Well known feminist, broadcaster and author settles claim against online LGBT news site
Ms Bindel brought proceedings over an article published in May 2020 on the PinkNews website entitled “The ‘gender critical’ feminist movement is a cult that grooms, controls and abuses, according to a lesbian who managed to escape”, which detailed the experiences of a young lesbian and her involvement with what she termed the “Gender Critical cult”.
Although the article did not name Ms Bindel, she argued that she was identifiable from details contained within it and was defamed as a result of allegations that had been made within the article.
The proceedings have now been settled and PinkNews has released the following statement, which it has published on its website (see here):
“PinkNews and Julie Bindel are pleased to confirm that they have settled the case over the article PinkNews published on 17 May 2020, which chronicled a young American’s account of their recruitment to and time involved with a ‘gender critical cult’. The article made a number of serious allegations of misconduct and PinkNews accepts that if the allegations were understood to refer to Julie, they would be wholly untrue.
“Julie Bindel accepts that PinkNews published the article without intending to make any such reference to her. PinkNews is sorry for the distress the article caused. It has taken down the article and will not be republishing it. PinkNews has revised its editorial processes.
“We are all happy that this matter has been resolved.”
5RB’s Chloe Strong acted for Julie Bindel, led by Heather Rogers QC and instructed by Charlotte Watson, Gillian Duffy, Juliet Caragianis, Jane Ashford-Thom and Lily Wowk of Schillings International LLP.