GB News Presenter Dan Wootton Has MailOnline Column Contract Terminated After Laurence Fox Controversy
Presenter Dan Wootton has had his MailOnline column contract terminated following his role in the controversial Laurence Fox segment on his GB News show.
Wootton has already been suspended by GB News following the incident, in which right-wing commentator and actor Fox, who also hosts on the channel, made misogynistic comments about female political journalist Ava Evans. He claimed no “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed” with her.
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Wootton, who responded to the comments with laughter before apologising on social media, has now had his Mail column axed.
“Following events this week, DMG Media can confirm that Dan Wootton’s freelance column with MailOnline — which had already been paused — has now been terminated, along with his contract,” said a DMG Media spokesperson in a statement to Deadline.
Though Fox has doubled down on his comments, saying he stands by “every word of what I said” and claiming his freedom of expression is being repressed, Wootton unsuccessfully called Evans several times and publicly apologized “unreservedly” to her on X/Twitter and later wrote that he felt “regret” for his actions.
However, the situation became more complicated when Fox, who has built a hugely divisive reputation through his positions on many controversial topics, shared screenshots that appeared to be from a conversation between him and Wootton after the exchange with Evans involving laughing emojis and suggesting much less contrition.
Wootton, meanwhile, was the subject of a series of stories in the Byline Times about his alleged inappropriate behavior, including posing as a agent named Martin Branning. Wootton strongly denies all allegations and remained on GB News until being suspended over the Fox comments this week.
Having attracted 7,300 complaints to regulator Ofcom, the broadcast is now being investigated by the regulator.
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