GB News suspends Dan Wootton after Laurence Fox's vile rant on his show
GB News has suspended Dan Wootton following comments made on his programme by Laurence Fox
In a statement shared on Twitter, the opinion-led news channel said: "GB News has suspended Dan Wootton following comments made on his programme by Laurence Fox last night. This follows our decision earlier today to formally suspend Mr Fox. We are conducting a full investigation."
During the GB News broadcast on Tuesday night, Wootton and Fox discussed Ms Evans comments made by the former LBC producer during her appearance BBC Politics Live on Monday, with the journalist attracting attention due to her remarks about men's mental health. Following her appearance on the BBC show, Ms Evans tweeted: "I was a little rash on my anti-minister for men comments which I do regret and am actually very interested in a brief for a minister on young men’s mental health."
Fox appeared on Tonight on Tuesday night, during which the actor turned aspiring politician . During the broadcast, Fox described Ms Evans as a "little woman" and declared: "We don’t need these sort of feminist 4.0" who, he said, are "pathetic and embarrassing", adding: "Who would want to shag that?"
Dan Wootton apologised follow Laurence Fox's vile comments on his GB News show (Twitter)The comments from Fox sparked a furious backlash online - with Ms Evans telling her Twitter (aka X) followers she felt physically sick following the broadcast - and . This morning, just minutes before his suspension was announced by GB News, Fox took to Twitter to
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Earlier today, as GB News announced his suspension, Fox quote-tweeted Wootton’s apology to Ms Evans following last night’s broadcast and shared a screenshot of a conversation presumably between himself and Wootton.
The messages appear to show Fox telling the New Zealand born journalist: "Making you giggle is my weekly joy," as the recipient replies: "You can imagine them freaking out in the gallery!!!" alongside three laughing emojis. Fox captioned the image: "Honesty is the best policy."
Wootton is yet to tweet following Fox's claims and suspension from GB News. The New Zealand born journalist's last tweet reads: "I want to reiterate my regret over last night’s exchange with Laurence on GB News. Having looked at the footage, I can see how inappropriate my reaction to his totally unacceptable remarks appears to be and want to be clear that I was in no way amused by the comments.
"I reacted as I did out of shock and surprise in an off guard moment while working out how to respond as he continued to speak by searching for tweets @AvaSantina had sent earlier in the day while having them read out in my ear at the same time. However, I should have intervened immediately to challenge offensive and misogynistic remarks. I apologise unreservedly for what was a very unfortunate lapse in judgement on my part under the intense pressure of a bizarre exchange. I know I should have done better. I'm devastated that I let down the team and our supportive GBN family."
Wootton added: "We seek to tackle the issue and not the person, which I intend to stress again on air tonight." However, following his suspension, Wootton will not be on air tonight. It has not yet been announced who will be covering for the former showbiz editor of The Sun.
Fox has been condemned by many of his friends and former co-stars since he made the vile comments about Ava Evans on GB News last night. TalkTV Julia Hartley-Brewer took to Twitter earlier this afternoon to slam her pal and tell him: "Anyone who has an issue with anything @AvaSantina says should debate exactly that - what she SAYS, not whether they want to sh*g her or not. Sorry @LozzaFox I defend free speech but you're bang out of order. Women don't exist just to be men's playthings."
However, Tory politicians are seemingly trying to stay about of the debate surrounding Fox's comments. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who presents a show on GB News claimed earlier today that he not yet seen the comments made on air by Laurence Fox about a female journalist.
Speaking to the PA news agency at Windsor Castle after receiving his knighthood the Conservative Party MP said: "No I haven’t seen his comments last night.I understand he has been suspended from GB News and we can see the outcome of that, but no I don’t know the details."
Like Mr Rees-Mogg, Home Secretary Suella Braverman also claimed today to be unaware of what Fox said during last night’s GB News broadcast. "I am not aware of this matter you are describing," Braverman said when asked about Fox’s comments. "We all need to maintain civility and respect in public and political discourse. Feelings might be strong, but at all times, even if we disagree strongly, we need to maintain respect for each other."
Following Fox's suspension being announced by GB News, a debate regarding whether Conservative Party MPs should appear on the opinion-led channel has kicked off. GB News currently employs Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson, former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Esther McVey and Philip Davies.
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Asked whether that is right, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer told ITV ’s Good Morning Britain earlier today: “Well, yes, because there is a broadcasting code which identifies the rules of broadcasting and that does allow presenters who are MPs to take part in current affairs programmes. There are specific issues that have been taken to Ofcom in relation to particular programmes and I know that Ofcom is coming to conclusions on those particular issues."
Fox this morning refused to apologise for his vile comments, telling his Twitter followers: "Morning, morning. First of all, don’t take a pop at @danwootton for something I said. That’s not fair.
"Secondly. I stand by every word of what I said. If a woman wants to go on television and belittle male suicide, she is totally within her rights to do so and not apologise, just as I am totally within my rights to say that I wouldn’t want to shag a hyper offended 4th wave feminist and not apologise, just as people are totally within their rights to be offended by my stating I would run a mile in the opposite direction from women like her, should our paths cross in a bar.
"It’s called free speech. I realise that the new woke world is low on laughter and high on offence, but it’s still worth trying to find the lighter moments in this joyless new cancel culture which has been created for us. This lady has said on air that she wants men to be 'frightened' and 'terrified'. Tumbleweed from the media at her premeditation and malevolence. Because it’s not a man saying it. Which rather proves my point.
"You are totally entitled to find my mockery of the insane hypocrisy in this world not to your taste, but that’s me, and I will continue to be me, as a wise man once said “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” So you keep trying to cancel away in your state of permanent offence, I’ve been cancelled already and may well be again, but I don’t care one bit, and I will keep defending my right to have an opinion on issues which concern me.
"Without free speech and the presumption of innocence we are not free. We aren’t quite communist Eastern Europe yet. We may very close, but not quite there. It’s still worth fighting for. So if you are expecting a grovelling apology, I suggest you don’t hold your breath. I won’t ever apologise to the mob. Have a lovely day. In this self censoring world, speak your mind. Live strong and free."
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