Connect with us

Published

on

Laurence Fox has apologised to journalist Ava Evans over his comments on GB News.

In a 15-minute mea culpa, the actor-turned-political-activist said his comments were “demeaning” and “not representative of who I am”.

However, Fox said he maintained “the sentiment” of his comments, saying he was angry about what he said was Ms Evans demeaning male suicide.

During those comments about Ms Evans – a journalist for the website PoliticsJOE – he asked host Dan Wootton: “Who would want to shag that?”

In the video, posted on his account on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “I could have and should have expressed it better.

“It’s not right, it’s demeaning to Ava, so I’m sorry for demeaning you in that way, however angry I am with you still for doing that, and it demeans me because it’s not representative of who I am.

“I’m not saying any of this stuff because I know I’m going to get sacked tomorrow. I’m saying it to clear my own conscience.”

He added: “I express my apology to Ava for the language used, but I maintain the sentiment.”

Ava Evans
Image:
Ava Evans

It comes after media regulator Ofcom launched a formal investigation into GB News after it received thousands of complaints about Fox’s comments on Wootton’s show on Tuesday.

Fox was suspended by GB News following the remarks about Ms Evans, which have been described as “unacceptable, unjustifiable and indefensible”.

Wootton’s contract as a columnist for MailOnline was also terminated on Thursday, according to a spokesperson for the news website’s parent company, DMG Media.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ofcom: Misogyny a ‘real issue’

Read more:
Reaction and what Fox said – in full
Who is Laurence Fox?
Ofcom chief says there are ‘real issues around misogyny’

As Fox’s comments drew widespread condemnation, Wootton offered an apology to Ms Evans in a public post on X, in which he described the reporter as “brilliant”.

He apologised “unreservedly” for what was said during the show and conceded he should have done this immediately on air.

Wootton, who could be seen laughing as Fox made his remarks, reiterated his “regret” over the incident in another social media post on Wednesday morning “having looked at the footage” of what he described as a “bizarre exchange”.

“I should have intervened immediately,” he said, adding: “I know I should have done better. I’m devastated…”

In his video, Fox accused Wootton of throwing him “under the bus” with the comments.

Fox also said he was “99.999% sure” that both he and Wootton were going to be “sacked” by GB News on Friday, adding: “Or certainly they are going to sack me.”

Former News of the World showbusiness editor, Dan Wootton, arrives to give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the media, at the High Court in London February 6, 2012. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: MEDIA CRIME LAW SOCIETY)
Image:
Dan Wootton

The row started after Fox said on GB News: “Show me a single self-respecting man that would like to climb into bed with that woman, ever, ever, who wasn’t an incel?”

“That little woman has been fed… spoon-fed oppression day after day after day… starting with the lie of the gender wage gap, and she’s sat there and I’m going, if I met you in a bar and that was like sentence three, chances of me just walking away are just huge,” Fox added.

“We need powerful, strong, amazing women who make great points for themselves, we don’t need these sort of feminist 4.0… they’re pathetic and embarrassing. Who would want to shag that?”

The comments were aired live on GB News following Ms Evans’s appearance on the BBC’s Politics Live show, where she discussed topics including mental health.

Fox was asked about Ms Evans’ critical comments about suggestions there should be a minister for men to address mental health.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘I object to what Laurence Fox said, but he should be allowed to say it’

After the incident, Ms Evans said she was “really hurt” by Fox’s comments, which were about her “body rather than her work”.

She later said her remarks on the BBC were “a little rash” and said she was “actually very interested in a brief for a minister on young men’s mental health”.

Ofcom announced on Thursday that it was launching an investigation into Fox’s comments.

The regulator said in a statement: “We have launched an investigation into GB News under our rules on offence, after receiving around 7,300 complaints about Tuesday’s episode of Tonight with Dan Wootton.”

Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief executive, said the regulator’s rules were “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”.

“This is highly valued by audiences and central to our democracy,” she added.

“The decisions we take, always based on facts and evidence once a programme has aired, are vital if we are to protect our vibrant media landscape. We continue to apply and enforce these rules without fear or favour.”

Continue Reading

UK

Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

Published

on

By

Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall. 

She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.

Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.

Jenny Hall. Pic: Durham Constabulary
Image:
Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary

“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.

“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.

“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.

“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.

“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.

Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.

Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.

Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.

Continue Reading

UK

Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

Published

on

By

Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.

There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.

The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.

An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.

Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.

Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.

“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”

She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.

“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”

The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.

A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.

Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
Image:
Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK

Read more from Sky News:
Motorways closed after human remains found
Starmer asks US to stand by Ukraine

People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.

“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.

“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.

“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”

Continue Reading

UK

Starmer says ‘US is right’ about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Published

on

By

Starmer says 'US is right' about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.

The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.

“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.

“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”

He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.

Politics latest: Starmer’s stinging rebuke of Reform

Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Will Trump and Starmer have a ‘Love Actually’ moment?

Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.

It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.

The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.

Pic: AP
Image:
Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP

However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.

Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”

He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.

“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”

Read more:
Starmer tells Zelenskyy this is ‘significant moment’ for European security
Sombre Starmer and Europe confront emerging new world order

This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.

No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.

Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

Continue Reading

Trending