London, United Kingdom
British Television news channel GB News has suspended its hosts Laurence Fox and Dan Wootton over sexist, misogynistic comments made about a female reporter.
During a live interview on another GB News programme, 'Dan Wootton Tonight', Fox asked what "self-respecting man" would "climb into bed" with PoliticsJOE reporter Ava Evans.
These comments were reportedly a reaction to Evans' earlier statement against calls for a minister of men.
Formal suspension
Taking to X, GB News announced that it has "formally suspended" Fox while the "continue our investigation into comments he made on the channel last night."
As per the statement, the suspension is effective immediately and Laurence Fox has been taken off-air.
GB News has formally suspended Laurence Fox while we continue our investigation into comments he made on the channel last night.
Mr Fox's suspension is effective immediately and he has been taken off air.
We will be apologising formally to Ms Evans today.
— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 27, 2023
"We will be apologising formally to Ms Evans today," they added.
Also read | Watch | Chicago man violently attacked and mugged by two men in broad daylight
Responding to the announcement on the social media platform, Fox remarked, "A phone call might have been polite."
He also claims that "they knew exactly what I intended to say."
A phone call might have been polite.
By matter of interest for the audience contributors do a pre interview before going on, so they knew exactly what I intended to say.
I fully defend the the home of free speech’s right to capitulate to the mob… https://t.co/RQJsYZDbnw pic.twitter.com/9MTwhMDXOZ
— Laurence Fox (@LozzaFox) September 27, 2023
A few hours after Fox, GB News also suspended Dan Wootton.
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.
— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 27, 2023
What happened exactly?
The Monday episode of Politics Live featured Evans and comedian and commentator Geoff Norcott. During the show, Norcott raised the issue of men's mental health and pointed out the fact that for men under 50 years of age, suicide remains the leading cause of death.
In response, the host mentioned that there is a call by a conservative MP to address issues like these.
Evan then made a comment that seemingly irked Fox and became the basis of his misogynistic comments later.
Also read | US Senate, House to shut down? Standoff on funding persists
She said: "I think that it feeds into the culture war a little bit, this minister for men argument."
Mental illness "is a crisis that's endemic throughout the country, not specific to men. And I think a lot of ministers bandy this about to - I'm sorry - make an enemy out of women."
Later on X, she accepted that her comments may have been "a little rash".
He was and 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 https://t.co/1jKQ4DrTO4
— Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) September 25, 2023
Later, on Tuesday, while appearing on Dan Wootton Tonight, Fox was asked about this exchange. To this he responded: "We're past the watershed so I can say this. Show me a single self-respecting man that would like to climb into bed with that woman - ever, ever."
"And she's sat there and I'm going like - if I met you in a bar and that was like sentence three, chances of me just walking away are just huge."
"We need powerful strong, amazing women who make great points for themselves."
He also crudely added: "Who'd want to shag that?"
Sharing a clip of this interaction on X, Adams remarked, "I feel physically sick."
I feel physically sick
— Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) September 26, 2023
You can see the clip here:
Laurence Fox just did a whole speech on GB News on why men apparently won’t shag me ? pic.twitter.com/XoQD0DUQVm
— Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) September 26, 2023
Why didn't the host interject?
In the clip, the host, Wootton, can be seen laughing at Fox's comments. However, later, on X, he apologised and said: "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."
Fox's comments have garnered a lot of negative reactions, including one from Labour MP and shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry. As per CNN, Thornberry tagged media regulator Ofcom into a post on X and has called on them to intervene. "British television should never subject women to this sort of abuse," she said.