The BBC’s reaction was totally out of proportion - while I agree Ms Mason's remarks were insensitive, she should have been reprimanded and no more. I suspect she is a victim of the fall out from the fall out from the Ross and Brand affair, with the BBC terrified of not being seen to act decisively

Dinah , Bristol,

Someone is a racist if the do or say racist things, whether they admit to racial prejudice or not. We resist racists because what they do and what they say harms others - what she said would have unfairly denied a cab driver some part of their income simply because of their ethnicity. That's racism.

Mick Davis, london, uk

Sounds as though Ms Mason needs to host a few gatherings, with her daughter in attendance, that include people of varied backgrounds. My late parents did that from the time we were infants - Germans and Jewish people during WWII, African-Americans in the 1940s, later Russians, Taiwanese, Iranians.

max843, Baltimore, US

Just been looking at the listings for the BBC Asian Network..

Pot calling the kettle non-white?

Simon, Norfolk, UK

I can't believe people are supporting this woman. Taxi drivers are paid by the job - if people don't want Asian drivers then they won't be earning any money. That's discrimination, folks. She is the one who brought the BBC into it by mentioning them in the first place - they have to act.

jackie, Kingston,

The problem is cultural alienation and relativity. Everyone is more comfortable with what they know. The problem comes when people take this too far and become intolerant of everything else. The fear of "The Other."
This sounds like an intolerant person handling a situation badly.
Oh dear.

RR, London,

thts was the BBC presenters choice..she is paying for the cab.
of course there is no more freedom of speech and choice in teh World anymore. Sad butd true.

Mike Cusack, willow city, texas usa, United States of America

These comments just go to show the racism of those that read The Times. Not racist!!? Political correctness gone mad!!? People have the right to ask for who they want!!? I am actually shocked at the overwhelming view from The Times readers. Maybe it's the english OBAMA effect! Behind The Times

Niall Paulin, London, UK

it really angers me to see poeple calling comments like this racist. is no on entitled to their own opinion anymore?

maybe if their wasn't so much hype about racism, these comments wouldn't even be offensive...

cory, maidenhead, UK

Hopefully the name of the taxi company will soon be well known in the area where they operate and the general public can vote with their wallets.

Rob, Huntingdon, Great Britain

Any ideas which taxi firm this is? I'd be sure to avoid ever using them in case my private own conversations were transmitted as public information. I hope the damage that this has done to the trustworthiness of the company in question more than outweighs the quick buck to be made by the operator.

Gordon, London,

I dont see anything wrong with this, I have at times found asian taxi drivers to be of a deceitful nature and who dont understand what I am saying..

Everyone has a right to their own opionion, choice and judgement, It does not mean you are racist..

ryan, MK, UK

a personal choice made based on her knowledge of her child whom she has responsibility for and was trying to organise safe passage for remotely whilst holding down a job. Maybe that most turban images are 9/11 related and of gentlemen that have a hook for a hand might have scared the child?

Danny, London,

People's fears due to racial stereotyping etc need to be overcome, rather than reinforced!

But... since when has expressing a mildly racist sentiment in ones private life been a sackable offense?

Is noone allowed to be wrong anymore?

david, oxford, uk

Priya from Norwich, what's your point? So because you suspect people of your colour to be moral policemen, you believe it is acceptable for someone else to discriminate against Asians? Warped logic, I say.

Craig Preston, London, London

Pathetic BBC if it was a asian lady asking for an asian taxi driver nothing would have been said and you know it!

david, buxton,

Simon. Businesses may only record conversations for certain limited reasons and it is likely this falls outside the area. Furthermore they may not share the information with a third party and Mason may well have a legal remedy against the cab company unless she gave her consent to this.

David, Oxford,

I struggle to understand how someone can be sacked for requesting a non-Asian taxi driver as it's racist but our Police service can still have a Black Police Association which is still not believed to be racist.

Baffling!

Graeme Taylor, London, UK

Shame on this country penalising a person for speaking his mind. This country lectures other countries and propagates free speech. People should be allowed to speak their mind? And law that forbid speaking should be abolished.

Munna , London, UK

So how about a white female turbaned taxi-driver? Would that be acceptable, or is it the issue of a "turban"?

Rob, Brum, UK

This shows the underlying racism that still exists within British society. It's a disgrace that a BBC employee who broadcasts to the nation has such views regarding race. It's not a question of whether big brother is watching, it's a question of right and wrong.

Kofi, London,

This story is symptomatic of a self righteous society and a hysterical press. It is quite reasonable to select a non-asian taxi driver as anyone who has been to Leeds will tell you - they struggle with English : you can't understand a word they say and vice versa. Not racist, just a fact.

Mark, York, UK

Not all Asians wear turbans and not all of them are from the Indian subcontinent. I understand Ms. Mason's concern for the safety of her child. What put her job in jeopardy is her reference to her position with the BBC and the fact that she was on duty in a BBC-owned facility when the event occurred

Anthony, Newark, USA

And who taught the daughter to be freaked out by people in turbans? Shall we blame the social worker?

joe, birmingham, uk

If any of you own a business, what if an employee of yours was recorded on tv saying something racist? Would you send out a statement saying you support them? I dont think so. Everyone is so damn tuff when it's someone elses money.

Paul, Chicago, USA

How interesting. Is there no right to privacy over there? Whilst Mason was undoubtedly wrong, the BBC are also wrong to fire her and the taxi company (or employee) are doubly wrong to release the recording. Grow up people, reclaim your freedom, big brother really does have you by the short&curlys

Rob, Sydney, Australia

I cannot believe all of you lining up to defend her. She has behaved in a clearly racist manner and deserves to lose her job.

And all this "oh what if it was an Asian requesting a non-white driver" is just bizarre.

Oliver, Bath,

What a joke but good to hear that the BBC is now delegating the definition of what and what is not racist to a taxi phone operator. Cost cuttin? As a male I of course find it "completely unacceptable" that she should request a female driver. She should be fired twice or three times.

Tim, Hong Kong, PRC

I think it was a bit extreme that she was sacked for it, becasue it was more of a personal matter, rather than professional misconduct. Whats more concerning is that there are still parents out there (like Sam Mason), who allow their children to develop such misconceptions of other cultures!!!!!

Shan, Birmingham,

To Martin in Bath - recording a phone call is perfectly legal as long as you are either the person making the call or receiving it. It's only phone tapping if you are a third party listening in (that's why it's called 'tapping', as in tapping off water from a pipe.)

Simon, London, United Kingdom

Not going to comment on the issue of race. BUT obvious liberal reference to the BBC as a "guarantee" of personal importance and credit-worthiness constitute an abuse of position & thus power. She deserves the sack for having such attitude.

TC, Hong Kong, China

First, it is racism. Second, now that the BBC is under the microscrope re: presenters, do you really think that they won't instantly jump on anything remotely controversial?

T, Kansad City, US

well, i don't know what is wrong with a turban being put on. It's a part of traditional uniforms that are worn by different nations. But anyway, I believe that a customer has the right to chose the services which he sees comfortable. And this has nothing to do with racisim.

Ismail, Gaza, Palestine

well i dont think it's knee jerk more like sam mason inner racism coming out
im the most westernised asian guy you could ever meet and i know that if we have to integrate we need to get over silly scenario's like this and who hasnt seen a guy with a turban it's just an excuse for racism

sabber, stourbridge, west midlands

"I know this sounds really racist.." said Ms Mason.

Given her problematic background and that the BBC took her own suggests BBC are a supportive employer but this time it was too much for them to support her. Compare it to the R. Brand and J. Ross case everyone belatedly calling for heads to roll.

Abid Hussain, Cambridge, UK

I live in Bath, and I listened to Sam on Radio Bristol many times. It's absolutely laughable to suggest that she is racist. The BBC, by sacking her, are accusing her of being racist. Would the BBC sack a non white person if they asked for a non white taxi driver? Total reactionary hipocrytes!

peter turner, bath,

If i (who happens to be an Asian girl) had been out clubbing (something which Asian girls are "not supposed to do" as it is considered decadent), i would be worried about being picked up by an Asian taxi driver in case he happened to be a "religious policeman".

Priya, Norwich, UK

I find this story ridiculous, especially as she was sacked for this. She should take the BBC to a tribunal. I suppose this makes me a racist bigot as well. What about the daughter involved. Maybe she had some bad dealings before with someone in a turban. I guess we'll hear from Trevor Philips soon.

Martin, Maidenhead, UK

I trust the taxi firm will take similarly robust action against, say, an Asian woman who requests a female and/or non-white driver. If not, why not?

Chris, Cheltenham, UK

Talk about a knee jerk reaction. I dare say if the roles had been reversed no one would be complaining. I also thought recording call's was tantamount to phone tapping and illegal. Also if it is a race issue why was it passed to the Sun and not the Police. The taxi operator is pathetic.

Martin, Bath, UK