A UK High Court ruling that has deemed calling a man "bald" a version of sexual harassment has sparked a wave of disbelief and debate online.
The ruling stems from a legal case brought by Tony Finn, a 64-year-old electrician, who claimed his boss at the British Bung Company sexually harassed him during a heated argument in 2019, according to LBC.
Finn, who had worked at the company for 24 years before being dismissed in 2021, said he was called a "stupid bald c***" by his supervisor, which he argued was both offensive and linked to his gender.
The employment tribunal ruled in Finn's favor, with the three-person panel deciding that the comment "crossed a line" and amounted to sexual harassment, LBC reported. The tribunal concluded that baldness is more common among men than women, inherently connecting the insult to Finn's sex.
The judgment drew attention on social media, with many users expressing shock or skepticism. While some supported the decision, others felt it trivialized genuine harassment claims.
This is silly. We should all strive to be better people and to be more understanding and supportive with those who are missing something. But it seems silly to waste the court's time with things so small.
— D K (@kln_nurv) October 11, 2024
Standard that the law protects men before women, lgbt people, and people of colour
— Rosie (she/her) - Team 🐻 (@AirFriedRosie) October 11, 2024
Sorry about men's hurty feelings but women are so lolling at this bs.
— Paula 🍉 (@PaulaCoyscot) October 11, 2024
Some men tagged accounts belonging to people who presumably commented on their baldness at some point, teasing "you're going to jail!" as other posts celebrated "justice" served, or joked about potential implications of the ruling.
Coconut bonce, eggshell, cueball ,lightbulb and slaphead......all that just from the Mrs. We demand justice lad.
— Brian Woolfinder (@Brian_ban) October 11, 2024
Does that mean I can get a hair transplant on the NHS? If I say it's affecting my mental health and I've been a victim of sexual harassment?
— Gunner74 (@essexloko74) October 11, 2024
Looks like "Guess Who" just got tougher. pic.twitter.com/DWfS3h6EEt
— Max Nelsen (@nelsen_max) May 12, 2022
Beginning Oct. 26, the 2010 UK Equality Act, which protects employers from discrimination in nine categories, will be amended to require all employers to take steps to prevent sexual harassment.
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