Boris Johnson’s new gig at GB News is a match made in problematic heaven

By Abby Amoakuh

Published Oct 30, 2023 at 06:08 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

On Friday 27 October 2023, GB News announced that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is going to join the media outlet as a presenter, programme maker, and commentator. Oh dear…

“I’m going to be giving this remarkable new TV channel my unvarnished views on everything—from Russia, China, the war in Ukraine, how we meet all those challenges, to the huge opportunities that lie ahead for us. Why I think our best days are yet to come,” Johnson said in a video statement.

If you are anything like us, this recent news coupled with this statement probably made you shudder. Boris Johnson has a long history of problematic behaviour in and outside of his political career. Consequently, most netizens, myself included, aren’t too keen on his views gaining a prominent platform within a major media organisation.

“This has to be a joke. The guy has less credibility than Tony Blair,” one TikToker commented about the news. Unfortunately, it’s not. “Rest in Peace GB News,” another commented. “GB News is finished and this country is finished,” someone else stated.

@noshitsherlock1365

Is this the end of gb news ? #greatbritain🇬🇧 #gbnews #fyp #borisjohnson #viral

♬ original sound - Alison

Well, Boris Johnson isn’t exactly a stranger to the realm of journalism. In the past, he has worked as a reporter and political commentator for publications such as The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Spectator. Nevertheless, he was sacked from his job at The Times due to allegations that he fabricated a quote from historian Colin Lucas, who coincidentally is his godfather.

During his stint at The Daily Telegraph, he was also accused of publishing many exaggerated or invented stories about the European Union, also known as ‘Euromyths’ as well as making some exaggerations about the growth of the UK economy. Not exactly the hard-hitting journalism one would hope for, right?

And then there is also his fraught and contested tenure as Prime Minister. In September 2022, Johnson stepped down from the position due to the controversy surrounding a ‘bring your own booze’ party held at 10 Downing Street during the country’s first COVID-19 lockdown.

The incident led to a no-confidence vote, which Johnson narrowly survived, and triggered mass resignations by members of his cabinet, including one Rishi Sunak. Then there was also the infamous ‘Wallpapergate’. The scandal occurred in 2021 after former advisor Dominic Cummings claimed that Johnson had asked Conservative donors to foot the bill for his expensive refurbishment of number 10. The refurbishments cost more than £200,000 against an annual budget of £30,000 for renovations, according to The Independent. The scandal was said to herald Johnson’s downfall but here we are. Still very much thriving.

So, how did this deal happen? Well, Johnson might be problematic but so is GB News. The controversial broadcaster had to sack one of its presenters, Laurence Fox, in October over derogatory and misogynistic comments he made about a female journalist. The company also made headlines when its news presenter Bev Turner defended Russell Brand after allegations of sexual assault were made against the actor and comedian. Turner went as far as to call Brand “a hero.”

In the same month, frequent GB News guest and conservative commentator Connor Tomlinson also argued against women experiencing misogyny in the media during a televised debate on Sky News.

Considering that the media company is now hiring Johnson, it seems like it is trying to double down on controversy and polarising opinions, rather than moving away from them.

Consequently, this might be a match made in problematic heaven rather than the end of GB News as many netizens are suggesting. In the grand scheme of things, this new partnership with Johnson appears to be a seamless continuation of GB News’ enduring affinity for controversy, rather than a sudden departure from its established path of reporting.

Keep On Reading

By Louis Shankar

How GB News’ ‘free speech’ propaganda sent it into a free fall

By Monica Athnasious

Boris Johnson joins TikTok and leaves commenters begging for a ‘hair tutorial’

By Louis Shankar

From his Daily Mail column to mayoral election rumours, we haven’t seen the last of Boris Johnson

By Lois Freeman

From war zones to fashion runways: Model agencies exposed for recruiting women in refugee camps

By Jennifer Raymont

Buy now, pay later services like Klarna and Clearpay see decline among gen Zers

By Charlie Sawyer

364 days away from election day, Trump leads the 2024 US presidential election polls 

By Mason Berlinka

Watch viral video of a guy trying to rob a nail salon, and failing miserably

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Understanding the Carla Foster case and how it might impact abortion rulings in the UK

By Mason Berlinka

Barbie movie ban: Why Hollywood is constantly bending the knee to China

By Louis Shankar

Sorry everyone, but Saltburn is a car crash of a film

By Charlie Sawyer

What is girl maths? Unpacking the TikTok trend that’s helping us girlies justify our purchases

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Plane forced to turn back after horse breaks lose on board

By Abby Amoakuh

From the trailer to the cast, here’s everything you need to know about the Love Island all-star series

By Charlie Sawyer

Girlies just leaked the teaser trailer for Mean Girls: The Musical and people aren’t happy

By Charlie Sawyer

The very best moments from Variety’s 2023 Actors on Actors series

By Charlie Sawyer

10 juicy rumoured celebrity romances that began on TikTok

By Abby Amoakuh

Trump’s gag order paused as Biden secures more pandas from China

By Charlie Sawyer

Think climate change isn’t real? Watch this shocking video of the plastic in the Guatemalan sea

By Charlie Sawyer

Watch Tyler, the Creator and Post Malone get down to Colbie Caillat

By Charlie Sawyer

Jake Shane’s TikTok skits have turned us all into octopus lovers, and given us serious bestie fomo