Following Laurence Fox’s disgusting remarks about a female journalist live on GB News and the online backlash to his comments, the actor-turned-presenter has doubled down and released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, defending his right to free speech.
The former TV performer, who has more recently turned to political commentary and presenting on the nascent news channel, branded PoliticsJoe journalist Ava Santina Evans a “little woman” and asked fellow GB News presenter Dan Wootton: “Who’d want to s**g that?”
Ms Evans attracted the ire of Fox after appearing on BBC show Politics Live and discussing whether or not there should be a minister for men, alongside right-wing comic Geoff Norcott.
Following her appearance, she posted on X: “I was a little rash on my anti-minister for men comments which I do regret and am actually very interested in a brief for a minister on young men’s mental health.”
Later in the day Fox appeared on Dan Wootton Tonight on GB News and made misogynistic and sexual remarks about the female journalist.
Responding to the fierce criticism of his comments online, Fox shunned the chance to back down.
In a statement on X, he 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 s**g 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.”
He continued: “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.”
Adding to his forthright position, he said: “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.”
Fox’s statement was last edited at 9.19am. By 9:48am GB News had announced it had “formally suspended” the presenter.
The channel said: “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.”
