Laurence Fox reveals brother-in-law Richard Ayoade's furious reaction to Question Time race row

The ‘IT Crowd’ star did not agree with Fox’s comments on ‘Question Time’ and ignored Fox’s pleas to support him on social media

Laurence Fox has revealed how his brother-in-law, the comedian, writer and actor Richard Ayoade, reacted after his notorious appearance on BBC’s Question Time.

During his appearance on the political chat show, Fox accused a woman of colour of racism after she called him a “white privileged male”.

Fox had earlier called the discussion surrounding the Meghan Markle race row “boring” and claimed: “It’s not racism. We’re the most tolerant lovely country in Europe.”

His comments prompted a huge backlash on social media while the Race Equality Committee of the actors’ union Equity, denounced him as “a disgrace to our industry”. Fox has claimed he has struggled to get work in film or TV since.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, it has since emerged that Fox begged Ayoade, who is married to his sister Lydia, to support him on social media.

Ayoade, who is half-Nigerian, was reportedly furious at this, and told Fox: “You have never encountered racism.”

Fox responded: “Yeah, of course I have. I’ve encountered racism from black people towards me, when I was working in Kenya [as a safari driver] for seven months. It’s the way you’re spoken to — racism can be deferential.”

Asked by the interviewer what he meant by the idea that “racism can be deferential”, Fox answered ”This is why you don’t get actors involved in chats like this. Because I’m just not smart enough to do it.”

According to Fox, while he initially missed a few family get-togethers during the row, he and Ayoade “are all friends now”.

In the same interview, he disclosed that he used to yell “cut” at ex-wife Billie Piper while they were arguing.

UPDATE (30.04.20) A previous version of this article incorrectly attributed statements made by Equity's Race Equality Committee on social media, to Equity. The article has been amended to rectify this error.