Michael Fabricant, a member of the British Parliament, apologized today after making a sarcastic tweet about punching a journalist, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, in the throat.
Here’s the tweet in question (Fabricant has not taken it down yet):
I could never appear on a discussion prog with @y_alibhai I would either end up with a brain haemorrhage or by punching her in the throat
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) June 20, 2014
This, of course, set off a whole firestorm online, after which Fabricant went back on Twitter to apologize and insist he only meant it sarcastically and would of course never actually hit a woman.
Just out of dentist. 1 It appears that some people who don't know me think I actually go round punching "in the throat". Not true.
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) June 20, 2014
2. If anyone believes I would seriously threaten someone with violence, I of course withdraw and apologise
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) June 20, 2014
3. I am afraid I know I would get v angry if I had been on the Ch4 debate last night. Glad it was Rod Liddle and not me!
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) June 20, 2014
.Sorry @y_alibhai if you actually thought I would punch you. I actually don't do that sort of thing. But you are utterly infuriating! xx
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) June 20, 2014
So just for the avoidance of any doubt: I am v sorry for tweet. It was wrong to joke abt punching + I completely withdraw and apologise.
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) June 20, 2014
Fabricant even tweeted a picture of himself at an event he went to that was all about condemning domestic violence.
And here's me in a demo in Lichfield end last yr against domestic violence. "Real men don't hit women". It's true! pic.twitter.com/tm0BLdL6NG
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) June 20, 2014
Alibhai-Brown, however, is having none of it.
@Mike_Fabricant the tweet was offensive & your 'apology' useless. Tories like you think people like me should be ayahs or selling you curry
— Yasmin alibhai-brown (@y_alibhai) June 20, 2014
@Mike_Fabricant @GuidoFawkes It was not a joke but a violent urge, unacceptable from an MP. DO YOU NOT GET THAT? Feeling that urge again?
— Yasmin alibhai-brown (@y_alibhai) June 20, 2014
[h/t BBC]
[featured image via Shutterstock]
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