Humza Yousaf has branded Laurence Fox a “vile neanderthal” after he made misogynistic comments towards a female journalist.
The First Minister responded to the remarks made by Fox after GB News announced an investigation into his conduct and later announced he had been suspended.
Appearing on Dan Wootton’s GB News show on Tuesday evening, Fox made a series of remarks about Politics Joe reporter Ava Evans which included asking: “Who would want to s**g that?”
In the hours after the appearance, GB News said the former actor would be suspended from the channel pending an investigation and an apology would be made to Ms Evans.
However, at 1pm on Wednesday, Ms Evans said she had still not received an apology.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the channel said: “GB News has formally suspended Laurence Fox while we continue our investigation into comments he made on the channel last night.
“Mr Fox’s suspension is effective immediately and he has been taken off air. We will be apologising formally to Ms Evans today.”
Writing on the same site, Yousaf took aim at Fox as well as Wootton who he accused of “bystander behaviour”.
The SNP leader said: “What a vile neanderthal @LozzaFox is, and an example of bystander behaviour enabling such misogyny from the presenter.
“I’m so sorry @AvaSantina had to listen to this.
“It is why men have to step up and challenge misogynistic abuse wherever we see it. Pleased Ofcom investigating.”
However, ten minutes later Fox responded, saying: “The feeling is entirely mutual, you vile Neanderthal.”
His post included a clip of Yousaf speaking at Holyrood while justice secretary, pointing out that the majority of those in powerful positions in Scotland were white.
Fox also defended his comments about Ms Evans, claiming they were an exercise of his “free speech”.
He posted to his more than 400,000 followers: “I stand by every word of what I said.
“If a woman wants to go on television and belittle male suicide, she is totally within her rights to do so and not apologise, just as I am totally within my rights to say that I wouldn’t want to s**g a hyper offended 4th wave feminist and not apologise, just as people are totally within their rights to be offended by my stating I would run a mile in the opposite direction from women like her, should our paths cross in a bar. It’s called free speech.”
In an almost 350-word statement, Fox said he had “been cancelled already and may well be again” and “I don’t care one bit”, adding: “I won’t ever apologise to the mob.”
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