The British TV regulator Ofcom have dismissed complaints about a homophobic segment on Loose Women last November.
The discussion caused much upset amongst the LGBT community for its blatant reliance on dated stereotypes.
The on-air discussion began with a Facebook post asking women should they have a “gay best friend’ as it made them seem more approachable to heterosexual men.
Presenter Ruth Langsford led the discussion with Martine McCutcheon, Linda Robson and Janet Street-Porter appearing as panelists.
Naturally, LGBT Twitter users were upset by the conversation in which Ruth Langsford said that gay men are the new “must-have accessory that every woman needs.”
Hi @loosewomen I hope this answers your question. Do let me know if you have any others … pic.twitter.com/CPDglSHzlT
— Conor Collins (@conartworks) November 24, 2016
Dear @loosewomen – Replace the word "gay" with any of following; Muslim, Jewish, Trans, Black…
Then ask, how does that question sound? pic.twitter.com/VElOwyYGAe
— Tom Knight (@TJ_Knight) November 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/AlphaChels/status/802157922998505472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/steveallen1987/status/802140547485995008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Reading about @loosewomen thinking every women should have a male gay best friend. Are gays an accessory or is this just casual homophobia?
— David Hawthorne (@dhawthorne7791) November 25, 2016
Reports today from Pink News, however confirm that Ofcom has rejected two complaints listed as ‘Sexual orientation discrimination/offence’ about the segment.
Fans are still awaiting an apology.