Laurence Fox sparks a furious backlash after sharing flippant ‘Instagram seems to be broken’ reference to Blackout Tuesday
- The controversial actor has using his Twitter platform to comment on the Blackout Tuesday movement currently sweeping across social media
- In an act of solidarity, millions across the world have boycotted social media by filling their Instagram and Facebook feeds with stark black squares
- Taking to Twitter as the momentous day got underway, Fox, 42, remarked on the lack of movement online with the quip: Instagram is broken’
Laurence Fox has provoked further controversy after using his Twitter platform to comment on the Blackout Tuesday movement currently sweeping across social media in response to the senseless death of George Floyd.
In an act of solidarity, millions across the world have boycotted social media by filling their Instagram and Facebook feeds with stark black squares, giving those whose lives are dedicated to online activity the opportunity to reflect on the Black Lives Matter movement and the ongoing push for racial equality.
Taking to Twitter as the momentous day got underway, Fox, 42, appeared to make a flippant reference to the lack of movement online – sparked by Floyd’s death at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25th.
Under fire: Laurence Fox has provoked further controversy after using his Twitter platform to comment on the Blackout Tuesday movement currently sweeping across social media
Addressing his 183,000 followers, he wrote: ‘Instagram seems to be broken.’
The comment sparked an inevitable wave of criticism, with many followers condemning Fox for missing the point.
Responding to the actor, one wrote: ‘Obviously your thinking is. Making a joke about people showing solidarity for the appalling way black people have been & are still being treated for generations is pretty twisted.’
While another added: ‘And the most privilege blind award goes to L Fox. Your blind spot is immense!’
Comment: , Fox appeared to make a flippant reference to the lack of movement online – sparked by black man George Floyd’s death at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis
Target: The comment sparked an inevitable wave of criticism, with many followers condemning Fox for missing the point
Hitting out: Followers lashed out at the actor shortly after reading his post, with one accusing him of ‘racism’
A third commented: ‘No Laurence. People are ending racism. Just as they ended the conflict in Sudan with a blue profile picture.’
Hitting back at the actor, another outraged follower wrote: ‘I’m sorry, have I missed something here? Is the problem that black police officers are wantonly murdering whites people and I have somehow got the wrong end of the stick?’
Slamming Fox, another added: ‘I believe you officially qualify as a racist now. You can’t say Instagram is broken’
Others sided with the actor, with a faction describing those who opted to post black squares across social media as ‘virtue signalling sheep.’
The actor son of celebrated screen star James Fox has been targeted for his outspoken political views following a controversial appearance on BBC show Question Time in January.
Fox accused black university lecturer Rachel Boyle of ‘being racist’ on Question Time after she called him ‘a white privileged male’ for denying Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex was hounded from Britain for being mixed-race.
He shot back at her: ”Oh my God. I can’t help what I am, I was born like this, it’s an immutable characteristic: to call me a white privileged male is to be racist – you’re being racist’.