Michael Gove forced to apologise after 'crass' sex assault joke about Harvey Weinstein
3 min read
Michael Gove has been forced to apologise after a joke he made about disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein sparked fury.
The Cabinet minister likened being interviewed on Radio 4 to suffering a sexual assault in the bedroom of the big-time movie producer.
He said on the Today programme this morning: “Sometimes I think that coming into the studio with you John [Humphrys] is a bit like going into Harvey Weinstein's bedroom…
"You just pray that you emerge with your dignity intact... but the broader point is that yes you can make a fool of yourself.”
The film tycoon has faced a raft of sexual assault and rape allegations in the past weeks - all of which he denies.
After Mr Gove made the joke, his fellow guest Lord Kinnock chimed in: "John goes way past groping. way past groping.”
But after the comments drew the ire of a number of top politicians and journalists, the Environment Secretary was forced to issue a grovelling retraction.
Labour MPs Stella Creasy and Jess Phillips both took to Twitter to condemn the remarks.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said rape was "no laughing matter".
Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson accused Mr Gove of trying to "trivialise sexual assault".
And Labour peer Lord Adonis said it was a “great embarrassment” for the flagship Radio 4 show which was celebrating its 60th birthday.
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