Ofcom finds Laurence Fox GB News segment "unambiguously misogynistic"
Ofcom has confirmed that an episode of Dan Wootton Tonight on GB News broke broadcasting rules.
The regulatory body labelled a segment involving Laurence Fox as “unambiguously misogynistic.”
The episode in question aired on September 26, with Fox making a remark about political journalist Ava Evans in which he said: “show me a single self-respecting man that would like to climb into bed with that woman, ever.”
The broadcast prompted 8,867 complaints to Ofcom, with viewers complaining that Fox’s remarks were “sexist, misogynistic and offensive”, and now Ofcom has concluded its investigation, saying Fox's words “constituted a highly personal attack on Ms Evans.”
“[The comments] reduced her contribution to a broadcast discussion on mental health – in her professional capacity as a political journalist – to a judgement on whether she, or women like her who publicly expressed their political opinions, were sexually desirable to men,” stated the ruling.
“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.”
Additionally, Ofcom also remarked that they had “significant concerns about GB News’ editorial control of its live output,” adding that they had requested officials from the company to attend a meeting at their offices.
Evans, who who is PoliticsJOE's political correspondent, said in a statement (via BBC News): “My journalism is open to criticism, and it's important that it takes place in a free and fair society.”
“But remarks of this nature only serve to stifle meaningful debate and dissuade young women from choosing journalism as a career. That is to all of our detriment,” she added, before saying that Ofcom should be able to “impose meaningful sanctions for conduct of its kind.”
Fox and Wootton were both suspended by GB News following the incident, with Fox subsequently having his contract terminated. Wootton, who remarked in the broadcast that Evans was a “very beautiful woman”, remains suspended.
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