GMB panelist claims Bridget Jones ‘paved the way for Andrew Tate’
Good Morning Britain erupted into a furious debate this morning after a panelist claimed that Bridget Jones ‘paved the way for Andrew Tate’ by ‘teaching boys that women are not responsible’.
Ava-Santina Evans – PoliticisJOE’s political correspondent – appeared on the ITV show to discuss whether the fictional character is ‘bad for women’ on the 25th anniversary of the first book to be published in the US.
To mark this anniversary, the political correspondent was invited to participate in a debate opposite author Adele Parks to discuss the lasting impact of the hugely popular rom-com heroine.
Beginning the argument, Ava acknowledged that Helen Fielding “had the 1990s zeitgeist” — but described Bridget as “the epitome of a self-obsessed” woman who “drinks too much.”
Ava described how Bridget was presented as “unfit for the workplace,” saying, “I don’t think that’s healthy for young guys to watch.”
Pictured: Ava-Santina Evans – PoliticisJOE’s political correspondent – appeared on the ITV show this morning
When presenter Susanna Reid questioned whether young boys would read Bridget Jones’s books or watch the films, Ava replied, “Young boys consume Andrew Tate, right?
“And Andrew Tate teaches them that women are fickle, that women are not responsible and that they should be at home.”
Susanna then replied, “Oh, I see, so Bridget Jones paved the way for Andrew Tate?”
Ava agreed that this was possible, adding, “Looking at her now, I’d say this just epitomizes whatever criticism he has of a woman.”
The controversial social media influencer is currently under house arrest in Romania after being charged with rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
Following this, Adele hit back at Ava’s argument, insisting that the series wasn’t harmful to women in the slightest.
The author said: ‘[Bridget Jones] is not a danger to women because women are not weak-minded individuals who read a comic, satirical book and think, “oh that’s me!”
“I was reading American Psycho at the same time – which I assume young boys have read too. I didn’t start chopping people up and hiding them under my floorboards!
Reese Witherspoon played Bridget Jones in the three accompanying films. Depicted in the 2001 film
The GMB segment sparked fierce debate on Twitter, with the majority addressing Adele’s side of the argument
“It’s fiction and I think we’re entering a world where it’s ridiculous that we leave no room for comedy.”
While the author admitted that Bridget was “neurotic” and “smoked way too much,” she emphasized how the book opens with the heroine’s mission to better herself.
She added, “A lot of people are dealing with it. 15 million people connected to it because that’s how many books she’s sold and it builds a community.”
However, Ava objected to the theme in the books that women “can have it all” in the form of a successful career, a happy marriage, and children.
Pictured: Adele Parks countered Ava-Santina Evans’ argument, saying Bridget Jones was “relatable” to countless readers
She said, “But at the end, she was a woman who got pregnant by two different men, was unable to maintain her lifestyle, and eventually turned 40 and was more concerned about going to school than her job. ‘
Adele accused Ava of “stereotyping women” with this comment, adding, “Show me a person – not a woman – who has made no mistakes in life.”
“That wasn’t her problem,” Ava replied. Her problem was that she was so focused on finding a man that she forgot about her career. That’s not a good role model for me.’
The clip also sparked fierce debate on Twitter – where people took issue with Ava’s concern for young boys.
One of them wrote, “Ava doesn’t realize Bridget Jones isn’t watched by young boys. The majority of Bridget Jones’ audience is female. And linking Bridget Jones to Andrew Tate are all sorts of comically ridiculous cobblers.”
Pictured: Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in a promotional photo for the 2004 film The Edge of Reason
Another furious: ‘Why are so many people trying to censor everything?!! Get a life!!
“Bridget Jones was funny, most people sympathized with her exaggerated qualities and felt a little sorry for her creepy behavior, but loved that she was flawed.”
Meanwhile, a third said, “Pity! Can’t the snowflakes tell the difference between fact and fiction? Bridget Jones is a story… what a waste of airtime when there are far more important things to talk about.”
A fourth ranted, “Are they really debating whether a fictional character is harmful to women?” What’s the matter with the world?’
Another viewer objected to one of Adele’s points, writing, “I have no opinion on Bridget Jones, but I’m not sure ‘I read a book and didn’t kill anyone’ is a good argument.”