Julien Blanc, an American “pick-up artist”, will not be able to enter the UK, Sky News is reporting.
The American runs dating seminars which encourage men to harass and abuse women as a way of attracting them.
Over 150,000 people signed a petition calling on the Home Office to deny him entry to the UK. Addressed to Home Secretary Theresa May, it states:
To allow this man into the UK legitimises sexual assault and predation, and sends a message that women are playthings or objects without agency.”
Blanc has previously had to cut an Australian tour short after his visa there was withdrawn.
The Home Office has told Buzzfeed that it won’t comment on individual cases, but last week minister Lynne Featherstone told the Guardian:
As the Home Office minister with responsibility for tackling violence against women and girls, I am extremely concerned by the sexist and utterly abhorrent statements Julien Blanc has made about women. If he was allowed to perform in the UK I have no doubt that cases of sexual harassment and intimidation would increase.
Free speech is obviously hugely important, but with free speech comes responsibility. It is not appropriate to talk about choking girls under any circumstances.”
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