THEGAYUK

Tag: Media Watch

Read the latest news and analysis of media in the UK and abroad. Browse THEGAYUK’s entire archive on news about the media.

  • BBC issues statement on publishing “cisgender gay men not wanting to date trans men” is transphobic

    BBC issues statement on publishing “cisgender gay men not wanting to date trans men” is transphobic

    The BBC published, redacted and then re-published with a clarification a comment which infers that gay men are transphobic for not wanting to date men who are transgender.

    In a piece written by Shrai Popat called “The black transgender push to keep the fight alive at pride”, first published on the 26th June, a statement, without citation was published, which read,

    “And this discrimination also extends to transphobic preferences in the world, from cisgender gay men not wanting to date trans men and the routine fetishisation of trans women”.

    The original article from the BBC, which was scraped by Yahoo News.

    In the original article, the comment was not added as a quote, so either seemed to be a statement of fact or the opinion of the BBC journalist who wrote the piece.

    It now reads,

    “And this discrimination also extends to the dating world, according to York. They cite cisgender gay men not wanting to date trans men and the routine fetishisation of trans women, as examples of “transphobic dating preferences.”

    The clarification in the next paragraph adds an explanation from GLAAD .

    “Many would disagree that such dating preferences can be described as transphobic, and say same-sex attraction is not related to gender. When asked for their view on these dating issues, leading LGBT advocacy group GLAAD told the BBC that they echo the “leading advocacy, medical, political, and psychological organizations that assert trans women are women”.

    THEGAYUK reached out to Glaad for further clarification on its statement.

    No clarification until today

    The article was criticised by some on social media and the paragraph was amended omitting that paragraph on the BBC website. However, no signifier or clarification was left on the page to show that the original piece had been edited.

    THEGAYUK reached out for comment to the BBC to ask if the stance was editorial policy or whether it was normal practice to amend piece without clarification.

    Today the BBC told us,

    “Clarification and update 6th July 2020: An earlier version of this article cited cisgender gay men not wanting to date trans men as an example of transphobic preferences in the dating world. However some readers took this to be a statement of fact, rather than the view of Asanni York, and so these comments were removed. They have since been re-added, in context, along with some additional reaction from LGBT advocacy group GLAAD.“

    The article now reads with the statement that gay men are transphobic for not wanting to date trans men as being a quote from Asanni York, the founder of For The Gworls – a black trans collective that raises money for gender-affirming surgery and living costs.

  • Could Ellen’s show be coming to an end?

    There are rumours that Ellen DeGeneres‘s show is in trouble.

    Falling audience numbers and rumours of Ellen’s alleged behaviour towards showrunners and staff have created “whispers” that the comedian’s long-running show Ellen could be heading for the chop.

    According to The Sun, the show’s drop in ratings is cause for concern and there are the ongoing complaints from staffers and former production members that her behaviour has been problematic. Several people have come forward to make claims that the star has been “mean”.

    In April she was also subject to a Twitter firestorm after comedian Kevin T. Porter tweeted, “Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen DeGeneres always talks about!

    “She’s also notoriously one of the meanest people alive. Respond to this with the most insane stories you’ve heard about Ellen being mean & I’ll match every one w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank.”

    TVNewsCheck reveals the show’s rating tumbled 14 per cent during season 17.

    However, the production reps told The New York Post that the rumours of cancellation or concerns about falling ratings were “untrue”

    They said, ““Telepictures can confirm it’s untrue.”

    During the current COVID-19 pandemic Ellen has been forced to broadcast her show remotely from her home.

  • LBC lets Nigel Farage go before his contract is up

    LBC lets Nigel Farage go before his contract is up

    One of the UK’s most popular radio stations, LBC, is letting Nigel Farage leave the station before his contract was officially over.

    The station which is owned by Global Media, said in a statement that it wished him well, but after discussions with Farage it had been decided that Farage would step down with “immediate effect”.

    According to the statement, Farage’s contract, which hadn’t fully run its course but was “up very shortly” with the radio station wouldn’t be renewed and that he was being released from it with “immediate effect”.

    The station has had a history of ending its contract, or not renewing contracts with some of its most controversial hosts. In 2017 the station ended its relationship with Katie Hopkins.

    In early 2019, Farage created a new political party, after stepping down as the UKIP party leader. The new party, The Brexit Party welcomed in a variety of politicians including Anne Widdecombe, well noted for her anti-gay voting history.

    At the time of publishing, Nigel Farage had not acknowledged the statement by LBC.

  • Daily Express slammed for publishing “VILE” column

    Daily Express slammed for publishing “VILE” column

    The Daily Express has been slammed for publishing a column by anti-equality, former Conservative minister, Ann Widdecombe.

    In the column, which saw Widdecombe’s name trending on Twitter last night (13th March), the right-wing politician wrote, “We have had the scare of SARs, bird flu, Ebola and of course AIDS. None proved as devastating as feared.“

    She also called for “a sense of proportion in the face of the financial markets going into meltdown, aeroplanes being grounded and shops shutting their doors”

    Embed from Getty Images

    It is to be noted that AIDS, which killed thousands of gay and bi men in the 80s and 90s, has caused over 32 million deaths worldwide. 

    The UK’s Pride Organiser’s Network blasted the Daily Express editorial team for allowing the column to be printed.

    They wrote, that they had come to “expect offensive, anti LGBTQ+ columns from Ann Widdecombe but comparing the coronavirus to AIDS and then suggesting it won’t be as devastating as feared is VILE!”

    It then took the publisher to task saying, “[The Daily Express] should be ashamed for allowing this abhorrent column to be published! #ShameOnYou

    As of yet, the column does not appear on the paper’s online platform.

  • Assi Azar and his husband star in a major advertising campaign, in an Israeli first

    Assi Azar and his husband star in a major advertising campaign, in an Israeli first

    Multinational insurance company, AIG have hired Assi Azar and his husband to become the first gay couple to front a major commercial in Israel.

    Assi and Albert Escola have become the faces of a brand new advertising campaign in Israel by the Insurance giant, AIG.

    The couple will be making adverts for the company for the next two years, the Jerusalem Post reports. The first advert is due to air next month.

    Assi, who is one of Israel’s most sought after television hosts married his partner Albert in 2016. The couple met in 2012 at a Madonna concert in Barcelona.

    In 2019 the couple announced that they were starting the process of looking for a surrogate mother so that they could start a family of their own.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK Yifat Reiter, CEO of AIG said, “Assi and Albert bring to the screen authenticity, human warmth and credibility; they are perfect to lead AIG’s advertising in the coming years.  We are excited to work together with the couple. “

    The campaign, with the advertising agency Reuveni Friedan, is expected to launch next week. Assi Azar has been at the top of the Israeli entertainment industry for years, and Albert Escola, his spouse and an architect by trade, is a rising star in his own right since his participation in the reality show “yes Man“.  

    A spokesperson added “Assi’s and Albert’s relationship brings something new, fresh and relevant to the screen – both a warm, captivating and humorous dynamic. The couple will be an integral part of the company’s advertising strategy in the coming years”

  • Gay Star News bought by marketing PLC for £33,000

    Gay Star News bought by marketing PLC for £33,000

    Despite a reported turnover of over £500,000 the Gay Star News brand and IP have been bought by a company for £33,000.

    Last year Gay Star News, now rebranded to GSN went into administration and apparently, according to its financial records owed its creditors tens of thousands of pounds and left at least 20 journalists out of work.

    The shuttering was so swift and unexpected a crowdfunder was set up to help pay for the staff’s wages.

    Gay Star News, which has now dropped the word “gay” from its title and is stylised as GSN was acquired by Iconic Labs PLC – a marketing company.

    According to statements put out by Iconic Labs, the company bought GSN to “build critical mass and in particular expand its proprietary targeted distribution channels that can be utilised under the Iconic Labs brand offering”.

    “Received significant interest in branded content partnership”

    It has also “received significant interest in branded content partnerships for GSN but the new operational website is a necessary next step to activating these contracts and increasing the platforms revenue potential”.

    Indeed, it went on to explain, “with the proven capability to generate in excess of £500,000 a year in revenue for £33,000, represents exceptional value for Iconic Labs”.

    This also means that GSN, one of the UK’s leading LGBT+ publishers is no longer LGBT+ owned.

    Chief Executive Officer, John Quinlan, said: “We are delighted to relaunch GSN. The ability of GSN to already get over 1 million users a month gives an indicator of its revenue potential but also of the capital value of the brand. We are very confident in building on this strong start and excited at the potential we are seeing in the sales pipeline.”

    Chief Business Officer, Liam Harrington, said: “We are excited to relaunch GSN. The fact that the website is already getting 1 million users a month is a testament to the strength of the brand and the community.”

  • Iconic gay pin-up magazine to shut

    Iconic gay pin-up magazine to shut

    Meat Magazine is set to close in the new year.

    On its tenth anniversary, Meat Magazine will be printing its last editions in 2020. The magazine which has been in print for 10 years has been self-produced and funded by its photographer, Adrian Lourie.

    In a statement from the company, Adrian wrote that the decision to end Meat‘s print run was a “tough call” and that he had been “overwhelmed” by the supportive messages he had received.

    Challenging expectations from gay media

    In 10 years the magazine produced 39 issues and has really challenged expectations for a gay pin-up magazine. The magazine featured models of all shapes, ages, sizes and ethnicities and was championed by its fanbase, which had grown substantially on Instagram.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK in 2018 just after pictures had been removed by Instagram, Adrian said, “Meat‘s mission is to champion body positivity amongst gay men, in a community where many often feel sidelined by ‘stereotypical’ male beauty standards. The zine allows our followers and fans to celebrate and own their unique beauty, no matter their age, race, body shape or type.”

    Unfortunately, Meat found itself deleted from Instagram several times after falling foul of the platform’s community guidelines.

    Meat‘s first Instagram account had amassed over 15,000 fans when it was erased by the Facebook-owned company and the second account had 4000 fans.

    Exciting ideas for 2020

    Adrian wrote that there were “other projects and opportunities to explore” and that there were “exciting ideas” lined up for 2020.

  • Instagram really has a problem with its double standards on nudity

    Instagram really has a problem with its double standards on nudity

    The picture-sharing platform, Instagram, has allowed numerous stars, like Lizzo and Kim Kardashian to upload completely nude pictures while gay porn stars and LGBT+ body-positive organisations have their pictures removed and accounts cancelled.

    There seems to be one rule for some and another for everyone else. Over the years we’ve reported countless times where Instagram and Facebook (which owns Instagram) have deleted, cancelled or suspended pictures and people it deems to break its community guidelines.

    However, in the latest show of its double standards, between some famous women (such as Kim Kardashian) and LGBT+ folx, Instagram has allowed nude pictures, taken by singer Lizzo to remain on its service.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5i2Rl7hAoQ/

    The pictures which were uploaded on the 1st of December have garnered over 1 million likes on the social media platform with thousands and thousands of comments.

    Instagram recently came under fire after it deleted a picture featuring a wet – but (semi) clothed Jason Derulo, with a peen outline. He was wearing underwear… no nudity at all.

    Earlier this year porn star Brent Everett hit out at Instagram after it removed a picture of him in the nude and a report that we ran on the removal of said picture had THEGAYUK’s official Facebook page’s moderators banned from the platform for 30 days.

    In 2018 the gay pin-up magazine, Meat,  had its account suspended and deleted numerous times. Despite this Kim Kardashian, has posted naked pictures including a full-frontal to her heart’s content – gaining millions of likes, without being deleted by the social giant.

  • Drag Race the most successful show for BBC Three since going online

    Drag Race the most successful show for BBC Three since going online

    When will Drag Race UK season 2 start?

    It’s official The Gays (TM) are good for business.

    BBC Three has announced that Drag Race UK is officially the most popular show for the channel since it controversially went online back in 2016.

    Last night the UK tuned in to watch the crowning of the first season’s queen.

    10 Million Requests

    A comment by the BBC press centre revealed, “The first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has been a huge success for BBC Three with nearly 10 million requests on iPlayer and two-thirds of the audience 16-34.

    “It is the most popular BBC Three entertainment programme since the channel moved online in 2016, has won critical acclaim, generated massive conversation online, become event television on BBC iPlayer and delivered a top ten single for The Frock Destroyers.

    Green Lit for a second season

    (C) BBC / World of Wonder – Photographer: Guy Levy

    Earlier this month the BBC Three and World of Wonder confirmed that a second series of the UK version of the award-winning global hit RuPaul’s Drag Race will air in 2020.

    Having brought RuPaul’s Drag Race UK to British screens for the first time to critical acclaim, BBC Three has opened applications to find another set of sickening queens to compete in the Olympics of drag.

  • Piers Morgan calls PinkNews “disingenuous click-baiting little twerps”

    Piers Morgan calls PinkNews “disingenuous click-baiting little twerps”

    Piers Morgan has lashed out against PinkNews after it published an article about a petition calling on ITV execs to remove him from his presenting position on Good Morning Britain for “dehumanising” people from the transgender and non-binary community.

    In a series of fiery tweets, Piers blasted the news site as “disingenuous” and clickbaity after it published a piece about a petition which called for the GMB anchor to be fired from his presenting position on the ITV morning show.

    He also blasted the site for “spreading dangerous bullsh*t” and reiterated that they were shameless little clickbaiters“

    At the time of PinkNews’s first article, calling for his dismissal, around 6000 people had signed the petition calling on ITV to end its contract with Piers Morgan.

    The petition has since swelled to around 13,000 signatures.

    “Dehumansing”

    Piers is accused by the petitioners of “dehumanising” some transgender and non-binary people with his line of questioning of non-binary guests and his dismissal of the notion that there are over 100 different gender identities, Piers is currently identifying as a “2 spirit penguin”.

    However, Piers claims that he supports those people who transition and that he is a loud supporter of gay rights.

    The presenter added, “I don’t support the ridiculous notion of 100 genders, and most sensible people agree with me.”

    People actually like Piers

    In response to the initial petition calling on Piers to be fired, is another, calling on ITV to back the presenter which has now surpassed the original with over 26,000 signatures.

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to Pink News for comment.

  • Cosmopolitan Mag blasted after publishing “TERF” article

    Cosmopolitan Mag blasted after publishing “TERF” article

    Cosmopolitan magazine has been heavily criticised after publishing an article entitled “What you need to know about TERFs”

    Leading lifestyle magazine, Cosmopolitan has been blasted by hundreds of social media users after it published an article called, “TERFs and what everyone needs to know about ‘trans-exclusionary radical feminists”, with the subheading, “Let’s call them what they actually are: anti-trans activists”.

    Terf, which is an initialism of “Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists” is seen by some as a slur, with many in the community preferring the term, gender critical feminists. One user reminded Cosmopolitan, “It’s a slur against women. That’s what YOU need to know, cosmo. Outrageous.”

    After the magazine tweeted about their article, which was authored by Grace Walsh, over 300 people commented, a vast increase in the usual engagement it receives on its twitter profile.

    Many of the commentators said they had reported the magazine to Twitter for hate speech.

    One user commented, “Bloody hell, what a nasty offensive term to use about women who have an opinion”, while another added, “cosmo, you’re embarrassing yourselves”. Others commented that they wondering how the article was approved for publication.

    The article describes TERFs as a “minority group, that normally stick to online forums” and “known as someone who supposedly stands for women’s rights, while only considering people who were assigned female at birth to be women”.

    AfterEllen.com co-owner, Gaye Chapman, hit out against the magazine saying, “Terf is a slur: it’s a weapon against gender critical – not anti-trans – people. Trans people should have the same rights as anyone else. They should not be accorded sex-based rights because of their Gender Identity. That will negatively impact females. You can’t change your sex”.