Drag Race star says men like Laurence Fox should learn ‘how to apologise’ following libel verdict
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In a recent court ruling, Laurence Fox, the actor turned political pundit, lost a libel case against LGBTQ+ activist Colin Seymour, also known as Crystal from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. The court found that Fox had defamed Seymour by labeling him a “paedophile” on Twitter. While Seymour expressed relief and hope for the future following the ruling, he also criticized Fox for his lack of a meaningful apology.
Mrs. Justice Collins Rice dismissed Fox’s countersuit case against Seymour, along with former Coronation Street actor Nicola Thorp and former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake. Fox claimed that their accusations of racism had been “career-ending.” However, Collins Rice ruled that Fox’s labeling of Blake and Seymour as paedophiles was “seriously harmful, defamatory, and baseless.”
Speaking to PinkNews, Seymour expressed his disappointment in Fox’s behavior following the court verdict. He believed that Fox should have taken the opportunity to make a meaningful apology. Seymour emphasized the importance of teaching children, especially boys, how to apologize and acknowledge when they are wrong. He stated, “There are big swathes of the public, typically men, who haven’t learned how to do that.”
During the trial, Fox defended his political beliefs and denied being racist. However, he also claimed to be a victim of an “anti-white” witch hunt. When questioned about certain statements he made, such as “I hate Black people” and “Black people in the UK should go home,” Fox argued that the context determined whether they were racist or not.
The court did not rule on whether describing Fox as a racist was “substantially true” or an honest opinion held by Seymour and Blake. The judge found that the social media posts accusing Fox of racism were not defamatory because they were unlikely to cause serious harm to his reputation.
Seymour argued that his posts about Fox could not have defamed him due to Fox’s actions outside of the case. He pointed out that other people had already called Fox a racist, and Fox himself had made comments about his career being over due to his opinions. Seymour stated, “Trying to pin the downfall of his career on three people’s tweets calling him a racist is really just pathetic.”
On the other hand, Seymour acknowledged that the accusations made by Fox had deeply affected his career and personal life. He revealed that Fox was the first person to call him a paedophile, and since then, he has faced a barrage of abuse. Seymour believes that Fox has contributed to a culture that seeks to intimidate and demonize queer people for simply existing.
Fox has since apologized for calling both Seymour and Blake paedophiles, but Seymour considers it too little too late. He criticized Fox for refusing to take accountability for his actions and for continuing to play the victim card. Seymour argued that Fox’s lawsuit against them for calling him a racist was merely petty retaliation.
Following the court ruling, Fox took to Twitter to make multiple posts, including accusations against the judge and calling Thorp a racist. Seymour found Fox’s reaction and subsequent outcry disappointing and expressed contempt towards him. He hoped that the trial would have stopped Fox from making unfounded claims on social media, but based on his behavior following the ruling, Seymour is not hopeful.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Seymour remains focused on his drag career as Crystal. He hopes that the court verdict will allow him to continue performing without fear. Seymour expressed gratitude towards the LGBTQ+ community for their support during this time and emphasized the importance of unity.
In conclusion, Laurence Fox’s loss in the libel case against Colin Seymour, also known as Crystal, highlights the need for meaningful apologies and accountability. Seymour’s criticism of Fox’s behavior serves as a reminder that learning how to apologize and acknowledge wrongdoing is essential. The court ruling has given hope to Seymour and the LGBTQ+ community, but Fox’s continued lack of remorse raises concerns about his future actions.
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