Third GB News presenter Calvin Robinson suspended – as channel boss condemns Laurence Fox comments | UK News

Sep 29, 2023 | Entertainment, News


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.”



Source link

Recent Post

Wizkid, Davido inspired my music career, says Micho Tello

Having started penning songs at the tender age of 11, Michael Omoh aka Micho Tello is one of the fast rising music stars trying to take the Afrobeats buzz to The post Wizkid, Davido inspired my music career, says Micho Tello appeared first on The Nation...

Recent Event Post

EAFC Challenge

EAFC Challenge

​The Whatadeal EAFC Challenge is the ultimate football gaming showdown, bringing together top players to compete for bragging rights, thrilling competition, and massive prizes.

Post you may also like

Wizkid, Davido inspired my music career, says Micho Tello

Having started penning songs at the tender age of 11, Michael Omoh aka Micho Tello is one of the fast rising music stars trying to take the Afrobeats buzz to The post Wizkid, Davido inspired my music career, says Micho Tello appeared first on The Nation...

FG Seals Three European Countries’ Passport Offices in Abuja

FG Seals Three European Countries’ Passport Offices in Abuja

The FCCPC has announced the sealing of the passport offices of at least three European countries in the Nigerian capital, AbujaBoladale Adeyinka, the director of surveillance and investigation of the FCCPC, led the enforcement teams to the Mukhtar El-Yakub...