Welsh newsreader Andrea Byrne is one of a growing number of people who have come out in support of Alastair Stewart who has stepped down from his ITV News presenting duties following what has been called "errors of judgment" in his use of social media.
A campaign #BringBackAlastairStewart has been started as anger grows about the way the row has been handled.
The 67-year-old - whose career in front of the camera spans 40 years - said in a statement to the PA news agency that he made a "misjudgment which I regret".
ITN said in the statement that the journalist's use of social media "breached" its editorial guidelines, but did not elaborate about the nature of Stewart's actions.
The statement also said that the decision to quit was "supported by both ITV and ITN".
Stewart, who joined ITN in 1980 as industrial correspondent, said: "It was a misjudgment which I regret, but it's been a privilege to bring the news to households throughout the UK for the past 40 years."
Stewart's departure comes several weeks after he was involved in an exchange with a black man on Twitter in which he quoted a Shakespeare passage including the phrase "angry ape".
The quote, which was taken from the play Measure for Measure, was sent during a disagreement with Martin Shapland on January 13.
Stewart, who has deleted his Twitter account, has been a staff reporter and presenter on ITV News programmes.
Recently he has worked as a part-time freelance presenter, mainly on the lunchtime news and weekend programmes.
ITV newsreaders Andrea, Mary Nightingale and Julie Etchingham were among those to comment on the announcement, with all saying Stewart would be missed.
Andrea, who is set to return to ITV Wales after maternity leave, said: "Alastair Stewart is absolutely gold standard broadcaster and a superb mentor."
Nightingale wrote on Twitter: "Very sad about the departure of #AlastairStewart.
"He was a good friend and mentor to me when I started at Carlton TV, and we worked together for more than 27 years. I will miss him."
Etchingham tweeted: "So sad to learn this - we have worked on many big stories together & Al is a trusted friend and guide to many of us."
Michael Jermey, director of news and current affairs at ITV, said: "Alastair has been a long-standing, familiar figure to viewers of ITV News, both reporting and presenting with distinction.
"We wish him the very best for the future."
Columnist Allison Pearson said: "This is outrageous. Alastair Stewart is not only a fantastic news anchor. He’s one of the few people on Twitter pointing out that broadcast journalists have a duty not to be biased. It’s shocking that ITV News should treat a legend in this way."
ITN chief executive Anna Mallett said: "We would like to recognise Alastair's contribution as one of the UK's foremost journalists and TV presenters and to thank him for his commitment to delivering high-quality broadcast news over many years."
Another viewer said: "How is it Alastair Stewart is dumped by ITN for 1 tweet (nobody seems to be aware of any wrongdoing) & yet Piers Morgan can repeatedly vilify others on Twitter with absolutely no consequences??!!"
During his career, Stewart has covered stories such as the Beslan school siege and the fall of the Berlin Wall and he has been honoured with several awards.
In 2004, he was named presenter of the year at the Royal Television Society Awards and in 2006 he received an OBE for services to broadcasting and charity.
