Controversial actor and commentator Laurence Fox kicked off Pride Month by posting a video of himself burning a rainbow flag—a move that quickly ignited outrage online. In the clip, Fox stands alone in what appears to be a backyard, holding a lighter to a folded Pride flag as it catches fire. He accompanies the post with a brutally blunt caption:
“It’s that time of year again. F*ck pride. Homophobic and racist movement worshipped by morons.”
Fox’s actions and words sparked an immediate wave of backlash from X users and LGBTQ+ advocates, who condemned the stunt as hateful and regressive.
🌈 What is Pride Month—and why does Fox hate it?
Pride Month, held every June, celebrates acceptance, equality and the achievements of LGBTQ+ people. It commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, when patrons of the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village resisted a police raid—an event widely considered the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Pride parades, flag-waving and community events occur worldwide, honouring that legacy and promoting solidarity.
Fox’s overt contempt for the festivities is not new. Last year, he burned a Pride flag in a similar stunt, claiming to be a “proud heterosexual.” Many on social media pointed out the irony. As one X user wrote:
“For a ‘Proud heterosexual’ (whatever that means), noted Dipsh*t Laurence Fox really does think and post about gay people a lot….. Eh, probably means nothing.”
🛑 Outrage and “flagged” reactions
Within minutes of Fox’s post, users flooded the comment section. Some sternly rebuked him:
“There’s nothing patriotic about burning a symbol of love and tolerance.”
“You’re not just attacking a flag—you’re attacking people who deserve respect.”
Others questioned his motivations:
“He calls it a ‘homophobic and racist movement,’ but Pride has nothing to do with race—what’s his real agenda?”
“Why does a ‘proud heterosexual’ care so much about gay people? Sounds like obsession to me.”
Several LGBTQ+ advocates flagged the video for hate speech, prompting X to review whether it violates the platform’s policies. Some followers even pointed out that legitimate or satirical criticism of Pride is fine—but destroying a symbol meant for a marginalized community crosses the line into bigotry.
🔥 Fox doubles down on provocation
Despite the backlash, Fox has stuck to his guns. In follow-up posts, he dismissed critics as “snowflakes” and insisted that Pride is “politically motivated” rather than a celebration of human rights. He wrote:
“Pride is a political stunt disguised as a celebration—time to burn the showmanship down.”
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Related: Laurence Fox and Joey Barton pilloried for hasty Liverpool crash comments
