British broadcaster and journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer has been criticised after mixing up a pedophile term ponce and nonce.
UPDATED: 17:48PM
The former LBC presenter has come under criticism after calling the English football team “overpaid nonces” before correcting herself on Twitter saying she actually meant “overpaid ponces”.
Nonce is a term used to describe a person convicted of a sexual offense against a child, whilst the word “ponce” is a derogatory term used to describe an effeminate man.
Whoops. Last night on @bbcnews I accidentally called the England team "overpaid nonces". I of course meant "overpaid ponces". Sorry.
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) June 28, 2016
The broadcaster took to Twitter to apologise over the usage, but ignited an onslaught of criticism with commentators suggesting her word change could be offensive against some in the gay community.
Whoops. Last night on @bbcnews I accidentally called the England team "overpaid nonces". I of course meant "overpaid ponces". Sorry.
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) June 28, 2016
@JuliaHB1 @shart1334 @BBCNews "Ponce" definition -an effeminate man OR one who lives of a prostitutes earnings. Worth litigation I think
— Kohaylan (@KennyBaker1948) June 28, 2016
@JuliaHB1 As a "Journalist" I would think your grasp of colloquial terms should be somewhat stronger.
— Kohaylan (@KennyBaker1948) June 28, 2016
.@JuliaHB1 @BBCNews What a truly unpleasant person you have proven to be. Tell us more about your support of LGBT. pic.twitter.com/qDtfMKu1Dm
— The Countess Revives (@KoreanSuperfrog) June 29, 2016
.@JuliaHB1 @badwool9 @BBCNews so you used a word that was used an offensive term for gay men instead? Well done!!!
— John Wharton (@WhartoJohn) June 28, 2016