Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch says David Tennant should apologise to her personally over comments made at an LGBTQ+ awards ceremony.
The Doctor Who actor took aim at the minister as he picked up a gong for being a top celebrity ally.
Tennant called on Badenoch to “shut up” and referenced a world where she “doesn’t exist anymore”.
Badenoch, who has been outspoken on gender issues, hit back at the 53-year-old on GB News and demanded an apology.
Kemi Badenoch demanded an apology from David Tennant
GB NEWS / PA
Asked by Camilla Tominey if Tennant should say sorry, Badenoch said: “I think he should. I think he is probably regretting making those remarks given the uproar across the country.
“It has had a lot of cut-through. It shows the scale of the problem we have.
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Kemi Badenoch has hit back at David Tennant after telling her to 'shut up' during an awards speechGetty / PA“What is even more extraordinary is a Labour MP, Dawn Butler, agreed with him. I keep telling people that all these Labour MPs with really bad politics will come in. Keir Starmer has refused to condemn her.”
Badenoch has been criticised over her response where she branded Tennant a “rich, lefty, white male celebrity” as she referenced his ethnicity.
“It’s not about race at all, it’s about showing they are hypocrites”, she responded.
“They play identity politics and they have a ladder as to who is a protected group.
Camilla Tominey was joined by Kemi Badenoch on GB News
GB NEWS
“By their own rules, they criticise other people for going after black women, but when it’s them, the rules suddenly change. That is what I was highlighting.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with skin colour. I don’t judge skin colour, but they do, except when they don’t want it to matter, like they do in that instance.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is among many to have waded in on the matter as he sought to highlight the importance of free speech.
He wrote on X: “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.”
Harry Potter author JK Rowling, outspoken on trans and gender issues, shared the video of Tennant and commented: “Wow. The misogyny is in full force!!!
“Ladies and gentlemen - I give you the perfect example of Male Entitlement… Omg…”