By Gavin Mackintosh-
Dan Wooton’s reputation is in crisis, following credible allegations that he offered several of his colleagues thousands of pounds for explicit pictures of themselves.
He could ride the storm successfully, depending on how many of the many allegations against him are established as fact, and what is made of them altogether.
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The journalist admitted to making “errors of judgement in the past” as he denied any criminal activities associated with the allegations against him, but did not deny the allegations themselves, citing advice from his lawyers to say nothing.
Still, the usually confident smooth talking television host could have outrightly denied the allegations, dismissing the advice from his lawyers.
Wooton, (pictured)a vocal journalist for GB News, is accused of targeting journalistic colleagues, friends and members of the public for at least 10 years with sordid requests in exchange for plenty of money.
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The publishers behind the Sun and MailOnline are examining the allegations that Dan Wootton inappropriately offered colleagues tens of thousands of pounds in return for sexual material, following a publication by the BylineTimes detailing his alleged misconduct over an extensive period of time.
It is unclear how long it will take the publications to conclude their investigation, but analysts expect them to do so quickly given the length of time the allegations have been trending on social media. It is also expected that both publications were aware of the allegations against him before the publication this week, given the attention it had received on social media.
Wootton spoke about recognising that he is a “polarising figure” and talking to viewers could mean public attention. He said: “As a journalist, I feel uncomfortable being the story but I’ve always promised you that this show has no spin and no bias and no censorship so I owe it to you to address this
“I would like nothing more than to address those spurious claims, I could actually spend the next two hours doing so, but on the advice of my lawyers I cannot comment further.”
He also told viewers about how “highly politicised” social media has made him understand the “political threats facing this country”. Speaking about GB News, Wootton said: “What we’re trying to do here is something different, to give a voice to the long forgotten people of the United Kingdom.
Wootton’s ex-boyfriend claimed last week that Wootton, who is now a presenter on GB News, used the pseudonym “Martin Branning” and offered individuals large sums of money in return for filming themselves carrying out sex acts.
His allegations sparked thousands of engagement on twitter, with it only being a matter of time before a news publication published on them.
Byline Times said it has ‘extensive evidence to show that, between June 2008 and 2019, Wooton posed as a fictitious showbusiness agent called “Martin Branning” to offer sums of up to £30,000 “tax free” to his targets, many of whom were heterosexual men.
His targets allegedly include a very senior executive at Rupert Murdoch’s News UK alongside at least six other staff at The Sun newspaper – one with close links to News UK CEO Rebekah Brooks – friends, Facebook associates and users of the dating apps Grindr and Gaydar.
Two of the targets made criminal complaints to Scotland Yard without knowing the real identity of their tormentor.
Wootton, who has been off-air at GB News as he took a trip to visit family in Newzealand has been trending on twitter for weeks. Twitter users had asked why he had disappeared from the television screens.
The By Line Times said its evidence extends to an account of admissions Dan Wootton made to a trusted former colleague and friend, in which “during his many moments of crisis” he revealed his fear of being exposed as Martin Branning, and the prospect of a “pile on” of victims.
Those targeted by Wooton were all male adults, and there has been no revelation that any of them accepted his advances.
Wooton, a journalist whose articles have appeared in The Sun and mailonline is a vocal critic of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and also speaks up against cancel culture. He was actively involve in analysis following the Phil Schofield scandal , and now finds himself in the middle of a disturbing allegation that potentially casts a dark shadow over his own character, although nothing in the same category as that of Schofield.
In the absence of any criminality or any emergence that his alleged conduct was extended to someone underage or close to such age, his job is unlikely to be affected, but should the investigation result in harassment or stalking charges, Wooton may well join the list of famous faces wiped off the screem from their own poor judgement.
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