Dan Wootton MailOnline column suspended amid investigation into GB News host’s personal conduct - latest
Allegations the MailOnline columnist used a pseudonym and offered colleagues money for sexual images are being investigated
MailOnline has suspended Dan Wootton’s column while allegations he used a pseudonym and offered colleagues money for sexual images are investigated.
The GB News presenter, who has written a regular column for MailOnline since 2021, claims to be the victim of a “witch hunt” after being accused of using fake online identities to trick men into sending him explicit images for tens of thousands of pounds.
Wootton has denied any criminal wrongdoing, although he has admitted to “errors of judgment in the past”.
The broadcaster, who hosted the Dan Wootton Tonight programme on GB News as scheduled on Thursday night without reference to the suspension, dismissed the allegations on his show last month as “simply untrue” and a “campaign to destroy my life”.
The allegations, first published last month by independent outlet Byline Times, include claims about alleged behaviour while he edited The Sun‘s Bizarre column, as well as claims of payments for explicit images and videos.
Following the claims, the publishers of MailOnline and his previous employers at The Sun said they were looking into allegations made against the New Zealand-born star.
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Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s letter to The Sun
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee wrote to The Sun and the BBC following the widespread coverage of allegations presenter Huw Edwards paid a young person for sexually explicit images.
The letter to The Sun editor Victoria Newton also asked her to set out what investigations were taking place into allegations made about former Sun journalist Mr Wootton, in the wake of accusations he had offered colleagues money for sexual material.
Newton’s letter in response said the paper was investigating, adding: “We take these allegations seriously but we are in no position to comment further and indeed we make no commitment to make any further comment depending on the outcome of our investigation.”
Recap: Dan Wootton says he ‘made errors of judgment in the past’
Dan Wootton has said he made “errors of judgment in the past”, while denying “criminal allegations”.
The 40-year-old journalist and broadcaster told viewers on his Tuesday night GB News show that he has been the “target” of a “smear campaign”.
Wootton spoke about recognising that he is a “polarising figure” and talking to viewers could mean public attention.
He said: “As a journalist, I feel uncomfortable being the story but I’ve always promised you that this show has no spin and no bias and no censorship so I owe it to you to address this.”
Read more:
GB News journalist Dan Wootton says he ‘made errors of judgment in the past’
Timeline of allegations made against Dan Wootton
Timeline of allegations made against GB News presenter Dan Wootton
Recap: Wootton suspended by Mail as ‘explicit images’ claims investigated
MailOnline has suspended Dan Wootton’s column while allegations he used a pseudonym and offered colleagues money for sexual images are investigated.
The GB News presenter, who has written a regular column for MailOnline since 2021, claimed to be the victim of a “witch hunt” after being accused of using fake online identities to trick men into sending him explicit images for tens of thousands of pounds.
Wootton has denied any criminal wrongdoing, although he has admitted to “errors of judgment in the past”.
The broadcaster, who hosted the Dan Wootton Tonight programme on GB News as scheduled on Thursday night without reference to the suspension, dismissed the allegations on his show last month as “simply untrue” and a “campaign to destroy my life”.
The allegations, first published last month by independent outlet Byline Times, include claims about alleged behaviour while he edited The Sun‘s Bizarre column, as well as claims of payments for explicit images and videos.
Jane Dalton reports:
Dan Wootton suspended by MailOnline as ‘explicit images’ claims investigated
The statement from MailOnline’s publisher
A spokesperson for DMG Media, which publishes MailOnline, said: “We are continuing to consider a series of allegations which Dan Wootton – who has written columns for MailOnline since 2021 as one of several outside freelance contributors – has strenuously denied.
“The allegations are obviously serious but also complex and historic and there is an independent investigation under way at the media group which employed him during the relevant period.
“In the meantime, his freelance column with MailOnline has been paused.”
Watch: Dan Wootton addresses ‘smear campaign’ allegations
Watch: Dan Wootton addresses ‘smear campaign’ allegations
Who is Dan Wootton? GB News star who says he is victim of ‘witch hunt’
Who is Dan Wootton?
This seemingly simple question has been made problematic, in recent days, by the allegations that the GB News presenter, and Daily Mail columnist, has been using fake online identities to trick men into sending him sexually explicit images in exchange for tens of thousands of pounds. As he returned, defiant, to screens, stridently denying the claims, Wootton stared viewers dead in the eye. “So good to be back from my scheduled holiday in New Zealand, with my family,” he said, the Union flag backdrop tessellating behind him. “It was really special actually, that family time, because, of course, they are the people who really know you.”
For those outside of the Wootton clan, here’s the story of how a 12,000-mile journey across the world turned Wootton into one of Britain’s most well-sourced and salacious journalists – before leaving him at the eye of the latest storm.
Nick Hilton reports:
Who is Dan Wootton? GB News star under investigation as MailOnline column paused
‘Sex scandals’ and the strange case of the Not Very Famous TV star
Hot on the heels of an alleged sex scandal involving a Very Famous news presenter comes… an alleged sex scandal involving a Not Very Famous news presenter. You may have experienced the same problem with buses.
If you haven’t been paying attention, GB News presenter Dan Wootton has come under fire this week for allegedly using fake online identities to trick men into sending him sexually explicit images in exchange for tens of thousands of pounds. Wootton has rejected the allegations as “simply untrue”, and has said that he is the victim of a “witch hunt”.
Let’s leave the alleged sex to one side. Both cases involve contested claims of digital, or virtual, encounters. The police say there was no criminality involved with the Very Famous presenter – the BBC’s Huw Edwards – and it’s early doors with Wootton. Each case teeters on the uncertain boundary line between what well-padded reputation management lawyers would argue was private. Or public, depending on who’s paying them.
Alan Rusbridger writes:
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