"Following a six-month investigation, Ofcom decided on Monday (6 October) that Howie's comment "clearly had the potential to cause a high degree of offence" by "appearing to conflate or associate some sexualities and/or gender identities with paedophilia, particularly given how well-established this is as a prejudicial trope against homosexual people", and GB News had breached Rule 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code."
"However, Ofcom decided not to impose any sanction on the right-wing broadcaster, ruling that an on-air apology issued by Howie in February, where he claimed his comments were a joke and that he wasn't trying to compare "LGB people" to paedophilia, was sufficient to resolve the matter. During his statement, Howie said "LGB" rather than "LGBTQ+," which he used in the original remark, seemingly omitting trans people from the apology. Ofcom said it "considered this action was adequate" and that "the matter is resolved.""
"During an episode of the opinion show Headliners, the host referred to a quote from Episcopalian bishop Mariann Budde, who had urged US president Donald Trump to "show mercy" to queer people. Howie added: "I just want to say that that includes paedos." The remark prompted more than 71,500 complaints to the regulator."
Ofcom found that GB News breached the Broadcasting Code after presenter Josh Howie compared LGBTQ+ people to child abusers during an episode of Headliners. The presenter referenced a quote urging mercy to queer people and added "that includes paedos," prompting over 71,500 complaints. After a six-month investigation Ofcom concluded the comment could cause a high degree of offence and appeared to conflate sexualities or gender identities with paedophilia, breaching Rule 2.3. Ofcom accepted an on-air apology by Howie in February, despite his omission of trans people in that apology, and decided no further sanction was required.
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