By Gabriel Princewill-
Axed television presenter, Dan Wootton, has announced his departure from GB News, citing censorship concerns and launching his own independent platform.
The move comes in the wake of a ruling by the media regulator Ofcom, which found a segment on Wootton’s show to have breached broadcasting standards.
The segment in question aired on Dan Wootton Tonight on GB News, featuring actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox, who made derogatory remarks about journalist Ava Evans.
Fox’s comments, deemed “misogynistic” by Ofcom, sparked a storm of public outrage, resulting in a record-breaking 8,867 complaints to the regulator.
Following the outcry, both Fox and Wootton issued apologies, and GB News suspended the pair from the channel. Fox was subsequently dismissed from his position.
However, the fallout from the incident has now led to Wootton’s decision to part ways with GB News altogether.
In a statement addressing his departure, Wootton lambasted Ofcom, accusing them of stifling freedom of expression and likening them to “state goons” wielding control over broadcasters.
He announced the launch of his own platform, danwoottonoutspoken.com, where he plans to host a new daily news and opinion show free from regulatory oversight.
While some may view Ofcom’s intervention as necessary to uphold standards of decency and respect, others, like Wootton, see it as a form of censorship that curtails genuine expression.
Actor turned activist Laurence Fox was widely criticised after asking what “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed” with political journalist Ava Evans, during Wootton’s live GB News show on 26 September.
Wooton’s troubles originally began after ByLine Times reported that the former journalist had been using pseudonyms to catfish unsuspected victims to gratify his sexual desires.
The report sparked a storm and led to further claims that he had been subjecting staff at The Sun newspaper to unwanted harassment and bullish conduct.
The resulting furore led to the termination of his work with The Mail Online after the publication, as well as The Sun committed to conducting an investigation in relation to the alleged deplorable conducts by Wooton.
However, Wooton revealed last month that two investigations into him by police had been concluded with no further action taken.
The incident also underscores broader debates surrounding media regulation and the role of platforms in shaping public discourse. .
The controversy surrounding his departure from GB News and his transition to an independent online platform demonstrates the complex dynamics at play within the media industry.
Whether the Australian born journalist thrives on the new platform is a matter for time to tell.
It remains to be seen how his independent platform will navigate these challenges while seeking to carve out a space for uninhibited expression in an increasingly regulated environment.