwaves blue after swearing live during the BBC 's coverage of Wimbledon
The player swore when he was asked about the Central African Republic passport row on BBC2 Wimbledon coverage
Barker was momentarily stunned by the sudden outburst before scolding the sportsman for swearing live on air.
But the moment was quickly picked up by viewers at home who took to social media in their droves.
Even BBC employees couldn't help but pass comment on the unusual rant. Radio 1 presenter Greg James posted to Twitter: ' We’ve seen some bizarre bits of TV recently but this is right up there. Sue’s first question to Boris is amazing...and the end, well...enjoy!'
Interviewer Sue Barker wasted no time in putting her question to the tennis star, by asking: 'I know it's been a very tricky few weeks for you with your name in and out of the papers, but what is your association with the Central African Republic?'
Becker said he was asked to get involved on a 'diplomatic level' to help the country up on its feet and was given a passport by the President.
He explained: 'I met with officials a number of times and started my cause but then unfortunately there were some comments it was a false passport, I was asked by the President, I'm sure he will find a resolution soon.'
He said one benefit of diplomatic immunity was that he gets to skip passport queues, but people keep shouting at him ‘You *******, you have to stay in line’
Boris appeared to lose sight of where he was for a moment, joining in with the joke: 'That's one thing my friends told me' - he said pointing in mid air - 'You *******, you have to stay in line though!'
Even BBC employees couldn't help but pass comment on the unusual rant. Radio 1 presenter Greg James posted to Twitter: ' We’ve seen some bizarre bits of TV recently but this is right up there. Sue’s first question to Boris is amazing...and the end, well...enjoy!'
Appearing alongside Becker, nine-time Wimbledon champ Martina Navratilova joked: 'We just want diplomatic immunity from EVERYTHING! No wait in line at immigration.'
Boris appeared to lose sight of where he was for a moment, joining in with the jest, exclaiming: 'That's one thing my friends told me' - he said pointing in mid air - 'You *******, you have to stay in line!'
Barker appeared momentarily shocked at the out-of-the-blue cuss word before scolding Becker for swearing live on air.
A decade ago this moment may have passed by without much ado but in the dawn of social media Becker quickly became a trending topic on Twitter.
Many highlighted the fact the BBC's coverage had barely begun before the Wimbledon champ turned the air blue.
European correspondent Ben Lewis wrote: 'Boris Becker ranting about his diplomatic passport and screaming "you ******* you'll have to wait in line now" was a slightly bizarre way for the BBC to kick off Wimbledon.'
Timbo_22 joked: 'BBC's coverage of #wimbledon started less than an hour ago and @TheBorisBecker has already said ******* live on TV.'
While Staccato97 said: 'Boris Becker saying ‘*******’ live on the BBC before noon. And I thought the World Cup was gripping stuff! #Wimbledon
And PhilipaCoughlan commented: 'Boris Becker on the payroll for BBC- second job presumably after his diplomatic role......'
Michelle P wrote: 'Good grief! The morning of the first day of #wimbledon2018 & Boris Becker drops in a casual swearword on live TV, much to the consternation & embarrassment of Sue Barker! And on @BBCTwo as well!'
It has been a tumultuous year to say the least, for Becker.
The former Wimbledon champion has been declared bankrupt and forced to sell his precious trophies to begin paying off a rumoured £54 million debt, while his nine-year marriage to Lilly, the mother of his eight-year-old son, collapsed.
Then, in a farcical twist to an already bizarre story, he was accused of falsely claiming to be a diplomat for the Central African Republic in a bid to wriggle out of paying his debts.
Earlier this month the country’s foreign minister, Charles Armel Doubane, called Becker’s diplomatic passport a fake.
So it’s a surprise to see the tennis legend so ebullient.
In a series of volleys of the same ferocity that earned him the nickname Boom Boom Becker during his stellar tennis career, he claimed last week:
It has been a tumultuous year to say the least, for Becker
- He isn't not bankrupt and apparently makes ‘more money than 99 per cent of the world’ and has paid the money he owes
- He is a genuine diplomat with the passport to prove it, and he took the role purely because of his ‘passion for humanitarian affairs’;
- Divorcing his second wife at the age of 50 makes him ‘conservative’ compared to other celebrities
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