Laurence Fox calls queer men ‘paedophiles’ amid furious rant over shopping at Sainsbury’s
Laurence Fox took to Twitter to call LGBT+ people “paedophiles”. (Getty/ David M Benett)
Former actor and aspiring politician Laurence Fox took to Twitter Sunday (4 October) to call two queer men “paedophiles” in a bizarre rant about Sainsbury’s supermarket.
The furious series of tweets began with Laurence Fox reacting to announcement by Sainsbury’s that it would be celebrating Black History Month, and that customers who were offended by an “inclusive retailer” were “welcome to shop elsewhere”.
Fox took up the supermarket’s offer, responding: “I won’t be shopping in your supermarket ever again while you promote racial segregation and discrimination. I sincerely hope others join me.”
As comments flooded in accusing the actor of “racism”, Fox’s Twitter activity became even more furious and erratic.
Simon Blake, the gay CEO of Mental Health First Aid England and chair of Stonewall UK, replied to Fox’s Sainsbury’s tweet: “What a mess. What a racist t**t.”
Fox responded: “Pretty rich coming from a paedophile.”
The actor then decided to attack another LGBT+ person, this time choosing Crystal of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK fame.
Crystal wrote on Twitter: “Imagine being this proud of being a racist! So cringe. Total snowflake behaviour.”
Again, Fox responded: “Says the paedophile.”
Laurence Fox just called three people paedophiles.
Immediately after demanding more respectful debate.
I hope he gets sued into oblivion. pic.twitter.com/ZKmrvdpGI3
— Tristan Gray (@tristangrayedi) October 4, 2020
He even claimed that Coronation Street actor Nicola Thorp was a “paedophile”, after she wrote online: “Any company giving future employment to Laurence Fox, or providing him with a platform, does so with the complete knowledge that he is unequivocally, publicly and undeniably a racist.
“And they should probably re-read their own statements of ‘solidarity’ with the Black community.”
Fox retweeted the message, and added: “Any company giving future employment to Nicola Thorpe or providing her with a platform does so with the complete knowledge that she is unequivocally, publicly and undeniably a paedophile.”
A day later, Fox abruptly deleted his tweets, but screenshots continued to circulate online.
One Twitter user wrote: “Laurence Fox just called three people paedophiles… I hope he gets sued into oblivion.
“Unsurprisingly, he started off with two LGBT+ people. Because bigotry is never just one hatred.”
Fox later provided an update: “If the game nowadays is to throw baseless insults and accusations about, then we should all be free to participate.”
He added that he had deleted the tweets because they “serve as a distraction to the important work that needs to be done”, although he did not explain what that “work” entailed.
looks like someone's solicitor has been in touch.— Rich Reed (@RichReed84) October 5, 2020
As one Twitter user put it: “Looks like someone’s solicitor has been in touch.”
