Ofcom launches investigation into GB News after guest linked Pride to paedophilia
Caroline Farrow (GB News)
Ofcom has launched an investigation into GB News a month after guest Caroline Farrow linked Pride to paedophilia on an episode of Alex Armstrong Tonight.
In the episode, which aired on 5 July, guest contributor Farrow, a Catholic journalist and Manager in Campaigns Global for CitizenGO, a platform “defending life, family, and freedom”, said: “The problem is that Pride is not about gay rights. It has become about celebrating every single sexuality that isn’t heterosexuality, including some very bizarre and unhealthy kinks and quirks, you know, like furries and bestiality and even minor attracted, they call themselves, minor attracted people. Paedophiles.”
She was on with former Lib Dem councillor Mathew Hulbert, who could be heard responding: “Not at all.”
Host Armstrong, who is gay himself, added: “I went to Pride last year and filmed it for GB News. Actually, I would say the overwhelming amount of people at Pride were there for good reasons. I don’t think it was full of paedophiles and everything, I’m sure there are nefarious people.”
Since its broadcast, the moment has been hit with more than 12,000 complaints to Ofcom, setting a new record for a GB News show.
According to The Guardian, Ofcom has now launched an investigation into the episode.
At the time, GB News said in a statement: “These comments were expressed within a live debate by a contributor. They were her own views, and do not reflect the views or editorial position of GB News. Anyone watching the debate would have noted the comments were robustly and repeatedly challenged by two other contributors. GB News takes its responsibilities as a regulated broadcaster seriously and complies with all of its obligations under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.”
PinkNews has contacted GB News for further comment.
Alex Armstrong’s response
After a social media campaign calling for people to lodge complaints with Ofcom, Alex Armstrong responded to the backlash in a later episode of his show.
He said: “Comments made by guests last weekend conflated gay pride with the celebration of paedophilia. This is an age-old gay trope that’s been used over a number of years to demonise and slander gay people. And as I said to the guest during that segment, it is a statement I fundamentally reject and have not witnessed when attending Pride myself.
“The debate we were meant to be having was around whether or not Pride was suitable for children. Those comments by guests had no place in that discussion, and in my opinion, were lazy and offensive arguments that don’t reflect my views or the views of this channel, where many LGBT people also work.”
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