"If she cries, she's just playing hard to get"

"Get your arm swing just right when you're walking and you occasionally touch a bit of ***** by 'mistake', they love it."

"If she's looking at me and playing with her hair, by the end of the night she'll need a wheelchair"

In September 2014 ITV started airing a show by the online personality Daniel O’Reilly, better known as Dapper Laughs. O’Reilly’s work frequently depicts real-life harassment of women and in his new show he offers dating tips to members of the public inspired by his misogynistic views, all under the guise of harmless comedy.

O’Reilly’s attitudes towards women, and ITV’s backing in particular, are far from harmless however: because ITV has granted O’Reilly the massive exposure and credibility of its platform, everyday sexism is being normalised for both young men and women.

This has to stop. Sexual harassment and borderline threatening behaviour towards women must never be defended as either comedy or "harmless banter" nor should young men and women be encouraged to regard sexist behaviour as socially acceptable. 

The TV industry is an important part of the UK’s society and economy.  It provides thousands of jobs as well as entertainment and education to millions of viewers both in the UK and abroad.  

ITV is an industry leader and its own social responsibility policy recognises that with its position "comes a significant responsibility that goes beyond our regulatory requirements. When identifying material issues, considering the impact of our actions upon the people who work for us, the communities in which we operate and the environment around us makes good business and ethical sense". 

It is time for ITV to follow its own responsibility policy and recognize that it has a duty not to aid the spread of sexism as seen in "Dapper Laughs: On The Pull".  This insight should lead ITV to end their affiliation with Mr O'Reilly and not commission a 2nd series. Further, all future content decisions should be reviewed on a similar basis. 

#canceldapper