'You are the problem!' Rishi Sunak tears into David Tennant as Kemi Badenoch row escalates
Rishi Sunak has intervened in the spat between Kemi Badenoch and actor David Tennant, suggesting the Doctor Who star is “the problem”.
Badenoch previously said she “will not shut up” after Tennant suggested he wanted a world where she “doesn’t exist any more” during a speech at an awards show.
Weighing in on the row today, the Prime Minister said: “Freedom of speech is the most powerful feature of our democracy.
“If you’re calling for women to shut up and wishing they didn’t exist, you are the problem.”
Rishi Sunak has intervened in the spat between Kemi Badenoch and actor David Tennant, suggesting the Doctor Who star is “the problem”
PA
The 53-year-old actor sparked fury with Badenoch after he called for her to "shut up" during his acceptance speech at the British LGBTQIA+ Awards.
Tennant told the crowd: "Until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist anymore – I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive."
Taking to social media, Badenoch blasted the actor and declared she will "not be silenced" by "men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls".
She continued: "A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end."
The Women and Equalities Minister added: "Tennant is one of Labour’s celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win.
"Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded.
"He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Do not let the bigots and bullies win."
Discussing the row on GB News, Headliners panellists Simon Evans, Leo Kearse and Josh Howie criticised the Tory candidate for "resorting to race" in the dispute.
The 53-year-old actor sparked fury with Badenoch after he called for her to "shut up" during his acceptance speech at the British LGBTQIA+ Awards
PA
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Howie highlighted that the "issue" for Tennant is that he is an avid supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and also has a non-binary child.
He argued: "But what a coincidence that you have all these rich celebrities, and a huge proportion of them way outside of the number of actual trans people, just happen to have trans or non-binary children."