Laurence Fox libel trial

[newnamethanks]

Laurence Fox has been sued for libel by two people he described as paedophiles in a twitter spat. They described LF as racist. Trial began today, suing and counter-suing. Mr Fox arrived with his - written thus (daily mail) in single quotes - 'girlfriend'. Odd description.

I like LF. I don’t agree with everything he says or does but he thinks about things and is pretty straightforward. A contrast to the weasly acting community that just says what everyone else is saying out of self-interest. I want to hear a range of opinions so I can decide for myself what to think

And if someone like him says something racist, challenge or ignore.

I don’t think she’s mixed. If you see the pictures on DM, It’s a really bad fake tan. Look at the feet…what on earth is he playing at?

The whole point is people did challenge him, and he called them pedophiles.

I too am interested in diverse information and points of view. But black face, for example, is not a point of view.

Well people did challenge him and he's suing some of them!

Everyone thinks about things and can be justified that they are straightforward., Hitler was a genius in his own head. Andrew Tate reckons he is the best thing since sliced bread.

A range of opinions is fine, discriminating against POC, jews or whatever protected characteristic isn't. Saying who'd shag that about a woman is vile. Asking people to commit criminal damage re ULEZ is quite frankly deranged. Being so inflammatory, divisive and as an example posting images of the pride flag as a swastika is not on. If everyone acted on what they believed to be right, the world would descend into anarchy.

Thankfully he isn't generally well regarded- that's all I will say.

I think many actors are like this, being a blank slate and good at mimicking. In real life some quite odd, unrelatable people. I suppose that's not surprising given they are paid to pretend to be other people. It's a strange occupation really but I've also heard of some very genuine actors too.

Yeah I mean he’s said some stupid stuff but has he actually discriminated against anyone? Is he really comparable to Hitler? I also don’t agree with some of his tweeting but the pride swastika thing is making a political point isn’t it? Ie the pride movement is actually intolerant. You might think comparing them to nazis is going a bit far and I’d agree.

We might say we want to hear a range of opinions but do we actually stick to that when we hear things we don’t like?

The swastika one is interesting. I do get that he was probably comparing pride to nazis. But most sensible people would know to stay away from swastikas regardless of what you think the context is.

there was a woman on the Palestinian march the other week with a placard with a swastika in a Star of David. She was plastered across the press and decreed a racist in the papers. She was probably comparing Israel to the nazis rather than being a nazi herself but it wasn’t a good look.

Laurence Fox doesn't @Braindrops. When people called out his racism, he called them paedophiles.🙄 Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to libel.

He's a disgrace, quite frankly.

He is reprehensible. The problem is that by giving people like him air time it plays to people's biases. People agree with him without looking at other points of view. Thank God he'll never get any real power, because that's where danger lies.

Can't get a mortgage because he's a total wanker? Good.

I regularly listen to, and debate, points of view I don't like. I make a point of it as I have learned and occasionally changed my opinions of the back of discussions.

The difference is, he isn't simply offering a differing opinion, or being open to discussing them.

His bio stated he was a "trans lesbian of colour". Just to deliberately stir. He shared photos of himself blacked up. He shared a video of him trying to burn a row of LGBTQ+ flags. He accused an academic of being racist when they said Fox has white male privilege. He claimed the inclusion of Sikh soldiers in the film 1917 diverted him from the plot..

And then when two people stood up to him, he accused them of being pedophiles.

calling 2 gay men paedophiles isn't an opinion though .

Agree he does do trollish stirring, but also he makes serious points. I think calling the academic racist was making a serious point. And I agree that if you’re libellous you risk being sued. I imagine he was making a (fairly childish) point - you call me a racist so I’m going call you something just as mean and (in his mind) unfounded. He’s bonkers really but I appreciate public figures who are not all about being careful and likeable. For me, he doesn’t cross the line into inciting violence or actually discriminating against anyone.

Well, he's clearly never visited a WW1 cemetery in Belgium. If he had, he would have seen war graves of soldiers of all ethnicities, including Sikhs.

Using a swastika to make a point instantly puts you in the wrong.

Honest, if you love a contrarian, pick a better one.

Has anyone actually listened to him at any length? On podcasts he’s a bit out there but very likeable.

So burning the LGBTQ flag isn't inciting anything at all? Just some jolly japes?

I have. I found him utterly odious. He gives me incel vibes. Blaming everyone else and it will all be their fault when he finally explodes and kicks right off. Poor poor thing, his ex wife keeps his children from him blah blah blah.

And why does an actors skin colour divert you from the story a film is telling unless you're inherently racist? Especially when the teeniest bit of education or fact checking would have shown him it was entirely historically accurate for a Sikh soldier to be there.

It definitely does distract if it isn’t historically accurate. If it was accurate then he’s showing his ignorance I guess. Anyway each to his own.

It definitely does distract if it isn’t historically accurate.

Try telling that to Ridley Scott or James Cameron.

To each his own is a cop put when we have proven LF knows what he is doing. In addition, ignorance of the law isn't a defence. Had he held his hands up and said oops, I erred, he might have a bit more sympathy.

The problem with people like LF is that they usually get away with it. Years of enjoying the dividends of white male privilege. But it looks like his time is up, maybe , just maybe he'll learn a lesson or two

I can't say an actors skin colour has ever distracted me, or detracted from a story.