Labour MP Zarah Sultana posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Solidarity, Ava. This is so disturbing and vile. No one should have to experience misogynistic abuse and see it go unchallenged. Hope you’re getting lots of support right now.”
The Scottish Minister Humza Yousef added: “What a vile neanderthal. @LozzaFox is, and an example of bystander behaviour enabling such misogyny from the presenter. I’m so sorry. @AvaSantina had to listen to this. It is why men have to step up and challenge misogynistic abuse wherever we see it. Pleased Ofcom investigating.”
Labour MP Dawn Butler tweeted: “Ava I am sorry you have been put though this. GB News should be shut down. It’s pure trash. Please, don’t let them zap your energy or strength. Take care, you’re an amazing woman!”
She later copied in Ofcom and added: “It was a premeditated misogynistic attack on @AvaSantina This isn’t a new tactic, but we don’t always have the evidence. There’s no excuse not to act on this toxic, racist, misogynistic channel which isn’t a news channel.”
Fox called Evans a “little woman” and said: “Show me a single self-respecting man that would like to climb into bed with that woman ever, ever, who wasn’t an incel.
“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’d want to shag that?”
Women’s rights campaigner Gina Martin respnded: “This was a disgusting demonstration of the misogyny that creates a culture of violence. These men should not have shows. I too rejected requests from GB News because I could never justify it. I will never appear on a broadcaster that treats women like this.”
Campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa added: “Watched this several times now. He is disgusting and questions should also be asked of GB News. I understand it was live television but there needs to be a public apology. What a nasty nasty man.”
A spokesperson for the broadcaster tweeted: “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.”
Fox, meanwhile, has said he “stands by every word [he] said”, while continuing to attack Evans on social media this morning. “It’s called free speech,” he added in a statement.
Dan Wootton appeared to be laughing as Fox made the derogatory comments. He has since expressed his “regret”, although Fox has accused him of dishonesty and laughing about the incident over messenger later.
The Daily Mail has suspended Wootton after a Byline Times investigation into his actions over many years.
The discussion was in response to Evans’ comments on BBC Politics Live on Monday while discussing men’s mental health.
“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,” she said after the episode.
Ofcom has confirmed it will be “assessing these complaints against our broadcast rules and will publish the outcome as quickly as possible”.
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