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Western Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Alex Jones had ‘no idea' about Jermaine Jenas complaints
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was removed from the presenting team at BBC's Match Of The Day and The One Show following alleged issues relating to workplace conduct. Before he was sacked in August, Jenas had been a regular pundit on sports programmes and a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live. Alex Jones on Jermaine Jenas Jones, 48, who co-presented with Jenas on The One Show, told the Big Issue she did not know about the complaints until he had left. She said: 'I very much take people on face value. But with JJ [Jenas] I didn't know what was going on. 'I had no idea. I thought he was taking extended leave. Jermaine Jenas was sacked from the BBC. (Image PA)'The BBC didn't share with me what was going on until they actually dealt with it. And, you know, they did what they thought was right. 'If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well.' After being sacked from the BBC, Jenas apologised, saying he had done 'nothing illegal' and that 'inappropriate messages' sent were 'between two consenting adults'. Who is Jermaine Jenas's wife? Months later, Jenas' wife, Ellie Penfold, announced the couple had split up after 16 years together. In a statement on her Instagram story, Penfold said: 'I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary. 'After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. 'We will remain friends and continue to co-parent.' Jenas returned to broadcasting on TalkSport radio in February after the outlet distanced itself from him in the wake of his departure from the BBC. Recommended Reading: It is not the first time Jones has had a co-presenter leave The One Show with Jason Manford, who joined the programme at the same time as her in August 2010, resigning only three months into the role for sharing sexual internet messages with female fans. Despite co-presenting on the show for a few months, Jones said she is still 'really good pals' with Manford. The full interview with Alex Jones can be read in this week's Big Issue, on sale now.
DW
a day ago
- Politics
- DW
Fact check: Viral Durban video misrepresents South Africa – DW – 07/28/2025
A viral video claims to show lootings in Durban as a direct result of the end of apartheid and supposed NGO influence. But the footage is from 2021 and the narrative it promotes echoes racist and conspiratorial theories. Claim: A post on X featuring a video allegedly showing recent lootings in South Africa, and captured: "This is Durban, South Africa," is currently going viral. The post was published by Alex Jones, a US-based far-right radio host known for promoting conspiracy theories. He claims: "This is what removing 'White Oppression' and replacing it with Soros NGO systems looks like. A glimpse into the future of ALL Western countries if changes are not made fast as already seen in the SH!T HOLE blue city's across America." The post had 1.6 million views at the time of publication. DW Fact check: Misleading The video posted on X does not show a recent situation in Durban, a city in the east of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. While the footage does show a shopping street in central Durban, as the geolocation of the scene indicates, it was not recorded recently. A reverse image search by DW Fact check revealed that the video had already circulated on X and Facebook in 2021. Comparisons with official agency photos from that time confirm that the footage dates back to July 2021. The video captures a moment during a period of unrest in South Africa, when parts of the country were engulfed in riots and widespread looting — sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. He had been sentenced to 15 months in prison for failing to comply with a Constitutional Court order to testify before a commission investigating corruption during his presidency. His arrest triggered protests, particularly in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, which includes Durban — the city featured in the video. Zuma's supporters viewed his arrest as unjust and rallied to demand his release, criticizing the judiciary. However, Zuma's imprisonment was only one of several triggers for the unrest. Underlying causes included economic hardship, high youth unemployment, political disillusionment with the African National Congress (ANC), and opportunistic criminal activity. The riots ultimately left more than 300 people dead. Since 2021, the video has resurfaced repeatedly across various social media platforms and in multiple languages. A similar claim using the same footage went viral again in March of this year. Dhanaraj Thakur, a researcher at the Center for Democracy and Technology, sees this as part of a broader strategy: "a larger campaign with many different actors sharing similar kinds of messages," he told DW. "Some of these actors that have an intent to create misunderstandings and promote this kind of racist narrative." The 2021 unrest has been exploited by several accounts known for spreading discriminatory content and disinformation. This is unsurprising, given that the claim implies that alleged current lootings in Durban are a direct consequence of the end of apartheid, — the system of institutionalized racial segregation that governed South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s. In doing so, it reinforces racist and discriminatory narratives that link post-apartheid governance to urban collapse, looting, and chaos. "We see an undercurrent of racial tensions and a glorification of the apartheid system," said Juliet Nanfuka, a digital rights researcher at the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA). 'This is deeply concerning." Similar forms of disinformation continue to be amplified by figures such as US President Donald Trump. Earlier this year, Trump claimed that a genocide was taking place against white farmers in South Africa — a statement for which no credible evidence or reliable data exists, as DW Fact check also debunked at the time. Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk also echoed these claims on X , where his post received over 11 million views. Musk, who was born in South Africa, appeals to a US audience that, according to Nanfuka, is "ready to believe negative narratives about Africa." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Other fact-checking organizations like AfricaCheck have also reported on several videos or publicationsthat were taken out of context from the 2021 unrest. "All countries experience political protests and disruptive events from time to time," said Keegan Leech, a fact-checker at Africa Check. "It's easy to misrepresent South Africa because many international audiences don't know much about the country." In the viral post, Durban is presented as a cautionary tale — a warning that Western countries could face similar chaos if they undergo comparable political or social changes. In the US context, Thakur explains: "It's about the politics around immigration, and the idea that certain groups are supposedly incapable of governing or managing public services — and that similar outcomes will follow if they are included in society." According to him, such narratives exploit existing societal fears, "especially during times of economic uncertainty." This type of disinformation follows a familiar playbook: reuse old footage, strip it of context, and pair it with a sensational caption to provoke outrage or boost engagement. According to Thakur, this is part of a broader social media business model. "That includes content people react to — like racist or misogynistic posts." In this case, some versions of the post suggest that South Africa is controlled by a network of NGOs funded by George Soros — a figure frequently invoked in right-wing global conspiracy theories. Soros has become a symbol of supposed globalist threats. "Soros has become a code word — a symbol to represent everything they're against," Thakur said. While the viral video recycles falsehoods and fuels racial nostalgia, anti-immigration rhetoric, and conspiracy theories, it has not gone unchallenged. "It was promising to see quite a big pushback in the comments that followed," said Juliet Nanfuka. "South Africans and non-South Africans trying to correct the narrative." Still, she warns, such narratives don't spread by accident — and they don't target just one country. DW Fact check saw similar narratives pushed against people of color and religious minorities living in Europe last year.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Alex Jones had ‘no idea' about Jermaine Jenas complaints
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was removed from the presenting team at BBC's Match Of The Day and The One Show following alleged issues relating to workplace conduct. Before he was sacked in August, Jenas had been a regular pundit on sports programmes and a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live. Alex Jones on Jermaine Jenas Jones, 48, who co-presented with Jenas on The One Show, told the Big Issue she did not know about the complaints until he had left. She said: 'I very much take people on face value. But with JJ [Jenas] I didn't know what was going on. 'I had no idea. I thought he was taking extended leave. Jermaine Jenas was sacked from the BBC. (Image PA)'The BBC didn't share with me what was going on until they actually dealt with it. And, you know, they did what they thought was right. 'If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well.' After being sacked from the BBC, Jenas apologised, saying he had done 'nothing illegal' and that 'inappropriate messages' sent were 'between two consenting adults'. Who is Jermaine Jenas's wife? Months later, Jenas' wife, Ellie Penfold, announced the couple had split up after 16 years together. In a statement on her Instagram story, Penfold said: 'I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary. 'After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. 'We will remain friends and continue to co-parent.' Jenas returned to broadcasting on TalkSport radio in February after the outlet distanced itself from him in the wake of his departure from the BBC. Recommended Reading: It is not the first time Jones has had a co-presenter leave The One Show with Jason Manford, who joined the programme at the same time as her in August 2010, resigning only three months into the role for sharing sexual internet messages with female fans. Despite co-presenting on the show for a few months, Jones said she is still 'really good pals' with Manford. The full interview with Alex Jones can be read in this week's Big Issue, on sale now.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The One Show's Alex Jones responds to Jermaine Jenas' sext scandal after BBC axe
Presenter Alex Jones has broken her silence on Jermaine Jenas' axe from The One Show and BBC following his sexting scandal Alex Jones has responded to her former co-worker Jermaine Jenas' text row after he was sacked from the BBC and ITV over allegations of workplace misconduct. The former England international was axed in August over claims he had sent inappropriate texts to female colleagues. Jenas, 42, was removed from his role as a presenter of The One Show and a pundit for BBC Sport after an internal investigation was launched. He saw his contract terminated by the broadcaster and ultimately also parted ways with his long-term agents MC Saatchi in addition to being let go from his role presenting Formula E. Jenas also missed out on presenting Soccer Aid for ITV last month over the allegations. However, he has returned to working in the sphere of football in the aftermath of his sacking by BBC. Following Jenas' BBC axe, his former colleague Alex, 51, has now claimed that she was 'completely unaware' about complaints made against him. After learning about the sexting scandal and the allegations of misconduct, Alex has insisted that she had 'no idea' what was going on at the time. "I very much take people on face value. But with JJ I didn't know what was going on. I thought he was taking extended leave," she revealed. "If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well," she told The Big Issue. After stepping back from his role as a presenter on talkSPORT, the 42-year-old appeared as a guest and returned to action as a commentator in February. Upon his return, Jenas told the station: "The biggest thing in this whole situation is about taking responsibility and that has been at the forefront of my mind… There's a reason why you're in this position and there's a reason why this has happened. "Once you accept those things, then you can work on yourself and you can work on the other things and you can work on your family and work towards a brighter future. Essentially this is about me looking inwards, making some improvements and coming back a better person.' In March, Ellie Penfold announced her split from Jenas. The pair share four children and Penfold took so social media to confirm the end of her 16-year relationship. "I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary," she 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. "We will remain friends and continue to co-parent. We kindly ask that you respect our children's privacy during this challenging time. Thank you, Ellie."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Alex Jones reveals she was completely unaware about complaints made against her The One Show co-host Jermaine Jenas
Alex Jones has revealed she was completely unaware about complaints made against her The One Show co-host Jermaine Jenas. Jenas, 42, was taken off the show after being fired by the BBC for sending inappropriate messages to female employees during his time at the corporation. The sexting scandal also cost Jenas his 13-year marriage after his wife Ellie, the mother of three of his four children, announced the pair were divorcing earlier in March. Someone who was oblivious to the complaints was Welsh presenter Alex, who used to host The One Show alongside Jenas. Speaking to The Big Issue, she said: 'I very much take people on face value. But with JJ I didn't know what was going on. I thought he was taking extended leave. 'If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well.' Jenas, who also has a daughter from a previous relationship, was sacked by the BBC in August, which resulted in him losing his hosting gig on The One Show and punditry work on both Match of the Day and 5 Live. The BBC confirmed their decision while he was on air guest hosting talkSPORT's drive time show. His agency MC Saatchi also cut ties with him before he brought in a crisis PR team to handle the aftermath of the scandal. Jenas revealed he lied to wife Ellie during a family holiday in order to sneak off and take a Zoom call with BBC bosses after news of his X-rated messages was first revealed within the broadcaster. And he also told how she had kicked him out of their £1million home in Hertfordshire after he admitted sending inappropriate messages to two female colleagues. Speaking to the Filthy Rellas podcast last month, Jenas claimed historical problems within the relationship also contributed to the break up. He said: 'The reality is, me and my wife haven't split up because I sent some text messages to some people at work. 'We had issues for a period of time, it all comes to a head and you eventually make a decision to say, as adults, we will be better parents for our children if we just remain friends and that's it. 'We had 16 amazing years together, me and my wife, how many people last that long? Sixteen years. Ups and downs. She caught the wrong end of my [playing] career, bless her.' During an interview with The Sun shortly after he was sacked by the BBC, Jenas admitted his wife was 'raging' over the incident. He said: 'We've not really spoken properly since. She's absolutely raging.' Jenas continued: 'It's just about the children right now. It's the school holidays and they're trapped in the house because photographers are outside my house. 'They're like, 'What's going on, Daddy?'. It's tough.' He added: 'I've got to take responsibility and I've apologised to all of them. 'I don't know what to say about that, to be honest with you. It's just hard at home for the kids right now. My wife's a real one 'My wife is solid and she's amazing. She is kind. She just needs some time.' Jenas bombarded a woman working at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago with unwanted messages asking 'You want my boy now?' During the interview, Jenas insisted Ellie should not fear more women coming out of the woodwork with tales of further inappropriate behaviour. However, weeks after the scandal broke, MailOnline revealed Jenas bombarded a woman working at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago with unwanted messages asking 'You want my boy now?' before sending her a picture of his manhood, despite her making clear she was not interested in his advances. The following week, we also told how he repeatedly pestered a junior make-up artist for sex - and when she told him she had a boyfriend replied: 'Just come to my dressing room early and I'll [perform a sex act] on u… that's not cheating.' That incident took place when he was working for BT Sport in 2017, where he was a rising star as a football pundit.
