Connect with us

Published

on

Calvin Robinson has become the third GB News presenter to be suspended from the channel after comments made by Laurence Fox on air.

It follows channel boss Angelos Frangopoulos saying Fox went “way past the limits of acceptance” in his “appalling” comments on GB News about journalist Ava Evans.

Actor-turned-political-activist Fox made a series of remarks about Ms Evans – a journalist for the website PoliticsJOE – in which he asked show host Dan Wootton: “Who would want to shag that?”

Image:
Laurence Fox

Both Fox and Wootton, who could be heard laughing during the episode, were suspended by GB News in the face of an internal inquiry and an investigation by broadcast regulator Ofcom, which received around 7,300 complaints.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Robinson wrote: “I have been suspended from GB News.”

It followed an earlier post showing support for Wootton, saying he would not appear on Dan Wootton Tonight without his suspended colleague.

He also condemned “careerist ambitious” colleagues “who are currently gunning for his job”.

“These people are worse than the woke mob, because these vultures are giving the mob ammunition and essentially escalating the channel’s demise,” he added.

Earlier, Mr Frangopoulos said Fox’s broadcast “should not have happened” as he issued a personal apology to the political correspondent at the centre of the row.

Angelos Frangopoulos
Image:
Angelos Frangopoulos says he was ‘horrified’ by what was said

Wootton and Fox have both apologised since the incident, with the latter acknowledging his comments were “demeaning” and “not representative of who I am”.

He also said he expected to be sacked by GB News on Friday over the incident.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘I know I’m getting sacked tomorrow’

Meanwhile, Wootton’s MailOnline column has also been axed over the controversy.

His regular column was originally paused in August while the publication investigated allegations he used a pseudonym and offered colleagues money for sexual material.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Frangopoulos said GB News had a “process to follow”, but expected the internal investigation to be “resolved very quickly”.

 Dan Wootton
Pic:GB News
Image:
Dan Wootton. Pic: GB News

The former head of Sky News Australia added: “I was appalled by those comments, they are not in keeping with the values with us as a business and obviously we took action immediately.

“I was horrified by what was said… that comment should not have gone to air.

“That should not have happened. The way it was handled was also not the way it should have happened.

“They did not reflect what we believe is appropriate conversation as a media company, as a part of the national conversation, it really is an apology, it was just really inappropriate.”

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

Mr Frangopoulos went on: “I think Laurence Fox does sail close to the wind but he didn’t sail close to the wind earlier this week, that was way past the limits of acceptance.

“We are about free speech, but it is about a respectful way.

“There’s a few issues here.

“Number one we’re looking very closely at the production process that went into the programme, we’re looking into the way that the interview was handled and we’re also looking obviously at the comments themselves, which were appalling and we’re absolutely horrified about what was said and I’ve written a very extensive and personal apology letter to Ava on that.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Gregg Wallace speaks out after MasterChef sacking

Published

on

By

Gregg Wallace speaks out after MasterChef sacking

Gregg Wallace has spoken about his sacking from MasterChef after inappropriate behaviour while working for the BBC – but insisted he is “not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher”.

Wallace, 60, has apologised after a report, commissioned by the cooking show’s production company Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations were substantiated.

In an interview with The Sun, he said: “I know I have said things that offended people… I understand that now – and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry.

“I don’t expect anyone to have any sympathy with me but I don’t think I am a wrong ‘un.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

BBC reputation damaged by ‘serious errors’

MasterChef co-host John Torode also had an allegation that he used an “extremely offensive racist term” upheld, as part of the same investigation.

Torode, who insisted he had “absolutely no recollection” of the alleged incident, has not had his contract for the show renewed.

Wallace has now defended Torode, saying: “I’ve known John for 30 years and he is not a racist.

More on Bbc

“There is no way that man is a ­racist. No way. And my sympathies go out to John because I don’t want anybody to go through what I’ve been through.”

Former MasterChef presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace. File pic: PA
Image:
Gregg Wallace has defended his former MasterChef co-host John Torode (left). File pic: PA

At one point, Wallace became tearful during the interview when describing the impact of the investigation on his family.

“I have seen myself written about in the same sentence as Jimmy Savile and Huw Edwards, paedophiles and sex offenders. That is just so, so horrific.”

In respect to the specific allegation of unwanted touching, Wallace denied groping a woman and said that, while he was attempting to flirt with her, he did believe the contact it was consensual.

“She gave me her phone number. I considered that to be intimacy. It was 15 years ago. Me, drunk, at a party, with my hand on a girl’s bum,” he said.

He also accepted he had briefly appeared with a sock on his private parts in front of four colleagues in MasterChef studio. But he said his is not a flasher, and people were either “amused or bemused” but not distressed.

Read more from Sky News:
Actor Micheal Ward charged with rape
Jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine dies
BBC reveals highest-earning stars

On the broader allegations about using inappropriate language, Wallace accepted the criticism and suggested that some of his conduct could be explained by his autism and his background.

“I know I am odd. I know I struggle to read people. I know people find me weird. Autism is a… registered disability. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

He also blamed his former career: “I’m a greengrocer from Peckham. I thrived in Covent Garden’s fruit and veg market. In that environment that is jovial and crude. It is learned behaviour.”

Wallace told the newspaper he is now scared to appear in public: “I go out now in a disguise – a baseball cap and sunglasses, I don’t want people to see me. I’m scared.”

On Wednesday, the BBC confirmed a series of MasterChef filmed last year, before allegations against presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode were upheld, will still be broadcast.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Company at heart of Coldplay viral video releases tongue-in-cheek clip – with a big twist

Published

on

By

Company at heart of Coldplay viral video releases tongue-in-cheek clip - with a big twist

The company at the centre of a viral video at a Coldplay concert has released a tongue-in-cheek clip on social media – featuring Gwyneth Paltrow as a “temporary spokesperson”.

Astronomer was thrust into the spotlight after two of the tech firm’s senior executives were filmed embracing on a kiss cam during a gig in Boston.

Andy Byron subsequently resigned as chief executive officer – while the woman in the video, Kristin Cabot, stepped down as chief people officer a few days later.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Tech boss resigns after viral Coldplay concert video

Paltrow, who used to be married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, is seen sitting at a desk in the new video uploaded to X – and begins by thanking the public for their interest in Astronomer.

She adds: “I’ve been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer.

“Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days – and they wanted me to answer the most common ones.”

A question is then typed out on the screen that reads: “OMG, what the actual…”

More from Ents & Arts

Before the final word appears, the video cuts back to Paltrow, who goes on to promote some of the services Astronomer offers.

In a subtle nod to the countless column inches the company has attracted, Paltrow adds: “We’ve been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation.”

Another question then pops up on screen, which begins to type out: “How is your social media team holding up?”

But before the sentence fully appears, Paltrow abruptly interrupts by declaring that Astronomer has spaces at an upcoming conference in September.

Astronomer

“We’ll now be returning to what we do best: delivering game-changing results for our customers,” she adds at the end of the video.

The marketing stunt is a sign that Astronomer is trying to put a positive spin on the scandal, which sparked feverish speculation online.

After Mr Byron resigned, the company had said in a statement: “Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding.

“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”

Woman hides her face

Pete DeJoy, who has taken over as interim CEO, admitted on Monday that the company has faced an “unusual and surreal” amount of attention in recent days.

On LinkedIn, he wrote: “While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Top Boy actor Micheal Ward charged with two counts of rape

Published

on

By

Top Boy actor Micheal Ward charged with two counts of rape

Top Boy actor Micheal Ward has been charged with two counts of rape and is due to appear in court next month.

Ward, 27, has also been charged with two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.

The offences relate to one woman and are reported to have taken place in January 2023.

“Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward – we know investigations of this nature can have a significant impact on those who make reports,” said Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, whose team is leading the Met Police’s investigation.

Ward at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on 15 July. Pic: PA
Image:
Ward at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on 15 July during a press call for his upcoming film Eddington. Pic: PA

Ward, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, is due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on 28 August, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Ward said he denies the charges of rape and sexual assault, adding in a statement: “I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared.”

In a statement, Catherine Baccas, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, said: “We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial.

More from Ents & Arts

“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”

Ward has been charged with rape and sexual assault. He is pictured in October 2023. Pic: PA
Image:
Michael Ward has been charged with rape and sexual assault. He is pictured in October 2023. Pic: PA

Ward starred in the popular Netflix series Top Boy as Jamie. He also appeared in films like Blue Story, The Old Guard and Empire of Light.

In 2020, the Jamaican-born actor was awarded the Bafta Rising Star honour in 2020.

Read more from Sky News:
Teenagers jailed for 15 years for machete murder
Home Office threaten asylum seekers with homelessness

He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor Bafta in 2021 for his role as Franklyn in the BBC series Small Axe, and 2022 for his performance as Stephen in Empire of Light.

Ward is also in the upcoming American film Eddington alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, which is set to be released in the UK next month.

Ward is pictured during the opening night of A View From The Bridge at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London in June 2024. Pic: PA
Image:
Ward is pictured during the opening night of A View From The Bridge at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London in June 2024. Pic: PA

He has more than a million followers on Instagram and participated in charity events like the Soccer Aid match at Stamford Bridge last year.

Ward gave a reading at the Christmas Eve carol service hosted by the Princess of Wales in 2023.

Continue Reading

Trending