Ofcom to take no further action after finding GB News breached broadcasting code for "homophobic slur"
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After more than six months of investigation, Ofcom has concluded that while GB News breached the broadcasting code when a presenter repeated "a homophobic slur" it will take no further action.
On 22 January, one of the presenters on the news discussion show 'Headliners' repeated a "dangerous lie" linking the LGBTQ+ community to paedophilia. A record 71,582 people used Good Law Project’s online tool to file a complaint. In March, Ofcom launched a formal investigation into the broadcast.
The regulator has now concluded that the comment “clearly had the potential to cause a high degree of offence” by “appearing to conflate or associate some sexualities and/or gender identities with paedophilia, particularly given how well established this is as a prejudicial trope against homosexual people.”
After Good Law Project’s campaign had gathered more than 50,000 signatures, the presenter appeared on another GB News show to apologise and explain why he had made his comments. Even though this broadcast was two and a half weeks after the slur was made, Ofcom said it “considered this action was adequate” and that “the matter is resolved”.
Matthew Gill, Good Law Project’s defamation lawyer, said: “GB News defended its disgraceful claim about the LGBTQ+ community as 'free speech' until the bitter end. It's good that Ofcom has finally decided that this dangerous slur should never have put on air, but we need the regulator to hold GB News and its hate-filled broadcasts to account. Toxic programming must face real consequences. Ofcom must impose sanctions."
