Ofcom Opens Yet Another Investigation Into GB News After Receiving 7,300 Complaints About Laurence Fox’s Misogynist Rant On Dan Wootton Show
28.09.2023 - 14:15
/ deadline.com
Ofcom has opened yet another investigation into GB News following the Laurence Fox rant on Dan Wootton Tonight, which the regulator revealed has received 7,300 complaints.
The regulator said it is investigation under Rule 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code, which states that in applying generally accepted standards broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context.
Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes said there had been “speculation and commentary” in recent days over Ofcom’s role but the 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,” she said. “This is highly valued by audiences and central to our democracy.”
GB News has suspended Wootton and chided Fox after the latter, who also hosts a show on the channel, made highly misogynistic comments about female political journalist Ava Evans. He claimed no “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed” with her, while Wootton could be heard laughing before he later apologized on social media.
Wootton has been suspended and just had his MailOnline column terminated.
GB News is currently being investigated for seven Ofcom breaches and has been rapped for three this year, while it was summoned for a meeting with the regulator several months ago following the second. Fox’s GB News show is separately being probed, with a result expected shortly.
The 7,300 complaints is a big number and will be one of the most complained about shows of the year so far.
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