Laurence Fox, left, and Harry Maguire taking the knee
(Picture: Ian West/PA/ FRANK AUGSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Laurence Fox has once again decided to criticise the England football team for taking the knee just moments before they kicked off in their huge Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark.
The outspoken actor turned right-wing commentator and wannabee politician has been vocal in his opposition to the England team showing solidarity to those facing racing injustice around the world. Before the tournament had even started, Fox said that he hoped that the team would ‘lose’ in a bizarre reaction to them taking the knee.
However, England’s performances throughout the tournament have once again brought the nation together and there is almost no booing of the team for the gesture now. You might have hoped that Fox could let bygones be bygones ahead of the semi-final but that might be too much to ask.
Filming the team taking the knee before the kick-off against Denmark at Wembley, the 43-year-old tweeted: “You live in the one [sic] of the most tolerant and welcoming countries on earth, you virtue signalling babies.”
You live in the one of the most tolerant and welcoming countries on earth, you virtue signalling babies. pic.twitter.com/wNuEphGrlX
— Laurence Fox ✌🏼🇬🇧✌🏼 (@LozzaFox) July 7, 2021
Typo aside, you have to almost admire for sticking to his virtues and refusing to enjoy himself even when the team is clearly doing so well. That being said, he was still obviously watching the match so he can’t have been that offended.
Regardless, people were quick to fire back at Fox for this comment, especially moments before one of the biggest games in England’s history.
Let's be clear about this. It's not 'virtue signalling' It is normalising opposition to racism and bigotry. It is some of the most famous people in the country saying "prejudice is wrong." That is an important function. It won't solve racism but it highlights the problem https://t.co/B7w0UyT7a3
— Tony Evans (@TonyEvans92a) July 7, 2021
Saying the country is tolerant whilst he is not tolerating players taking the knee.
— i love 🧄 (@rmills886) July 8, 2021
Does he not realise how thick he is? https://t.co/cO5eSA09Cr
Laurence your racist mates don't even care any more, we're in the final, give it a rest https://t.co/V9DiGTdOzq
— Major Charles England (@JoeStephenson96) July 8, 2021
Lawrence continuing to struggle with supporting England while also being the kind of terrible racist shitbag that the majority of the squad and the manager are vocally in opposition to.
— Dan Hett (@danhett) July 8, 2021
also lives in student digs apparently https://t.co/Uy4VAiaqTV
Nigel Farage! Darren ‘Grimey’ Grimes! Prison Planet man! That weirdo MP who I sadly think is from Nottingham! Laurence Fox - can you hear me Laurence Fox? https://t.co/UFoXdutpSA
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) July 7, 2021
How not to read the room. https://t.co/LrYMyhBdph
— Iain Overton (@iainoverton) July 7, 2021
https://t.co/tYlPYqNWsd pic.twitter.com/6aw1AALtJk
— Fitting The 🅱️ill (@Rauer_2) July 7, 2021
This has aged well https://t.co/eG5GY4HsdD
— Otto English (@Otto_English) July 7, 2021
We should note that Fox hasn’t tweeted about football since this so perhaps he’s eating humble pie now but no doubt he’ll do the same come Sunday’s final.
Fox wasn’t the only person so appalled by a few footballers taking the knee for a few seconds. The Tory MP Lee Anderson said that he was going to ‘boycott the tournament’ over the knee row. How’s that going for you Lee?
Update: Fox has since apologised for wishing that the team would lose and admitted that he made a ‘mistake’ and was ‘sorry for being a d**k.’
