UPDATE: Actor turned right-wing political activist Laurence Fox‘s misogynistic rant on episode of “Dan Wootton Tonight” on U.K. channel GB News has fallen afoul of media regulator Ofcom.
Comments made during the program by Fox targeting female political journalist, Ava Evans, prompted 8,867 complaints to Ofcom with viewers expressing concerns that his remarks were sexist, misogynistic and offensive.
Ofcom launched an investigation into the matter. “We found that Mr. Fox’s comments constituted a highly personal attack on Ms. Evans and were potentially highly offensive to viewers. They reduced her contribution to a broadcast discussion on mental health – in her professional capacity as a political journalist – to a judgment on whether she, or women like her who publicly expressed their political opinions, were sexually desirable to men,” Ofcom said. “As such, we considered that Mr. Fox’s comments were degrading and demeaning both to Ms Evans and women generally and were clearly and unambiguously misogynistic. In our view, Mr. Wootton’s reaction and limited challenge in response did not mitigate the potential for offence. Rather, they exacerbated it by contributing to the narrative in which a woman’s value was judged by her physical appearance.”
“In light of the circumstances of this case, we have significant concerns about GB News’ editorial control of its live output. We are requiring GB News to provide further detailed information about its compliance practices in this area for our consideration, and requesting it attends a meeting at our offices to discuss this,” Ofcom added.
This matter is not an isolated incident. There are several ongoing Ofcom investigations into GB News.
PREVIOUSLY: Actor turned right-wing political activist Laurence Fox was arrested in London on Wednesday on “suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to ULEZ cameras,” and has been fired from GB News over his comments about journalist Ava Evans.
On Wednesday morning, Fox’s Reclaim Party posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming that the police were searching the “Lewis” star’s house. Though Fox was not named, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement to Variety: “On Wednesday 4 October, officers arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to ULEZ cameras and encouraging or assisting offences to be committed. He was arrested in Stockwell and has been taken to a South London police station where he remains in custody.” The Reclaim Party also posted on X that Fox had been arrested.
London charges a daily fee for driving in what is known as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) if a car does not meet the emission standards set out by the city. Fox, who ran for mayor of London in 2021, seemed to encourage vandalism of the cameras in an interview on the video platform Rumble on Tuesday. “I encourage them to tear down every single camera there is and I will be joining them,” Fox said during the broadcast.
Later on Wednesday, GB News announced that Fox had also been fired from his position as a presenter over misogynistic comments he made about Evans. “Laurence Fox and Calvin Robinson were both suspended last week pending internal investigations that have now concluded,” GB News said in a post on X. “As of today, GB News has ended its employment relationship with Laurence Fox and Calvin Robinson.”
While appearing on Dan Wootton’s show, Fox asked what “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed” with Evans, according to the BBC. This led to more than 8,000 complaints and an investigation from communications regulator Ofcom, the BBC reported. Robinson voiced his support for Fox, who said in an apology video last week that “GB News had one opportunity and that opportunity was to stand up and defend free speech, which they haven’t done. So I think now as they brand themselves the home of free speech, they’re actually the home of cancel culture.” An investigation into Wootton, who was also suspended, is still ongoing.
