GB News has backed its presenter after thousands complained to Ofcom about a homophobic slur.
Josh Howie, a right-wing commentator, linked the LGBT community to paedophilia during a broadcast on January 22.
On GB News’s Headliners programme, Howie discussed a sermon by a US bishop which made headlines after she called for Donald Trump to “have mercy” on gay, lesbian and transgender children “who fear for their lives”.
Howie quoted a statement issued from her church which backed “the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons”. He added: “I just want to say that includes paedos."
One of Howie's co-presenters, speaking off screen, responded: "Yeah!"
During the fight for LGBT rights in the UK, opponents falsely linked homosexuality to paedophilia, exploiting moral panic to resist decriminalisation and equal rights.
This was notably seen in the 1970s and 80s, with media and political figures using the smear to attack campaigns for legal and social acceptance.
The Good Law Project has said that more than 60,000 people have answered their call to complain about Howie’s remark.
They said it would be the “highest number of complaints ever submitted to Ofcom about a single programme, ahead of the 54,595 complaints made following Piers Morgan’s comments about Meghan Markle on Good Morning Britain in 2021”.
However, it is unclear if Ofcom will accept the Good Law Project’s total as separate complaints.
The media watchdog said that it was "carefully assessing" 1227 official complaints made through its official channels since the show aired.
Good Law Project executive director Jo Maugham said: “Josh Howie’s comments were shocking, spreading dangerous disinformation about LGBT people.
“They should have been challenged and then disowned by GB News. Instead, Mr Howie was encouraged by GB News to double down.
“It’s no wonder that so many people have joined Good Law Project to express their outrage – making this the biggest complaint Ofcom has ever dealt with. Ofcom must act now to stop them spreading hate.
“But the Ofcom complaint is absolutely not the end. We will be helping the LGBT community – and those who want that community to enjoy the same dignity as the rest of us – to tell the advertisers who fund this hate how they feel.”
GB News backed its presenter, claiming that he was the focus of a “deliberate and orchestrated campaign by the self-titled Good Law Project”.
“Their actions misrepresent the programme and we encourage people to watch it in its entirety,” the channel said.
“GB News chooses to be regulated by Ofcom and takes its regulatory and compliance obligations very seriously.”
The show is available on GB News's YouTube channel. It has been watched 6000 times.
