GB News show Alex Armstrong Tonight has faced a surge in Ofcom complaints after a guest linked Pride with paedophilia. The episode, which aired on 5 July, initially received 257 complaints last week. However, this week saw a significant increase to 9,058 complaints, bringing the total to 9,315.
During the show, Caroline Farrow, a Catholic journalist and manager for CitizenGO, made the controversial comments. She stated that Pride is not about gay rights but rather a celebration of every sexuality outside of heterosexuality, including "bizarre and unhealthy kinks and quirks" such as furries, bestiality, and "minor attracted people," or paedophiles.
Guest Mathew Hulbert responded with "Not at all," while host Alex Armstrong attempted to clarify that Pride is not full of paedophiles and that there are indeed "nefarious people" present. Armstrong's response was met with criticism for not strongly enough condemning Farrow's comments.
Linking the LGBTQ+ community with paedophilia is an age-old homophobic trope used to demonize queer people. GB News has stated that Farrow's comments do not reflect the views of the channel.
Following the outrage, Armstrong addressed the issue on his show, stating that he welcomes robust debates but challenges guests who make homophobic or deeply offensive comments. Armstrong maintained that Pride is not suitable for children due to adult material and products present.
GB News has received more complaints for other shows, including The Saturday Five and Patrick Christys Tonight. The Saturday Five episode received 447 complaints, bringing the total to 2,374, while the Patrick Christys Tonight episode received 1,202 complaints.
GB News has maintained that it takes its responsibilities as a regulated broadcaster seriously and complies with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
Armstrong emphasized that he is openly gay and that his sexuality has no bearing on his politics. He criticized social media commentators and activist groups for trying to misrepresent his views and smear him as homophobic.
