horrific

GB News slapped with 9,000 Ofcom complaints after guest’s ‘horrific’ Pride remark

A GB News programme has been slammed with 9,315 Ofcom complaints after sparking outrage.

A GB News programme has been hit with more than 9,000 Ofcom complaints.

Comments made on Alex Armstrong Tonight on July 5 sparked 9,058 complaints just this week, the watchdog has confirmed, bringing the total to 9,315.

An Ofcom spokesperson told The Mirror: “Complaints related to comments from contributor Caroline Farrow during a discussion about Pride.”

Farrow’s comments sparked outrage during the live programme, which led to an apology from Armstrong, while the likes of Drag Race UK star Bimini and Green Party leader Zack Polanski have led calls for an Ofcom investigation after the broadcaster’s comments.

Farrow had joined Liberal Democrat councillor Mathew Hulbert and host Armstrong on the GB News programme, where they debated whether Pride events are suitable for children.

Farrow had claimed that London for Pride, an LGBTQIA+ celebration that had taken place just a day earlier, was a “very sexualised display”, and said: “I think the problem that Pride has is [that it’s] not about gay rights. It has become about celebrating every single sexuality that isn’t heterosexuality.”

She said: “Including some very bizarre and unhealthy kinks and quirks, you know, like furries and bestiality, and even minor-attracted, they call themselves minor-attracted. You know, paedophiles.”

The comment sparked outrage, with Armstrong saying at the time: “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.”

GB News also shared in a statement with PinkNews: “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.”

The Mirror has approached GB News for comment.

The following week, Armstrong addressed the backlash to Farrow’s comments, saying her statement was one he “fundamentally rejects”.

He said: “Tonight I want to address outrage from the LGBT community and press over comments made by one of our guests last weekend. We welcome robust and difficult debates on this channel, and particularly on this show. It is not, and never will be, an echo chamber for anybody. That’s why we always have a dissenting voice on all of my shows, want you to hear all aspects of every debate.

“That’s made it even more important, when guests come on my show and make statements that are considered homophobic or deeply offensive, that they are challenged and balanced by me and my guests if they do that. But sometimes I feel it’s necessary to go a bit further, and I’m going to do that tonight.

“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.”

He went on to say that he does take issue with critics trying “to misrepresent my views in other ways to try and paint me as homophobic” but doubled down on his stance during the debate.

Armstrong continued: “I will not be smeared by people and media who are politically motivated to try and cancel me for simply opposing their political ideology.

“As many of you already know, I am openly gay. I very, very rarely talk about it or discuss my sexuality because I believe it is such a small part of my character. And frankly, I don’t think you, the British public, care about it or have any interest in who I’m attracted to. Nor does being gay have any bearing on my politics, and nor should it ever.

“I maintain that Pride is not suitable for children. It contains adult material and products, even on so-called family day. I have witnessed it myself. There’s a lot of alcohol, scantily dressed individuals, and political propaganda-all things I don’t believe are suitable for children.”

Viewers had shared their outrage over Farrow’s comments when the debate originally aired.

Writing on X, one said: “Ironically she is the reason pride is still necessary.”

Another person called the comment “horrific”, while someone else said: “Absolutely disgusting that they are allowed to get away with this.”

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Lee Andrews makes new wild claims about gunpoint arrest & being ‘kidnapped’ to ‘most horrific place I’ve ever seen’

LEE Andrews has shared wild new claims about his gunpoint arrest as he insisted it was the “most horrific place” he ever seen.

Katie Price’s husband claimed earlier this week that he had been “captured at gunpoint” and “slapped around” during his ordeal before his wife saved him.

Lee Andrews shared wild new claims about his gunpoint arrest Credit: Instagram/@wesleeeandrews
Katie Price’s husband said it was the ‘most horrific place’ he’s ever seen Credit: wesleeeandrews/instagram

Lee was released from Dubai’s notorious Al Awir prison on Friday and he has now shared a new account of what happened on social media.

The self-proclaimed businessman claimed: “I will say it one more time, the national guard who took me in the beginning, they had guns and they don’t register you as being arrested.

“They can just take you and hold you, which is what happened.

“Anywhere in the world you go to an airport, they have guns patrolling the boarder and they took me and not in the best way either.

Lee claimed wife Katie saved his life Credit: wesleeandrews/Instagram
Lee called for Susanna Reid to be sacked after she mocked him on Good Morning Britain Credit: ITV

“It wasn’t the best experience and from there they held me in state security, so I was transfered to a jail, which was the worst f***ing horrendous place I’ve ever seen and then into a mainstream.”

Earlier today, Lee hit out at Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid for mocking him on yesterday’s show.

Calling for her to be sacked after she “rolled her eyes” at him live on air, Lee has even vowed to sit down with the host on live TV.

Taking to Instagram, Lee hit back as he said: “What is Susanna Reid rolling her eyes at?

“I’m not gonna comment on that, because obviously I’ll get onto the sofa with Katie at some point and we’ll thrash it out.

“And she can be as forthcoming as she likes.”

He then claimed Susanna is “prejudging” him unfairly.

“But to actually judge me without any evidence, calling me a conman, she should lose her job for that,” he fumed, calling for her axe from the breakfast programme.

Lee continued to say that she had “no solid evidence other than an ex coming forward”.

After being banged up and “missing” for seven weeks, Lee was released from Dubai’s notorious Al Awir prison on Friday.

Katie quickly jetted back to Dubai from the UK over the weekend to see her other half and they shared an emotional reunion on Sunday evening.

Upon his return to social media, Lee claimed he was “captured at gunpoint” before being accused of spying.

Despite Lee’s espionage claims, it was widely speculated that he was actually locked up for fraud.

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‘Horrific’ reason you should never inflate your life jacket while still on a plane

A physics teacher has shed light on the hidden dangers of inflating your life jacket inside an aircraft cabin during an emergency – it could have deadly consequences

A physics teacher has explained the “horrific” risks that come when a life jacket is inflated by a person who’s still onboard a plane. When boarding any flight, the cabin crew run through a comprehensive safety briefing explaining to passengers where the emergency exits are, how to secure their seat belts, where to locate and how to utilise oxygen masks, how to operate life jackets, and more.

Life jackets are typically kept in a compartment beneath your plane seat. It’s crucial to only ever inflate the vest once you’ve exited – and are away from – the aircraft, by pulling down firmly on the red toggles. But why shouldn’t you inflate it while you’re still inside the plane?

Some people think it’s related to efficiency and movement – wearing an inflated life vest could make it more challenging and awkward to navigate through the aircraft.

There is some validity to that but the real reason is to prevent a far more alarming consequence. A physics teacher took to YouTube to clarify this in depth.

The footage shows a split screen, with the teacher at the bottom and demonstration clips in the upper portion to offer additional insight and understanding.

There was a clip of a plane passenger sitting in his seat who inflated his life jacket. The teacher began: “This passenger inflated his life vest during the safety briefing. But that was the exact death trap of some passengers on the Ethiopian Airlines flight.”

She then discussed the notorious hijacking of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, which was seized while travelling from Addis Ababa to Nairobi by three Ethiopians seeking asylum in Australia. The aircraft crash landed in the sea and, of those aboard, 125 out of 175 died – including all three of the hijackers.

The teacher elaborated: “This aircraft was hijacked in 1996 and was forced to crash land in the ocean after running out of fuel. So during the chaos, some passengers panicked and inflated their life jackets inside the cabin.

“But why is that such a big deal? Think about how these vests inflate instantly using compressed carbon dioxide from that tiny cartridge. So the moment it inflates, it makes you buoyant – but isn’t that its job?”

This is where matters take a “horrific” turn. The teacher explained: “It is, but you don’t want it to do that inside of the cabin when the cabin gets flooded because you won’t be able to dive down and swim out of the aircraft.

“Instead, those passengers were pushed upwards by the water and got pinned to the ceiling. They were trapped by the very thing that was designed to save them.”

In the comments section, fellow YouTube users were keen to offer their perspectives. One person said: “No matter how good a tool is, it can be dangerous if not used properly.”

Another said: “What’s worse is that some people can end up preventing others from escaping because they don’t listen to the safety rules”.

A third person said: “It’s also a hindrance when moving through the narrow seat rows and crowded aisle.” While a fourth commented: “Panic really changes how people react in those moments!”

Another shared: “Thanks for the explanation! I was honestly confused why inflating life vests inside the plane was wrong. But this makes sense!”

Someone else added: “I was thinking that the inflated life vest would make it harder to move through the inside, but the actual reason is much more horrific”.

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