GB News has once again hit the headlines after a controversial segment on Dan Wootton Tonight.
And in the fallout from Tuesday’s programme, fellow channel presenter Laurence Fox has been suspended over his remarks about journalist Ava Evans.
What did Laurence Fox say?
In a clip shared by Ms Evans on X, formerly known as Twitter, 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, starting with the lie about the gender pay gap.
“She’s sat there, and I’m going like, if I met you at 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. We don’t need these feminist 4.0. They’re pathetic and embarrassing.
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“Who’d want to shag that?”
What did Ava Evans say?
At 10.51pm, Ms Evans posted on X: “Laurence Fox just did a whole speech on GB News on why men apparently won’t shag me?”
Minutes later, she added: “I feel physically sick.”
How did Dan Wootton react?
During the live show, Wootton appeared to smile when Fox made his remarks.
However, as the furore grew he posted on X at 11.37pm on Tuesday: “Dear @AvaSantina I think you’re brilliant. Earlier tonight I was attempting to find your tweets to read back from my iPad and couldn’t locate them.
“I apologise for what was said during the course of my show and should have done this immediately on air. This is not what our channel is about.”
On Wednesday morning he added to that statement, saying: “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.
“We seek to tackle the issue and not the person, which I intend to stress again on air tonight.”
What did Laurence Fox say about the reaction?
Despite the backlash against his remarks, Fox posted on X on Wednesday mornings standing by what he said.
The post said: “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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What has GB News said?
At 11.51pm on Tuesday, GB News posted on X: “Comments made tonight on GB News by Laurence Fox were totally unacceptable.
“What he said does not reflect our values and we apologise unreservedly for the comments and the offence they have caused.
“We have launched an investigation and will be apologising to the individual involved.”
And on Wednesday morning, following angry reactions, the channel posted: “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.”
