A GB News reporter has been accused of “exploiting” an autistic man in a viral social media clip.
Sultan Bey has said his brother was ridiculed and humiliated by correspondent Steven Edginton when he spoke to him for a vox pop interview about British values and historical figures in London.
Asked about what he thought about a number of famous historical figures like Alfred the Great, the man said in the clip: “Erm, well … What I would say about these people is they’re just doing what they’ve got to do, you know?”
“I was born in South London in 1997, it is my home … Yeah, Britain is my home.
“It’s amazing … Things have changed for good.”
Talking to The London Economic, his brother Sultan Bey has revealed the experience has left the family reeling.
The clip has been viewed millions of times, but Bey said GB News should have known better than to put it on social media.
'What do you think are British values?'@StevenEdginton finds out from South London locals what it means to be British. pic.twitter.com/l7zBvXOXc5
— GB News (@GBNEWS) July 17, 2025
“Now, my first point of reaction when seeing the video was a frustration towards my brother because we’ve told him, please stay off social media, don’t let yourself get recorded, don’t let people record you,” Bey said.
Bey claims what was thought to be a light-hearted moment in his brother’s eyes was edited into a form of ridicule, shared for engagement rather than understanding.
“It was also a point of anger, anger towards GB News, because if you go and look at GB News and what they posted on Instagram, what they posted on YouTube, what they posted on TikTok, it was clipped in a way to make my brother look stupid,” he claimed.
He added: “Now, obviously my brother suffers from autism and a news company should be at a place of position of care where they can see that this is an individual that is clearly neurodivergent. You can tell that there’s something up here and you shouldn’t post something like this on social media.”
Bey said the family are “furious” at GB News because of “racist” comments that have been left on the video.
Bey said his brother has a deep affection for London, a photographic memory, and a genuine enthusiasm for his home country.
He said: “He loves London, he loves being British.”
“To see how he’s been treated, to see how people have spoken about him saying that he doesn’t belong here, saying that he should go back home … racist comments, whether to me or in my DMs as well, it’s just been not nice,” he added.
“They’ve put it out in a way to ridicule and humiliate my brother.
“Obviously he’s autistic, he’s got key carers that GB News should have reached out to before even putting this out. And we did not consent for this to go out. And I don’t think he consented for this to go out. He didn’t write a written confirmation that this should go out. It’s ridiculous.”
A GB News spokesperson said: “The clip is one of a number GB News has broadcast, and which forms part of a longer documentary examining what Britishness and British values mean to different people.
“We’d encourage people to watch the documentary, and make their own minds up.”
Edginton commented on Twitter/X: “I haven’t seen so much hysteria over a vox pop in my life. That’s what we do sometimes – interview the public. Sometimes they look good, or bad, or neutral. People can make up their own minds.
“I didn’t trap him or force home to do an interview. I asked the same questions to everyone. Endless virtue signalling nonsense.”
