GB News anti-woke comedy show faces axe following thousands of complaints over anti-LGBTQ+ comment

The future of GB News’ Headliners show is allegedly being “decided” after thousands of complaints were lodged about a harmful anti-LGBTQ+ remark made on the show. 

On 22 January, comedian Josh Howie appeared on Headliners – a programme intended to offer a more right-wing spin on traditional comedic newspaper review panel shows – and made a remark that appeared to spread the dangerous myth that people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community are paedophiles. 

The falsehood, which has a long and hateful history, can, if stated or repeated, put people in danger of being sued, a lawyer previously told PinkNews.

In 2022, Laurence Fox requested a jury trial in a defamation case brought by Drag Race UK’s Crystal, former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and Coronation Street star Nicola Thorp, after he falsely labelled them “paedophiles” during a heated Twitter row in October 2020. The final ruling ordered Fox to pay the complainants a total of £180,000. 

‘Toxic rhetoric’

Howie made the remarks in regard to bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s inauguration sermon, in which the bishop urged Donald Trump to show mercy to minority groups, including the LGBTQ+ community and immigrants. 

He referenced the statement, adding: “I just want to say, that includes paedos, if you’re doing the full inclusion.” 

His comment saw more than 1,200 viewers complain to Ofcom, with the Good Law Project stating it had received more than 70,000 names in an online petition against “GB News platforming toxic rhetoric”. 

Ofcom confirmed in its bulletin, and on social media, that Headliners is now subject to an investigation into “comments made by the presenter related to the LGBTQ+ community”. 

Presenter of the show, Lewis Schaffer, took to X on 24 May, writing that the show’s future may be uncertain. 

He wrote: “I’m heading into the studio! I’ve been told by management that the show will be on air for another two weeks while they decide what to do!” 

Howie also took to X to publish a lengthy statement, in which he claimed the content was satire and a joke that linked the sermon to the “wrong ’uns in the [church]” that Budde was, he suggested, was “seemingly advocating for”.

GB News wrote in a statement about the investigation that it does not believe it has breached any rules. 

Referencing the Good Law Project, the statement added: “These groups shamelessly masquerade as being for the ‘good’ but their words and actions are filled with hate. It’s time to call out this anti-democratic behaviour which includes our staff being falsely accused of homophobia – nothing could be further from the truth.

“Free speech is a fundamental British value. And we are proud to stand for and fight for that right.” 

In response to being asked for further comment, a GB News spokesperson told PinkNews that the media company had “no comment to make”.

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