GB News has suspended Laurence Fox, after he made “unacceptable” comments about political correspondent Ava Evans.
During his interview with Dan Wootton, the former actor called Ava a “little woman”, before asking: “Who’d want to s**g that?”
Ava then took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to react to Laurence’s comments, writing: “Laurence Fox just did a whole speech on GB News on why men apparently won’t s**g me? I feel physically sick.”
I feel physically sick
— Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) September 26, 2023
In a statement, GB News said: “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.”
In his own statement shared this morning, Laurence 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.”
He continued: “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.”
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,… pic.twitter.com/GhKS06jsq0
— Laurence Fox (@LozzaFox) September 27, 2023
Dan, who came under fire for smiling at Laurence’s comments, later issued an apology to Ava.
He wrote: “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 This is not what our channel is about.”
In another tweet, Dan wrote: “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.”
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
This is not what our…— Dan Wootton (@danwootton) September 26, 2023
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…— Dan Wootton (@danwootton) September 27, 2023
He added: “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.”
