British presenter and journalist Dan Wootton finds himself embroiled in a scandal as his MailOnline celebrity news column is suspended by the site’s publisher for “a series of allegations.” The popular GB News presenter has been absent from his column since June 29, following revelations from an expose in The Byline Times. While Wootton vehemently denies the allegations, he does acknowledge making “errors of judgment” in the past.
According to the allegations, Wootton is accused of assuming the persona of ‘Martin Branning,’ a fictitious showbiz agent, who offered financial incentives to individuals, including some former colleagues, in exchange for explicit images. The Byline Times further claims that he had paid male porn stars to clandestinely film themselves engaging in sexual acts with men he had targeted. Bullying and harassment allegations have also surfaced, resulting in The Byline Times submitting a detailed dossier consisting of 28 pages to the UK police. Wootton, however, staunchly denies any involvement in criminal activities.
DMG Media, the publisher of MailOnline, as well as The Sun, where Wootton had worked for over a decade, have released statements confirming their ongoing investigations into the allegations made against him. In a recent statement, a DMG Media spokesperson revealed, “We are currently evaluating a series of allegations which Dan Wootton, one of our freelance contributors since 2021, has strongly denied. These allegations are grave, complex, and historical in nature. As such, an independent investigation is underway at the media group that employed him during the relevant period. In the meantime, his freelance column with MailOnline has been paused.”
Renowned for being the journalist who broke the story on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s relocation to the United States, Wootton took to his show, Dan Wootton Tonight, shortly after the initial allegations surfaced. Delivering a six-minute monologue, he admitted to past mistakes but highlighted his belief that he and the right-leaning GB News network were subjected to an unjust “witchhunt.” “There are sinister forces determined to bring down this exceptional channel,” he asserted. At the time of writing, Wootton has yet to address DMG Media’s decision on his social media platforms, choosing instead to retweet excerpts from his show, which primarily criticizes left-wing politics and what he perceives as excessive ‘wokeism.’
While the investigation into the allegations against Dan Wootton continues, the celebrity journalist’s suspension from his MailOnline column spotlights the seriousness of the situation. As the media industry grapples with allegations of misconduct, it is essential to ensure a thorough and impartial examination of the truth prevails.
Author: Ryan Scott
Just a guy
