Laurence Fox has revealed he once broke up with a girlfriend because she liked a pro-#MeToo TV advert.
The actor, 41, told his ex-lover: ‘Bye. Sorry I can’t do this with you,’ after she praised Gillette for their TV campaign on ‘toxic masculinity’.
He also said he no longer dates women under 35 as they are ‘too woke’ and most of them are ‘absolutely bonkers’.
It comes after a furious row over his Question Time showdown with academic Rachel Boyle, which saw him call her a ‘racist’ for describing him a ‘white, privileged male’ in a debate about Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
The Lewis star said ‘throwing the card of racism at everybody… [is] really starting to get boring’, triggering a Twitterstorm in which some praised him for his ‘common sense’ and others brand him a ‘disgrace’.
Laurence Fox has revealed he once broke up with a girlfriend (ex Lilah Parsons left and ex-wife Billie Piper right) because she liked a pro-#MeToo TV advert
It comes after a furious row over his Question Time showdown with academic Rachel Boyle, which saw him call her a ‘racist’ for describing him a ‘white, privileged male’ in a debate about Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
The controversial Gillette advert subvertd the razor brand’s famous ‘The Best A Man Can Get’ slogan by challenging traditional views of what it means to be a successful man.
It featured news clips of reporting on the #MeToo movement, as well as images showing sexism in films, in boardrooms, and of violence between boys.
In an interview with the Delingpod podcast, Mr Fox, who has two children with actress Billie Piper, 37, said of his Gillette argument: ‘I don’t know how we ended up together. It was a very short relationship.
‘We were walking down the road together and she was talking about how good the Gillette advert was. I jut looked at her and went, ‘Bye. Sorry I can’t do this with you.’
It is not clear which former girlfriend Mr Fox was referring to.
He told the podcast that before his current relationship began, he was put off dating women under 35 because they are ‘primed to believe they are victims’.
Later in the podcast, he offered his thoughts on the #MeToo movement, saying: ‘We want less sexual harassment.
‘But don’t make an enemy of men,’ he said. ‘None of the real beautiful wonderful women out there really give a s*** about the length that [#MeToo] has gone to, and they are slightly ashamed of how far … you know the ones that I respect. It’s just gone too far.’
He added: ‘Not all men are racists. I’ve got a lot of male friends and none of them have been jailed for rape or been accused of sexual harassment.’
Mr Fox’s previous girlfriends include DJ Lilah Parsons, Sky Sports News presenter Kirsty Gallcher, 43, and Vogue Williams, 34.
Asked what his former flame would think about him sharing the unusual reason for their break-up he told the podcast: ‘She will probably sit there and say, ‘See I told you he was patriarchal. He’s abusing me and I’m offended.’
Mr Fox’s argument with Edge Hill University academic Ms Boyle divided social media users.
The Lewis star claimed Meghan has not been subjected to racism, which Ms Boyle said he couldn’t understand because he is white, male and privileged.
John Hooper applauded him, writing: ‘I don’t know much about Laurence Fox, but he’s fast turning into a hero of mine’ while Edd Lees added: ‘Laurence Fox is the hero we never knew we needed.’
David Gould added: ‘Thank god for people like Laurence Fox and Piers Morgan, talking common sense in an increasingly mad world.’
In one scene of the ad, a man speaks over his female colleague and explains what she means
The ad shows one man stopping his friend as he catcalls a woman who is walking by
Critics claimed the Gillette advert an assault on masculinity and portrays men as inherently bad
Karen said she’s ‘with Laurence on account of the fact he’s bang on the money’.
Viva wrote: ‘Laurence Fox is the fatigued and exhausted British Public personified. He’s decided to unsubscribe from the Woke newsletter. I’ll join him.’
Others condemned Fox’s views. Maggie Rankin said: ‘I’m no regular watcher of #bbcqt but it’s rare I’d rather listen to the Tory representative than the non-politician/journalist.
‘Laurence Fox came across as really contemptuous. If you don’t want your views scrutinised, don’t go on this programme.’
Twitter users took to the site to create memes mocking the situation surrounding Laurence Fox
A Twitter user who goes by the name Barhamm said: ‘Oh dear. A white and privileged actor sings about being white and a victim of oppression?! You couldn’t make it up. Fox has.’
Dave P said: ‘As much as I have enjoyed his acting in the past, I would now like to see other actors refusing to work with Laurence Fox unless he provides a full and sincere apology.’
Mr Fox yesterday quoted Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech following his appearance on the programme and goaded critics about loving their ‘leftist tears’ and ‘giggling at their expense’.
He shared an excerpt of Dr King’s 1963 speech about living in a nation where children ‘will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character’.
He said: ‘This is the position I took last night and I live by in life. If you can improve on it, I’m all ears. Or you can keep screeching ‘Racist!’ at me and I can carry on having a jolly good giggle at your expense. The tide is turning’.
He also revealed his Twitter feed has been flooded with abusive messages – but urged the trolls to keep them coming.
He suggested he was ‘having the best day of my life ever’ and was ‘drinking all of these leftist tears’, adding: ‘My cup it overfloweth. But please don’t stop’.
His opponent Ms Boyle said she’s ‘not a**sed’ about the row and tweeted: ‘Fell out with @LozzaFox (not a***d), upset a (majority white) audience (not a***d) but called the treatment of Meghan Markle what it is ‘racism’. Thank you to @bbcquestiontime for having me’.
Mr Fox has an army of new fans after his Question Time performance with many demanding: ‘Get him on every week’