A journalist for The Times, Flora Gill, caused uproar online after stating that there should be “entry level porn” that was specifically “for children.”
Gill, who is the host of the Times Radio show “Split Opinion,” and who has written for GQ, the Sunday Times Magazine, the Evening Standard and other publications, posted the inflammatory tweet late on Thursday evening.
“Someone needs to create porn for children,” she said.
“Hear me out. Young teens are already watching porn but they’re finding hard core, aggressive videos that give a terrible view of sex. They need entry level porn! A soft core site where everyone asks for consent and no one gets choked, etc.”
She later clarified: “To clarify – children means under 18. I’m talking about 14/15/16 year olds.”
https://twitter.com/Ben_Scallan/status/1421056413711884291
After intense backlash, Gill deleted the tweets, adding:
“Absolutely not getting swept up into another twitter cesspool so deleted tweet before it picks up steam! Obviously not an actual solution, but it is a real problem. Everyone take a deep breath.
“Apropos of nothing I really think if someone quickly deletes a tweet, it shouldn’t be screenshotted and shared like…just let it die, you know? No? No one else agree?”
Absolutely not getting swept up into another twitter cesspool so deleted tweet before it picks up steam! Obviously not an actual solution, but it is a real problem. Everyone take a deep breath
— Flora Gill (@FloraEGill) July 29, 2021
apropos of nothing I really think if someone quickly deletes a tweet, it shouldn't be screenshotted and shared like… just let it die, you know? no? no one else agree?
— Flora Gill (@FloraEGill) July 29, 2021
Reactions were not impressed to put it mildly.
I'm going to say this in very small words, with capitals for emphasis, because I don't think you understand the reaction you're getting.
Showing ANYONE under 18 ANY pornography is a form of non-contact CHILD ABUSE.
— Dora Boycott – kicked out of feminism 29/10/22 (@Dora_Callisto) July 29, 2021
She's a journalist?!?!? And she thinks kids should be granted more accessible porn?!?!???!? These are the people disseminating information to the public?!?!?!?!?!?!
— Bell Mining (@BellPhotograph5) July 29, 2021
So what you’re saying is gateway porn? Like, so we can get them into their addictions early on in a way that makes it seem like it’s not so bad?
— Delilah 🌸 Queen of the Bulls 💕 (@ohhowshedreams) July 29, 2021
“Another Twitter cesspool” 😂 Is this like that phrase; “you’re not stuck IN traffic.. you ARE the traffic”
— 🤓 (@slothhead_) July 29, 2021
That’s great. Why not create entry level alcohol and drugs for kids too? Maybe start them at 11 on low level stuff before increasing to heroin and vodka at 18?
— 👴🏼 (@Aspiracions) July 29, 2021