Laurence Fox

Laurence "Loser Lozza" Fox is a British theatrical anti-woke loudmouth, and attempted politician. He is a valiant defender of the greatness of the British Empire and white British people, whilst simultaneously being a beleaguered victim of anti-white/anti-male prejudice and injustice. Since first speaking on the subject of race in January 2020, he has created a series of public controversies, culminating in the launching and hopefully imminent collapse of the right-wing populist He has also become associated with the right-wing libertarian sect around Spiked magazine, recording interviews and podcasts with James Delingpole, Julia Hartley-Brewer, etc.I’d never heard of Laurence Fox until he started lecturing us about racism, Suzanne Moore, 20 Jan 2020
==Failed education, failed family life and failed entertainment career==
Fox was born to of the famous during a period when James had dropped out of acting to become a door-to-door evangelical preacher with the Navigators in Leeds. Fox was expelled from exclusive public shortly before sitting his A-levels and was subsequently unable to get a place at university. After trying his hand at gardening and clerical work, he entered the family business by attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and ended up playing a series of feckless toffs, because, "that's what people think Foxes do."'I wished Dad was a hell-raiser' by Cassandra Jardine (November 1, 2002) The Telegraph Fox, however, does not identify as upper class, stating that he is "not impervious to class… certain struggles": 
Lozza's only real success as an actor was his nine year stint as the co-lead in the hit detective show Lewis.
Fox was married to fellow performer from 2007 to 2016 and now co-parents their two children in a process Piper describes as enormously difficult. In typical fashion, Fox's responce to such criticism is to portray himself as the victim of systemic prejudice and injustice: 
There has also been family friction with his brother-in-law who mistakenly assumed Fox had never experienced racism: 
“No, they weren’t nice to me,” he clarified, before going on to explain: 
===Working on his music===
He released his first album, Holding Patterns, in 2016, and followed it up with A Grief Observed in 2019. These met with general indifference: Holding Patterns reached 89 in the UK charts in a 2-week chart run, and the follow-up failed to reach the Top 100 despite a large media campaign and a lot of press (based entirely on his acting success and family, and none of it in newspapers' music sections, according to music journalist Michael Hann). Hann said of its merits: "Fox’s music isn't terrible. ... Its single biggest weaknesses is Fox’s voice, which almost touches good, but is also just far enough away to be oddly disconcerting. He hits all the right notes (and in the right order), but it’s a blunt instrument, unvarying in tone and timbre. He always sounds as though he is making a point in a pub argument, whether he is professing his love, pondering the state of the world, or confessing his sins."Laurence Fox's music career: less Chelsea Hotel than Chelsea Travelodge, Michael Hann, The Guardian, 21 Jan 2020
Most of his songs are about his divorce from Billie Piper, but his anthem and statement of principles is "The Distance". This includes the classic complaint of the privileged white male media personality who somehow thinks he's censored despite never being out of the newspapers:
He improbably promotes himself as a last light of The Enlightenment standing up for reason against intolerance: "The light has been turned down on the age of reason / Replaced by blinding fires that burn wild across the region".
===Working on other people's music===
On 19 November 2020, he tweeted a typically inflammatory articleThe Pogues tell Laurence Fox to 'f*** off' in BBC censorship row over lyrics of Christmas classic Fairytale of New York, The Daily Mail, 19 Nov 2020 from the Daily Mail about the 1987 Christmas song by The article claimed that the song was being censored by the BBC due to the homophobic slur "f*****" in the lyrics, although versions without the slur have been played for some years, and the original version with the slur was still broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The article was updated later that day to include the events below. Fox tweeted:
Minutes later, The Pogues memorably responded:
Herrenvolk, meaning "master race," was a concept in Nazi ideology.
==Failed political career==
===Question Time and career suicide===
His political views first crawled into daylight when he was selected as a panelist on BBC1 political discussion program Question Time: the show's panel largely comprises politicians and journalists, but they sometimes have a gimmicky non-professional-politico to make up the numbers and inject some new perspectives. A (Black, female) member of the audience asked a question about the sometimes racist attitude of the media to Meghan Markle, the mixed-race wife of Prince Harry. Fox denied that there was any racism involved in the way certain sections of the media took a pathological hatred to Markle, and when it was suggested that Fox as a wealthy white person might enjoy a certain amount of privilege, he said it was "racist" to call him a "white, privileged male". He also said, "It's so easy to throw the card of racism at everybody… and it's really starting to get boring now." Fox's boredom at the subject of racism produced a certain media storm.Laurence Fox clashes with Question Time audience member over Meghan Markle racism row, The Evening Standard (London), 17 Jan 2020
In the aftermath he emphasized his cluenessness on race by criticising the 2019 film 1917 (directed by Sam Mendes) for including a Sikh character, saying it "felt incongruous" and referring to "oddness in the casting". Fox was unaware that 130,000 Sikh soldiers served in World War One as part of the army of British India. After criticism, Fox apologised.Laurence Fox apologises to Sikhs for 'clumsy' 1917 comments, BBC, 24 Jan 2020
He has criticised Black History Month for "indoctrination and divisive ideologies," tweeting a link to an article by Calvin Robinson with the same message."With Black History Month starting on Thursday, here are some resources for schools compiled by ⁦@calvinrobinson⁩, free from indoctrination and divisive ideologies. Also a reminder that parents have right to know what their kids are being taught. https://dontdivideus.com/black-history-month/", Laurence Fox, Twitter, Sep 28, 2020 https://twitter.com/LozzaFox/status/1310477887145992192 Robinson is a Senior Fellow at the right-wing think tank Policy Exchange, which has close links to the British government, and personally believes "#BlackLivesMatter is a dangerous mix of Marxism and Critical Race Theory, which poses a fundamental threat to race relations in Britain."Policy Exchange, PowerBase"#BlackLivesMatter is a dangerous mix of Marxism and Critical Race Theory which poses a fundamental threat to race relations in Britain. Britain is one of the most successful examples of a multi-racial democracy, that the world has ever seen. Do not let #BLM seize the narrative.", Calvin Robinson, Twitter, Sep 16, 2020, https://twitter.com/calvinrobinson/status/1306119365679550464
He claims to have been ostracized by the acting world for his beliefs.Laurence Fox claims there is a 'concerted drive' in the acting world to make him 'be quiet' about his controversial views after Question Time rant, Daily Mail, 29 June 2020 He caused a massive argument at British actors' union Equity: after his Question Time appearance, ethnic minority union reps accused him of acting to "berate and bully women of colour attempting to discuss issues of race and gender discrimination", "playing to the gallery, a populist tirade, with women of colour being used as cannon fodder", and said he had been trying to conceal his privilege and "damn any recognition of that privilege as the very racism he claims is exaggerated when people of colour try to discuss it". Fox threatened to sue Equity for libel, and the union's leadership apologised, but in response its entire race equality committee resigned in protest at the apology.Equity apology to Laurence Fox sparks string of resignations, The Guardian, 13 Mar 2020
===It's my party and I'll cry if I want to===
In September 2020, he announced he was forming a new political party, and claimed to have received £5 million (US$ 6.4m) in donations. The party is provisionally called Reclaim. Its policies are vague but it wants to reform broadcasting and education to be "free from political bias".Laurence Fox launching political party to 'reclaim' British values, The Guardian, 27 Sep, 2020 One of the main donors is Jeremy Hosking, who made his fortune in private equity and has donated millions to causes around Brexit and the Conservative Party.Laurence Fox: why I'm starting a new political party, Christopher Hope, The Sunday Telegraph, 27 September 2020 In the first quarter of 2021, the party received a sizable £1,153,300 in donations, mostly from Hosking.Laurence Fox’s political party received almost same donations as Lib Dems, The Guardian, 3 Jun, 2021
Fox stood in the with the main points of his platform being eliminating regulations against the spread of COVID-19 and opposing "political correctness".Laurence Fox to Count Binface: the most colourful London mayor candidates, The Week, 6 May 2021 He received 1.9% of first-preference votes (47,634), almost twice as many as of the Count Binface Party, a man dressed as a bin who polled 1%. He was outpolled by Niko Omilana, a YouTuber who had pledged to cut the price of Freddos chocolate bars to 5p. Needless to say, he lost the deposit.London Elections 2021 - London Mayor, BBC News, May 2021
Reclaim currently has no MPs. Andrew Bridgen, who was expelled from the Conservative Party for comparing vaccines to The Holocaust, briefly joined the party after his expulsion,Andrew Bridgen becomes first Reclaim MP after expulsion from Tories, The Guardian, 10 May 2023 but later quit due to differences with Fox.Ex-Tory MP quits Reclaim Party after seven months BBC News, 20 December 2023
===Omnishambles===
Fox was, of course, a COVID-19 denialist and antivaxxer throughout the pandemic, Tweeting unwanted advice to the man who had beat him by quite a significant margin to be London Mayor, 
On January 30, 2022, four days after sharing a selfie of himself wearing a T-shirt emblazoned, “No vaccine needed, I have an immune system,” Fox tweeted out: 
===Perfectly-timed transphobia===
In June 2022, he was suspended from Twitter after declaring his admiration of far-right-affiliated transphobe Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (Posie Parker), attacking trans rights and posting a swastika made up of trans pride and LGBT rainbow flags.Laurence Fox temporarily suspended from Twitter after posting LGBTQ+ swastika, Pink News, 27 June 2022Of Course TERFs Have Found Common Cause With White Nationalists, Jezebel, 17 Oct 2019 His actions were widely condemned as they happened the same weekend as an attack on a gay bar in Oslo. He was also condemned by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust who said: “We are appalled to see Laurence Fox's vile tweet this morning with abhorrent use of the swastika. Gay men experienced untold suffering under the Nazis, including murder, castration and medical experimentation." “Ignorance of this history can only exacerbate present-day discrimination faced by #LGBTQ+ people.”
Laurence Fox condemned by Holocaust charities over rainbow flag swastika post, The Jewish Chronicle, 27 June 2022
===Misogynistic rantings===
There was a time when Fox presented a regular Friday night TV slot on GB News, the UK's answer to Fox News.Laurence Fox archive at the GB News website. His time on the network was relatively brief due to his appearance on Dan Wootton Tonight (another current affairs series by GB News) in 2023. Angry at a female journalist named Ava Evans because of comments she made about male suicide, Fox launched into a misogynistic tirade about Evans while presenter Dan Wootton smirked and laughed.Journalist Ava Evans' comments on male suicide that sparked Laurence Fox's GB News tirade, The Mirror, 28 Sept 2023 For readers curious about what was said, Fox claimed that no "self-respecting man" would ever want to sleep with Evans ("who'd want to shag that?") and called her "pathetic and embarrassing".What did Laurence Fox say about Ava Evans on GB News? 'Unacceptable' comments in full and reaction to his suspension, Sky News, 28 Sept 2023 Fox later apologised for his remarks and described them as "a bit crass."
In a stopped clock moment for the company, GB News sacked Fox and suspended Wootton,British Actor Laurence Fox Fired By GB News & Arrested Within The Space Of A Few Hours, Deadline, 4 Oct 2023 calling Fox's comments "unacceptable". A third presenter who had defended the two men was also sacked, while Wootton remains suspended as an internal investigation into his behaviour continues.Laurence Fox and Calvin Robinson sacked by GB News, BBC News, 4 Oct 2023
Fox was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on October 4 2023, the same day as his firing from GB News,Laurence Fox arrested over remarks on Ulez cameras as GB News sacks him, The Guardian, 4 Oct 2023 for calling on people unhappy with London's (ULEZ) to destroy traffic cameras and saying that he himself would take part in such activity.
To add insult to injury, while Fox was being held in police custody, he was apparently informed that he'd been fired from GB News.Laurence Fox ‘found out he’d been sacked from GB News while in custody’, Daily Telegraph, 4 Oct 2023
===Having a mare===
On March 23, 2024, ahead of friendly between England and Brazil at Wembley, Fox held a 'rally for British culture' at the Cenotaph. The protest was called amid backlash to the new England home kit featuring a purple and pink St George’s Cross. Fox compared the colours to the bisexual pride flag and called for the boycott of its maker Nike. It was, however, pointed out that he did this whilst wearing a pair of Nike high-tops.Laurence Fox slams Nike at rally - while wearing Nike trainers, Jake Brigstock, indy100, Mar 24, 2024Laurence Fox ridiculed for calling for Nike boycott while wearing Nike shoes, Tara Cobham, Independent, Mar 25, 2024
Fox's plans to stand in the were scuppered, when, unlike more politically savvy campaigners, such as the aforementioned Count Binface, his team failed to complete the nomination forms in time.Laurence Fox's London Mayor campaign ruined by hilarious error, Liam O'Dell, indy100, Mar 28, 2024Laurence Fox barred from London mayoral election after submitting 'invalid' papers, Rpss Lydall, Evening Standard, Mar 28, 2024 This at least saved him the cost of losing his deposit again.
Fox joined fellow bigot Tommy Robinson at a 2024 St George’s Day rally which started with disorder, animal cruelty and arrests, and ended with Fox whining at a police officer about being jostled.
A video titled "Loser Lozza wtf?" by X user Jerry Hicks captured the following confrontation:
The brave little trooper later posted, "I pray for the courage demanded to help bring about a revolution so sincerely needed. In the words of NWA Fuck the Police."
===Distinctively homophobic===
On April 25, 2024, Fox was ordered to pay £90,000 in "purely compensatory" damages each to Simon Blake (of LGBT charity Stonewall UK and Mental Health First Aid England) and Crystal (a performer from Ru Paul's Drag Race UK whose real name is Colin Seymour) having lost a High Court libel case for Twitter comments described by Justice as "distinctively homophobic".Laurence Fox ordered to pay £180,000 to two people he called ‘paedophiles’ by Alexandra Topping (April 25, 2024) GuardianLaurence Fox ordered to pay £180,000 in damages after wrongly branding two people paedophiles by Athena Stavrou (April 25, 2024) IndependentLaurence Fox told to pay £180,000 in libel damages by Jeremy Culley (April 25, 2024) BBC News
The case had been brought over Fox's response to some Tweets that accused Fox of racism over comments he had made about supermarket chain Sainsburys showing support for black members of staff and diversity during Black History Month, all the while Black live matter protests were still going strong. It was Fox's calling for a boycott of Sainsburys for this, accusing them Racial segregation and discrimination, that led to the tweets branding him as racist, to which Fox responded with the branding of Blake and Seymour as paedophiles.
During the trial, Fox claimed he was a victim of anti-white racism, stating: 
He also dismissed the concept of white privilege as “disgusting racism,” adding: 
And he refered to Black Lives Matter as a “grift” and a “Ponzi scheme”.
Collins Rice did not rule on whether describing Fox as “a racist” was “substantially true,” but found that the tweets making this claim were unlikely harm to his reputation, and that he had tried to hold Blake and Seymour responsible "for a range of his own life's adversities".
==Footnotes==
==External links==
* LozzaFox on Twitter
* Reclaim Party on Twitter
* Reclaim Party website
==References==
Category:Actors
Category:Anti-vaccination movement
Category:British people
Category:COVID-19 denialists
Category:Denialists
Category:Homophobes
Category:Living people
Category:Musicians
Category:Politicians
Category:Racists
Category:Right-wing activists
Category:Transphobes