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28th October 2017
11:19am BST
Michael Gove has apologised "unreservedly" after he made an inappropriate joke that referenced the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal.
Gove was a guest on Today and compared being interviewed by presenter John Humphrys with going into the bedroom of the shamed film producer. Speaking to Humphrys on Saturday morning, Mr Gove said: "Sometimes I think coming into the studio with you John is a bit like going into Harvey Weinstein’s bedroom – you hope to emerge with your dignity intact”. The environment secretary was speaking in front of a live audience as the show marked its 60th anniversary. https://twitter.com/bbcnickrobinson/status/924173497580032000 Mr Gove has since apologised and said that this remark was a "clumsy attempt at humour." https://twitter.com/michaelgove/status/924198131637673984 At present, the Los Angeles police department and the Met police are investigating various claims of sexual assault claims that were made against Weinstein. Since various women came forward to speak out against Weinstein, the film producer has been accused of accused of rape, sexual assault, and harassment by a number of actresses and employees. Mr Gove's apology comes after he was heavily criticised for the comments. Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson took to Twitter to hit out at Mr Gove for "trivialising sexual assault" while MP John Mann said Gove's remarks were "dangerously not funny". https://twitter.com/JohnMannMP/status/924194664839774208 https://twitter.com/joswinson/status/924181713412124673 https://twitter.com/HadleyFreeman/status/924181298352132097 https://twitter.com/brokenbottleboy/status/924172924516433920
