TV censor Ofcom has launched an investigation into GB News over Laurence Fox's rant about a female journalist, Ava Evans after receiving around 7,300 complaints.
Fox was suspended on Wednesday after he was condemned for saying 'Who would want
to shag that?
The complaints followed Tuesday night's episode of Dan Wootton Tonight, prompting its investigation. Dan Wootton has been suspended from GB News seemingly as he smiled or smirked at Fox's comments rather than opposing them.
Wootton said in an apology that he regretted the interview and should have intervened to challenge Fox. Meanwhile Fox has said he stands by every word of what I said.
Fox, who also hosts on GB News, made the comments discussing political journalist Evans' views on creating a minister for men to tackle a mental health crisis. Speaking on BBC Politics Live on Monday, the PoliticsJOE political correspondent said the
idea would make an enemy out of women and that mental illness was not specific to men. Addressing the comments on Dan Wootton Tonight on Tuesday, Fox said:
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... That little woman has been fed, spoon-fed oppression day after day after day... We need powerful, strong, amazing women who make great points for themselves, we don't
need these sort of feminist 4.0... they're pathetic and embarrassing. Who would want to shag that? Media caption,
Melanie Dawes, Ofcom chief executive, said:
Over the last few days there has been
speculation and commentary about our role as the independent broadcast regulator. These are important issues and I wanted to be clear about our rules.
Parliament sets objectives on how the broadcast sector should be regulated. We
set and enforce rules to achieve these objectives. Contrary to some claims, these rules remain unchanged.
They are designed to protect audiences from offensive and harmful material, and to uphold the integrity of broadcast news
and current affairs programming, while always ensuring that freedom of expression is front and centre in every decision we take. This is highly valued by audiences and central to our democracy.
The decisions we take, always based
on facts and evidence once a programme has aired, are vital if we are to protect our vibrant media landscape. We continue to apply and enforce these rules without fear or favour.
Offsite Comment: The establishment campaign to shut down GB News
25th September 2023. See article from
spiked-online.com by Fraser Myers
Adam Boulton has said the quiet part out loud: the elites want to defend their cosy media club.
