Professor’s blonde hair ‘led to writer’s brothel visit’
Journalist accused of being sexist after describing how lecture on Kant inspired him to use massage parlour
WHEN The Spectator’s sketch writer sat in on a lecture at the University of Cambridge about Immanuel Kant, his thoughts began to wander from the theories of the philosopher.
Instead his focus was on the academic giving the lecture – Prof Lea Ypi.
“Her blonde hair spilling over her shoulders absorbed far more of my attention than her political reflections,” wrote Lloyd Evans in this week’s edition of the magazine. But his curiosity led him not to a library but a massage parlour next to a railway station in the city’s “rougher end”.
Mr Evans’s decision to tell the magazine’s readers, in intricate detail, about paying a “petite, black haired and buxom” woman for her services, has prompted accusations of sexism and the ire of Prof Ypi herself.
A specialist on political theory at the London School of Economics, she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Next time you lecture on Kant and revolutions at Darwin College Cambridge, make sure your hair is neatly tied and that you’re not blonde. Or else your research impact will be on The Spectator’s libido section".
Mr Evans was unabashed when approached by The Telegraph for comment. He claimed that the inspiration for the piece stemmed from an idea for a travel book with the theme of Tarts and Vicars where he would visit a cathedral and then a sex worker and write about the experiences.
Asked why he decided to include Prof Ypi in the piece at all, he replied: “She was physically attractive and that made me feel a bit lonely and then I ended up in a sauna bath. I was trying to encompass both poles of life, between the intellectual high-flying political philosophy and a sexual encounter.
“Of the two, I found the sexual encounter much more satisfying and enjoyable.
He added about Prof Ypi: “She’s really funny and sharp and witty, and that was partly what inspired my feelings of longing towards her because she was obviously a really good laugh, apart from everything else.”
Asked if he had any regrets over the article, Mr Evans replied: “It’s a bit unfortunate, I have had people calling me a sex pervert on Twitter which I think is strange.
“So this person, a complete stranger, has read about my romantic life in a magazine and has then made a public effort to notify me that he considered me as sex pervert.
“Well my message to him is get out of the basement and get a bit of action, even if you have to pay for it.”
In response to those who criticised him, he said that those “tend to be people who aren’t men and who haven’t actually been in that situation.
“I mean literally it’s rather exposing you have to take your clothes off, in a brand new building, and you’re fully naked and I find that quite humiliating and difficult”.
“I’m not pleading for sympathy but it’s not quite as you imagine it is when you read these accounts of what goes on in these places written by feminists who haven’t actually encountered the experience themselves.”
Representatives of Prof Ypi said that she had no further comment to make.
The University of Cambridge has been approached for comment.
Darwin College posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Absolutely appalled to see this Lea.
“Your fascinating, beautifully crafted lecture was a hugely appreciated highlight of the College’s cultural year, and we hope your memory of the event won’t be tainted by an audience member using it to write something so crude and offensive.”