Media regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into GB News after a broadcast guest linked Pride parades to bestiality and paedophilia.
The watchdog announced the inquiry on Monday after receiving more than 12,000 complaints about the programme, which aired on 5 July, shortly after London Pride.
The remarks were delivered by Catholic media commentator Caroline Farrow during an appearance on the Alex Armstrong Tonight show.
Farrow told the host that Pride was "not about gay rights" and claimed it had "become about celebrating every single sexuality that isn’t heterosexuality".
She added: “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.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Bimini and Green Party leader Zack Polanski were among those to speak out and signed an open letter calling for Ofcom to hold the channel to account.
Armstrong interjected during the live segment and challenged the comments. He addressed the comments again in a later broadcast, describing them as an “age-old gay trope”.
He told viewers: “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.”
The videos have since been removed from GB News’s YouTube channel.
A GB News spokesperson said: “These investigations have been the subject of an orchestrated campaign against GB News. As a regulated broadcaster, GB News takes its regulatory obligations seriously and complies fully with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
“GB News is Britain’s number one news channel and has proudly occupied this position for the last 12 months. We intend to robustly defend these investigations.”
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