The presenter was found in breach of BBC editorial guidelines after saying remarks by Donald Trump were "embedded in racism".
The BBC is facing a growing backlash over its decision to rebuke presenter Naga Munchetty following remarks she made about US President Donald Trump.
Sir Lenny Henry, comedian Gina Yashere and actor Adrian Lester are among a host of black stars to write to the broadcaster branding their stance as "deeply flawed" and "illegal".
Munchetty was found to have been in breach of BBC editorial guidelines when she said on air that Mr Trump's call for a group of female Democrats to "go back" to their own countries was "embedded in racism".
An open letter to the BBC, signed by Sir Lenny, Yashere, Lester and dozens of others, including Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph, said: "To require journalists of all ethnicities and races to endorse racism as a legitimate 'opinion' is an abrogation of responsibility of the most serious nature."
It added that the ruling was "both a misunderstanding of the BBC's editorial guidelines, and a form of racially discriminatory treatment towards BAME people who work on programming".
The letter, published in the Guardian, ended by saying it believed that "in addition to being deeply flawed, illegal and contrary to the spirit and purpose of public broadcasting, the BBC's current position will have a profound effect on future diversity within the BBC".
There has also been political criticism of the decision, with Chancellor Sajid Javid describing it as "ridiculous".
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