MEGHAN RACE STORM ON BBC
Row over her departure explodes on top show – as white TV star sparks fierce debate on racism in Britain
INCENDIARY claims that the Duchess of Sussex was hounded out of Britain by racism have sparked a public storm. Actor Laurence Fox dismissed the idea of prejudice during BBC Question Time only to be labelled ‘a white privileged male’.
In a series of angry exchanges the Harrow-educated panellist replied that his accuser, audience member and lecturer Rachel Boyle, was herself racist.
Their extraordinary row exploded on to social media amid simmering national tensions over the duchess’s departure. A fan of Fox praised him for annoying ‘the sanctimonious, humourless, preachy victimhood- peddling mediocrities that fill our public space’.
The actor, who is the former husband of actress Billie Piper, boasted of ‘drinking all of these leftist tears’. The clash came when Question Time was filmed on Thursday in Liverpool, close to Edge Hill University, where Miss Boyle works.
Discussing why Meghan had returned to North America, she said: ‘It’s racism, she’s a black woman and she has been torn to pieces.’ Fox, 41, disagreed, saying: ‘We’re the most tolerant, lovely country in Europe’.
Miss Boyle responded: ‘Says a white privileged man.’ Fox replied: ‘I can’t help what I am, I was born like this, it’s
an immutable characteristic, so to call me a white privileged male is to be racist – you’re being racist.’
Miss Boyle, who has West Indian heritage, tweeted afterwards: ‘Fell out with Laurence Fox (not a**ed), upset a (majority white) audience ( not a** ed) but called the treatment of Meghan Markle what it is – “racism”.’
She added: ‘I am appalled by the argument presented to me by this man! At no point did I call him racist, I said that his viewpoint is informed by his white privileged position – and he didn’t like it.’
A Twitter user advised Fox to read up on white privilege but he said he would ‘genuinely rather eat a lightbulb’.
After being bombarded with messages, the actor wrote another post to his 75,000 followers addressed ‘Dear trolls’, insisting it was all ‘Water off a duck’s back’ and adding: ‘Happy Friday everyone.’
A further sarcastic post from the actor read: ‘To be clear, I am in no way having the best day of my life ever drinking all of these leftist tears. My cup it overfloweth. But please don’t stop.’
Many Twitter users praised his appearance on Question Time as ‘a breath of fresh air’. Fox, whose father is the actor James Fox, revels in baiting Left-wingers and claims to have become ‘totally radicalised’ against a ‘woke’ or politically correct culture that has stifled ‘diversity of opinion’.
Last year he boasted how he had taken to walking round the area of south London where he lives wearing a Donald Trump ‘Make America great again’ cap. He says he will not renew his BBC licence fee because he does not want to feel ‘propagandised’ and hates multiculturalism, adding: ‘If you’re in England, be English. Otherwise I don’t think we can coexist.’
After being expelled from Harrow over an ‘indiscretion’ with a girl, Fox worked as a gardener before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Speaking later of how he broke into TV and film, becoming best known for starring in ITV’s Inspector Morse spin-off Lewis, he put it down to a ‘combination of timing, luck and contacts’.
He has slammed ‘ MeToo’ actresses who speak out against sexual harassment while wearing revealing dresses and describes himself as a ‘menimist’ for standing up for oppressed white men. Following his divorce from 37-year-old Miss Piper, with whom he has two children, Fox has most recently been dating fashion designer turned photographer Sara McKinnon, 39, the Mail’s Sebastian Shakespeare revealed this month.
According to her online biography, Miss Boyle was a primary school teacher for seven years before becoming a lecturer specialising in ‘race, racism and ethnicity in education’. She was approached for comment.
Edge Hill University, which opened as a women-only teacher training college in Liverpool in 1885, is now based near Ormskirk in Lancashire. It has almost 10,000 full-time students.
A spokesman said: ‘As a member of the public she is entitled to voice her own opinion and as a university we respect and acknowledge the right to freedom of speech.’
Miss Boyle’s Twitter profile yesterday made reference to being a BBC Breakfast newspaper reviewer. BBC insiders stressed she wasn’t employed by the corporation and was entitled to apply to be in the Question Time audience.
■ Aides were last night finalising the details of the Sussexes’ split from the Royal Family.
Buckingham Palace is expected to release a statement ‘imminently’ on the future of Harry and Meghan because the Queen is eager to get back to ‘business as usual’.
Senior palace officials have been working ‘at pace’ to carve out a deal amenable to all parties, including the Canadian government. It is understood key issues – including security, titles and future finances – are still to be ironed out.