News

Richard Keys and Andy Gray to give first UK TV interview since sexism scandal

Over a decade on from being sacked for 'offensive and unacceptable comments', Keys and Gray are making their return to UK screens.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 28th November 2022

Former Sky Sports presenting duo Richard Keys and Andy Gray are set to give their first UK interview since they were sacked for a number of sexist remarks back in 2011.

Once regular mainstays on the Premier League‘s long-term broadcasting partner, Keys and Gray haven’t made any British media appearances since their high-profile scandal which highlighted the prevailing sexism in football at the time and, sadly, is still underlying throughout large sections of sport today.

Now, after being approached by fellow controversial TV personality Piers Morgan, the punditry pair will be discussing the incident on national television for the first time in more than a decade, as well as reflecting on their careers since then.

Morgan announced his TalkTV exclusive on Monday much to social media’s surprise, marking yet another landmark interview following his blockbuster chat with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Keys and Gray have been consigned to working on the Qatari network beIN SPORTS since 2013 after they went from being among the most well-known sports commentators to two of the most vilified public figures in the early 2010s.

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For anyone still unaware even all the years later, the two Sky employees were caught making a number of sexist comments towards then lineswoman, Sian Ellis-Massey, in a leaked audio recording during which Keys remarked: “someone better go down there and explain the offside rule to her”.

Responding to the jibe, Gray responded by saying “Can you believe that, a female linesman… women don’t know the offside rule”, before his partner in crime responded, “the game’s gone mad”.

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Ellis-Massey went on to become the UK’s first female referee and remains one of the leading officials in English football, having also adjudicated games in the Europa League and Women’s World Cup.

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To make matter worse, a clip of Keys making similarly inappropriate and offensive remarks while having a conversation with Jamie Redknapp in the Sky Sports studio was also unearthed shortly after, as the lead anchor made a series of crass jokes about sex with the footballer’s former girlfriend.

Speaking in a now infamous BT interview shortly after, Keys insisted that his behaviour was “just banter” and seemed to offer little genuine remorse following the outburst.

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Gray has also had little to say about his “unacceptable comments” in the years following, so it’s fair to say a fair few people will be tuning in to watch how the two approach this sit-down.

Andy Gray and Richard Keys’ Piers Morgan Uncensored interview airs at 8pm on TalkTV on Monday, 28 November.

Featured Image — beIN SPORTS/Piers Morgan (via Twitter)

News

‘Sad news’ – the world’s only Vagina Museum has been forced to close

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

There’s a museum for just about everything these days (we all remember trips to the Stockport Hat Works museum) – but the world’s only space dedicated to vaginas has been forced to close again.

The world-first Vagina Museum announced this week that it’s had to vacate its premises and has once again been left ‘homeless’.

The museum, which welcomed 40,000 visitors in the 10 months it was open, was founded to raise awareness of the gynaecological anatomy and health, erase stigma, and act as a forum for feminism.

Inside, visitors could browse everything from educational materials to art pieces inspired by vaginas and vulvas – including giant tampons decorated in red sequins.

The Vagina Museum said it was ‘disappointed’ that it has been asked to leave its space, adding that it will continue to operate digitally until it finds a new base.

They wrote in a heartfelt statement on social media that they were ‘incredibly proud’ of the museum’s achievements.

Fans of the space queued down the street for its final few days in Bethnal Green, before its eventual closure on Wednesday 1 February.

Their statement said: “Sad news. We’ve received notice to vacate our premises at Bethnal Green by the end of this week. As a property guardianship, we’ve always been aware that we may be asked to leave with very short notice. We’re disappointed that it has come so soon.

“@Enter_theVenue the creative hub with whom we share our space, have also been asked to leave. The Vagina Museum will continue to operate in the digital world as we search for a new home.”

The message continued: “We’re sad about this development, but incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in the ten months we’ve been at our Bethnal Green premises. We’ve welcomed more than 40,000 visitors through our doors, and received so much love and positive feedback.

“In our time at Bethnal Green, we’ve once again demonstrated just how much the world needs and wants a Vagina Museum.

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“Times are, once again, uncertain for us, but we’ve been through this before and risen stronger than ever. With a community like you supporting us, we know we can get through this too.

“We’re actively searching for a new home, and if you know of any vacant spaces (or have one yourself!) please don’t hesitate to reach out. In our home in Bethnal Green, we and ENTER demonstrated that we can transform an empty, unused building into a thriving heart of a community.

“If you don’t have a building, you can still help! Please consider making a donation; a donation of any size makes a huge difference and will help us to weather this storm, just as we’ve weathered storms before.”

The Vagina Museum concluded its thread with: “We’ve made it through a pandemic and a period of temporary homelessness before. With you, together, we can make it through this too.”

You can make a donation to The Vagina Museum here.

Featured image: The Vagina Museum / Angus Young

News

Manchester mum jumps into river to rescue missing pet dachshund that scammers ‘threatened to kill’

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A mum from Manchester who feared her pet dog had been stolen by scammers who “threatened to kill” her jumped into a river to rescue the pup.

33-year-old mum of one Alifiya Mohamedbhai, from Burnage, has spoken out about how distraught she was to learn that her beloved pet dachshund, Violet, had gone missing while out on one of her regular walks around Reddish Vale Country Park in Stockport with her dog walker.

Violet, who Alifiya describes as “such a quiet dog” was spooked by something, and suddenly walked off and eventually disappeared.

The dog walker spent eight hours looking for Violet, but unfortunately, there were no sightings.

“She is such a quiet dog and was out on the same walk that she does every day, and has done for two-and-a-half years with my dog walker and best friend,” Alifiya told the MEN.

“Nobody knows what spooked her or what happened.

“She doesn’t wander off to explore and always walks by your feet, but she must’ve turned and just walked off the other way.”

Alifiya Mohamedbhai was distraught to learn that her beloved pet dachshund had gone missing / Credit: Alifiya Mohamedbhai

After finding out that Violet had gone missing, Alifiya said she initially remained calm and was confident that the Apple AirTag fitted to the dog’s collar would help reunite them in the end – but the battery slowly began to die, and eventually stopped showing Violet’s location altogether.

Panicked by what had happened, and devastated by the thought of never getting to see her “baby” again, Alifiya took to social media to spread the word and issued several appeals over four days in the hopes of being able to track Violet down.

Sadly though, it seems Alifiya’s public pleas to find her pup attracted the attention of scammers.

In an incident that has since been reported to the police and is now under investigation, Alifiya was contacted by a man who claimed to have Violet and “threatened to kill” the dog if she didn’t arrange to meet him and hand over £250.

“I had a call from a number telling me they had my dog,” Alifiya continued.

“When I told them she was spayed they said they didn’t want her anymore, but couldn’t have her back and that we needed to pay.

Alifiya’s public pleas to find her pup sadly attracted the attention of scammers / Credit: Alifiya Mohamedbhai

“I had to sit in the bathroom for an hour and 40 minutes because he wanted to hear the extractor fan, and told me he would kill her if I didn’t. Police told me it had been a scam call and that the number and bank account was registered in Leicester.

“I was in such a vulnerable position and almost broke down.”

Days began to pass, and as well as appealing to the public to help, Alifiya and her friends – including dog walker Madeleine – went out to search through Reddish Vale, yet she was slowly beginning to lose hope that Violet would be found alive.

But one morning, four days after going missing, a “miracle” happened.

Alifya said finding Violet safe and sounds was a “miracle” / Credit: Alifiya Mohamedbhai

As Alifiya walked along the River Tame, her phone began to buzz after bluetooth had activated the tag on Violet’s collar to show that she was close by, and it was then that she spotted the little dachshund sat with her tail wagging in a small cove on the embankment.

Without hesitation, Alifiya jumped into the river and waded through the water to get Violet.

Alifiya continued: “As we walked closer, [the tracker] said we were 80ft away, then 70ft away, it was counting down and then we saw her, just wagging her tail and jumping up and down – it was crazy and it was like nothing had happened.

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“I didn’t even stop to think how deep it was, I just got in the water and ran across.”

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The incredible moment Violet was rescued was captured on video and shared to social media by Alifiya earlier this week, before going on to be watched by thousands of people worldwide.

Featured Image – Alifiya Mohamedbhai (via Facebook)

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