Key facts
- Ofcom is investigating GB News over remarks made by guest Caroline Farrow.
- Farrow appeared to link pride parades with bestiality and paedophilia.
- The incident generated over 12,000 complaints.
- Show presenter Alex Armstrong challenged the remarks during the broadcast.
- GB News stated the comments were the guest's personal views.
The UK's media regulator, Ofcom, has launched an investigation into GB News following remarks made by a guest, Caroline Farrow, who appeared to link pride parades with bestiality and paedophilia. The comments, made during a discussion on the Alex Armstrong Tonight show after the Pride in London march, have reportedly generated over 12,000 complaints, potentially setting a new record for individual complaints about a GB News programme.
Farrow, described as a Catholic commentator and campaigns manager for the ultra-conservative advocacy group CitizenGO, stated that the Pride march had become a celebration of non-heterosexual sexualities, including "bizarre and unhealthy kinks and quirks," such as furries, bestiality, and paedophilia. These remarks prompted an open letter from Green party leader Zack Polanski and RuPaul's Drag Race UK star Bimini, urging Ofcom to address the "dangerous" disinformation.
Ofcom confirmed it is investigating the show for potential breaches of broadcasting standards, which require that "material which may cause offence is justified by the context." The specific episode has since been removed from YouTube. Alex Armstrong, the show's presenter, challenged Farrow's comments at the time, suggesting that most attendees at Pride were there for positive reasons and that the conflation with paedophilia was an "age-old gay trope" used to demonise gay people.
Rachel Millward, the Green party deputy leader, welcomed Ofcom's decision, calling the suggestion that gay people pose a threat to children "baseless, irresponsible and deeply harmful." GB News stated that the comments were the contributor's own views and did not reflect the channel's editorial position, noting that the remarks were robustly challenged by other contributors. This investigation follows previous criticism of GB News by Ofcom for similar remarks on another programme, where a presenter made comments linking LGBTQ+ inclusion with paedophilia. In that instance, sanctions were not imposed as the channel had issued an apology and provided further context.