Dan Wootton slaps down Elton John’s defence of Phillip Schofield

Speaking on GB News, host Dan Wootton questioned the singer’s claims, saying: “The first thing I’d say. I totally disagree that this is about homophobia.”

Dan, who is also gay, added: “I just don’t understand where the homophobia is here.”

The GB News host’s comments come after music legend Sir Elton John has come under fire over his decision to defend Phillip Schofield.

The Tiny Dancer hitmaker claimed the reaction to Phillip’s affair with a younger male colleague who worked for This Morning was “totally homophobic”.

Sir Elton claimed a relationship between a woman and a man with the same age gap would not have attracted so much media attention.

Sir Elton, 76, told Radio Times ahead of headlining this year’s Glastonbury Festival: “I feel that the Phillip Schofield thing has been totally homophobic.

“If it was a straight guy in a fling with a young woman, it wouldn’t even make the papers.”

Sir Elton’s comments came as he blasted the treatment of LGBTQ+ people in the United States.

He explained: “It’s all going pear-shaped in America. There’s violence, [discriminatory] laws enacted in Florida, which are disgraceful.”

Phillip, 61, issued a statement last month announcing he was quitting This Morning with immediate effect after two decades on the ITV magazine show following an “unwise but not illegal” affair.

He also stepped down from hosting this year’s British Soap Awards and parted ways with his agency YMU.

Phillip’s confession resulted in ITV launching an external review and executives had to give evidence in parliament about “toxic” workplace claims.

Phillip’s former co-host Holly Willoughby has been presenting This Morning with Dermot O’Leary and other stars in his absence.

Holly addressed Phillip’s exit on This Morning in recent weeks to ITV viewers, but she has not spoken about him since.

A replacement for Phillip is yet to be announced by ITV bosses.

Dan Wootton Tonight airs weeknights on GB News at 9pm.