Julia Hartley-Brewer Faces Criticism for Social Media Post Amid Laurence Fox Upskirting Charge
Broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer has ignited a firestorm of criticism for appearing to downplay the severity of the charges against Laurence Fox, who is accused of upskirting Narinder Kaur. The Talk TV presenter triggered outrage after commenting on Fox’s recent charge by the Metropolitan Police, stemming from a non-consensual image of Kaur shared on his social media account. This online commentary has sparked accusations of victim-blaming and trivializing sexual offences.
Hartley-Brewer’s Tweet Draws Backlash
Former actor Laurence Fox is scheduled to appear in court next month following an 11-month police investigation into the social media post. In response to the legal action against Fox, Julia Hartley-Brewer, a prominent figure on Talk TV, used the platform X, previously known as Twitter, to express her opinions. This sparked immediate condemnation from other users online. Hartley-Brewer, who boasts a substantial following of over 526,000, seemed to draw a parallel between the gravity of her personal experience with theft and the charges against Fox.
Comparing Theft to Upskirting Charge
Hartley-Brewer’s post stated: “In other news, my handbag was stolen last June. I provided police with CCTV footage of the theft. They identified the suspect. 10 months later, still no charges,” accompanied by a link to a news article. One respondent reacted with fury, questioning her intentions: “Are you really attempting to compare these two offences? Shameful.” Hartley-Brewer retorted, defending her statement by claiming, “I’m comparing the police response to different types of crimes.”
Online Condemnation Intensifies
Another critic rebuked her stance, commenting: “That’s quite insensitive, Julia. The theft of your handbag is unfortunate, but it is inappropriate to diminish the seriousness of Fox’s actions. He is facing charges for sexual offences. Try to empathize with Narinder and demonstrate some compassion,” as reported by the Mirror. Another online user expressed outrage: “So you are diminishing sexual offences by equating them to a stolen handbag – an appalling perspective.” Further criticism followed with one user posting: “Consider the implications of your tweet. Attempting to trivialize sex offences because you are friendly with the man who violated a woman’s privacy.”
Background of the Upskirting Incident
Laurence Fox became the center of controversy after allegedly sharing an image on his social media page in April 2024. Narinder Kaur, 52, who has publicly identified herself, stated at the time that the post left her feeling “unimaginably humiliated.” The subsequent day, Fox addressed the widespread outrage surrounding the image and indicated his intention to “apologize” to Ms. Kaur. However, he also suggested a deflection of responsibility by alluding to the circumstances under which the broadcaster was photographed over fifteen years prior.
Police Statement and Legal Ramifications
The Metropolitan Police released an official statement concerning the case: “A man has been charged with a sexual offence following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Laurence Fox, 46, from Peldon, Essex, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 24, charged under section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The charge relates to an image circulated on social media in April 2024.” Upskirting, defined as the act of taking intimate photographs beneath a person’s clothing without their consent, was legally recognized as a criminal offence in 2019. Conviction for this offence can result in imprisonment for up to two years, and individuals may also be mandated to register as sex offenders.