Thousands complained comic linked he LGBT community with paedophiles

Ofcom has launched an official inquiry into a joke comedian Josh Howie made on GB News that appeared to link the LGBT community with paedophiles.

The broadcasting watchdog received 1,382 direct complaints, while an online petition run by the Good Law Project and submitted to the regulator attracted 71,851 more.

Ofcom today confirmed it was officially looking into the complaints, saying: ‘We are investigating whether this programme broke our rule which requires that material which may cause offence must be justified by the context.'

Howie’s comments came on the controversial channel’s comedian-led newspaper review programme  Headliners on January 22, when discussing Mariann Budde, the Washington bishop who urged Donald Trump to have mercy on Americans who felt scared of his actions, including immigrants and LGBT people.

On the show, Howie quoted a statement issued by the bishop's church, saying it supported ‘the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons’. The comic then added: ‘That includes paedos’, stressing the last word.

Following the complaints, the comedian issued a statement on air insisting his comment intended to suggest ‘going against child protection might be a bit much for a church. That was a joke about churches as much as anything else…’

He added the seven-second clip which has been circulated did not provide the full context but said he was ‘genuinely sorry’ if anyone took his words to link homosexuality and paedophilia’.

However The Good Law Project said that Howie was responsible for spreading a ‘dangerous homophobic slur’.

Here is the full segment:

Here’s the full clip.

A few things I’d please like you to note.

1. It’s a comedy show. Where three comedians make jokes as we review the next day’s newspapers.

2. This story was about the response of Trump to a Bishop who’d given a self-righteous sermon in front of him.… pic.twitter.com/WJvjcIKoXe

— Josh Howie (@joshxhowie) February 9, 2025

Published: 17 Mar 2025