YouTube has been profiting from Joey Barton’s offensive comments following his conviction for posting derogatory content aimed at female TV personalities. Barton, a former footballer, inserted the faces of Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward onto a photo of serial killers Fred and Rose West. Reports have revealed that YouTube has been running advertisements on Barton’s videos, where he made disparaging remarks about Aluko and England star Lauren James, among others.
The End Violence Against Women Coalition has urged YouTube to demonetize Barton’s channel and consider whether it should remain on the platform. Director Andrea Simon emphasized the need for YouTube to enforce its terms and conditions, especially regarding content that promotes harmful and misogynistic views. The coalition also highlighted the importance of forthcoming guidance from Ofcom on managing and reducing the spread of misogynistic content.
Barton was recently found guilty of making grossly offensive posts targeting Aluko, Ward, and broadcaster Jeremy Vine. He was acquitted of some charges but convicted for others, including his offensive remarks towards Aluko. Despite his controversial behavior, ads were seen running on his YouTube channel, “Common Sense with Joey Barton,” shortly after his conviction.
In one video, Barton criticized Aluko’s involvement in men’s football, sparking concerns for her safety. Another video featured Barton mocking women’s football and making derogatory comments about female players. Additionally, Barton’s past actions, including a conviction for assaulting his wife, have raised questions about the content displayed on his channel.
While YouTube allows creators to earn money through ads, concerns have been raised about the suitability of Barton’s content. The platform’s guidelines prohibit content that insults individuals or groups based on intrinsic attributes. The exact earnings from Barton’s channel are unclear, but his videos have garnered significant views, raising further questions about the responsibility of platforms in hosting controversial content.
