Lads’ magazine Zoo will drop its Danny Dyer agony-uncle column after this week’s issue advised a heartbroken reader to cut his ex-girlfriend’s face.
Publisher Bauer Media said today the space usually given to Dyer’s column would next week be devoted to driving awareness of the issue of violence against women.
A Bauer spokeswoman said: “As an immediate result of an on-going internal inquiry following an indefensible comment published in this week’s issue, Zoo has decided to bring the Danny Dyer column to an end.”
The Bauer Media title issued an unreserved apology earlier this week when, in response to a letter from a 23-year-old reader about splitting from his girlfriend, the hard-man actor’s Ask Danny column suggested the man go on the “rampage” with the boys or “cut his ex’s face, so no one will want her”.
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Anti-violence campaigners immediately condemned the suggestion as “inexcusable” and “truly stomach churning”.
The weekly magazine blamed a “production error” for the comment making it to print and launched internal an inquiry.
Press Gazette understands that like many other magazine and newspaper celebrity columns, Dyer usually dictates the article over the phone to a member of the magazine’s staff.
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The Bauer spokeswoman added: “By way of sincere apology and to underline that Zoo condemns any violence against women, we have made a substantial donation to Women’s Aid.”
A statement issued on Wednesday by Zoo said: “Due to an extremely regrettable production error, an inappropriate and indefensible response to a letter has appeared in this week’s issue.
“Zoo editor, Tom Etherington, apologises unreservedly for any offence the response may have caused and has launched an internal inquiry to ensure lessons are learnt.
“Zoo and Danny Dyer condemn any violence against women.”
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