John Fisher, the social media personality known as Big John or “the Boshfather,” publicly condemned racist graffiti sprayed on a Chinese takeaway in York and used a BBC Newsnight appearance to warn that isolated incidents risk stoking division amid a high-profile campaign to display England flags.
The Dragon House takeaway on Foxwood Lane was vandalised in the early hours of August 29, when a trio on bicycles painted the word “England” over the word “Chinese” on its sign and daubed the shopfront with St George’s Crosses and the words “Go Home,” local traders and the owner said. North Yorkshire Police said a criminal investigation is under way and asked anyone with information to contact them quoting reference 12250163150.
Fisher, 51, told Newsnight he understood why some people have been hanging English flags but called the damage to the Dragon House “upsetting” and said “nobody” should be targeted with hateful slogans. “I love my country — I’m a proud Englishman,” he said, adding that while many flag displays are from “normal people” asserting patriotism, “every now and again it blows over, you get the isolated incident which isn’t good.” Fisher said he planned to visit the takeaway to give it custom.
The takeaway’s owner described the vandalism as “blatant discrimination” and told local media she had lived in Britain for more than 20 years and run the business for more than a decade. “It was very upsetting to see our shop vandalised with such hateful graffiti. It felt not only like an attack on our business, but also on us personally,” she said. She told YorkMix she believed the culprits were “definitely racist,” saying they had targeted only her premises on a busy street.
Local traders rallied to help clean the premises free of charge. A window cleaner identified as Isaac Davidson said he returned after his shift to remove paint from shutters, windows and the side of the building because the owner had been “absolutely in bits.”
Fisher rose to prominence on Instagram and TikTok for videos showing his enthusiasm for ordering and eating Chinese takeaways and for his catchphrase “Bosh!” His Newsnight clip was widely viewed online, the BBC reported, receiving some 12 million views on X and 3.7 million on TikTok. Fisher shared the clip to his Instagram account, which has more than 600,000 followers, and responded publicly to online accusations that he was being instructed by others or accused of being unpatriotic. “I am not a racist or far-right. I am a normal English bloke who loves England, loves Great Britain and I respect all the different backgrounds that live in our country and make us great,” he wrote on Instagram.
Reactions to Fisher’s intervention were mixed. Many followers and members of the local community praised his comments as balanced and supportive, while some anonymous social media users attacked his motives or questioned his patriotism.
The incident in York occurred amid the so-called “Operation Raise the Colours,” a grassroots campaign that has encouraged people to hang English and British flags from lampposts and other public places. The movement emerged after complaints about flags being removed in some areas and has been described by organisers as patriotic. Critics and some commentators say the campaign has been amplified by far-right figures and risks provoking community tensions. Alongside sanctioned displays, vandals have sprayed St George’s Crosses on roundabouts, road markings and other public surfaces, prompting councils to spend funds removing the paint.
Ministers and senior politicians have weighed in on the broader debate. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “very encouraging of flags” and called them “a great symbol of our nation,” while also warning that using national symbols for divisive purposes can devalue them.
North Yorkshire Police said officers were developing intelligence and lines of enquiry to identify suspects and ensure they face appropriate consequences. The force reiterated that any incidents of hate crime will be dealt with robustly and said victims are referred to a commissioned partner, Supporting Victims, to ensure appropriate support.
The York owner and local helpers said the incident left them shaken but grateful for community support. Fisher has since returned to his regular social media posts, sharing images from a trip to Malta and resuming lighthearted content about food while continuing to defend his position on the vandalism and the wider conversation about flags.