Milo Yiannopoulos struggles to fit in with UK right wing
· coffee
‘GB News wouldn’t touch him’: Milo Yiannopoulos will struggle to fit in with UK right wing
The return of Milo Yiannopoulos to the UK has sent shockwaves through the far-right ecosystem. The 41-year-old provocateur, once a darling of the alt-right movement in the US, is now an outcast in his native country.
Yiannopoulos’s downfall is twofold. He has become too toxic for some on the far right to stomach. His history of making disparaging comments about Donald Trump, including claims that he’s “firmly off the Trump train,” has alienated him from those who once saw him as a valuable ally.
Moreover, GB News, the ascendant broadcast outlet of the right, has made it clear they won’t touch Yiannopoulos with a barge pole. A source at the channel described him as “entirely appealing to an American audience” and noted that he wouldn’t make much money out of his antics in the UK.
This rejection is significant because it marks a shift away from the more outrageous elements of the far right, who have been using platforms like GB News to peddle hate and intolerance. The likes of Restore Britain, led by Rupert Lowe, are also signaling their disinterest in hosting Yiannopoulos, suggesting he may be forced to look elsewhere for a platform.
Platforms such as Dan Wootton’s channel and Mike Graham’s independent show have created space for individuals who might not fit in with the mainstream far-right establishment but still want to peddle their hate. This worrying trend suggests that even as the more extreme elements of the right are being pushed out, they’re finding new ways to rebrand themselves.
Yiannopoulos will likely resurface in Britain, perhaps as an adviser to Rupert Lowe or a contestant on some third-tier reality TV show. His return is a reminder that the far right is not going away anytime soon, but it doesn’t mean we have to give them a platform.
The UK’s grappling with its own brand of extremist ideologies makes it worth remembering that Milo Yiannopoulos was once offered a speaking slot at CPAC in 2017. His views were seen as too extreme even for some on the far right then – and now he’s been deported back to his native country.
It’s time to take stock of what we’re allowing into our public discourse, and who we’re giving platforms to. The return of Milo Yiannopoulos is a wake-up call, but it’s not too late to change course.
Reader Views
- BOBeth O. · barista trainer
It's about time someone made it clear that Milo Yiannopoulos is toxic and not worth taking seriously in the UK. But what's concerning is how his rejection by GB News won't necessarily keep him from finding another platform to spew his hate. The fact that individuals like Dan Wootton and Mike Graham are creating space for more fringe figures shows that we need to be vigilant about who gets a megaphone - not just in the far right, but also in our mainstream media.
- RVRohan V. · home roaster
The far right's attempt to rehabilitate Milo Yiannopoulos is nothing short of desperate. By rejecting him from their ranks, GB News and Restore Britain are sending a signal that there's a limit to how toxic they're willing to be. However, this shift won't necessarily curb the proliferation of hate speech online - platforms like YouTube's algorithm-boosted conspiracy channels will still provide an echo chamber for Yiannopoulos' brand of rhetoric.
- TCThe Cafe Desk · editorial
The far-right's rejection of Milo Yiannopoulos is a telling sign that they're trying to rebrand themselves as respectable. GB News's decision not to touch him with a barge pole is significant because it highlights the tension between those who want to peddle hate and intolerance, and those who are trying to appeal to a wider audience. The problem is that while these platforms may be purging their most egregious elements, they're still creating space for individuals who espouse divisive rhetoric - often under the guise of "free speech".