GBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell says the “trashing” of Phillip Schofield over his secret affair with a youthful male colleague has “more than a whiff of homophobia”.

The former Labour politician stated the pair’s relationship had been “cast as sordid and abusive” and that such outrage was not brought on by different high-profile heterosexual relationships.

In an interview with The Sun, revealed on Thursday, Schofield instructed that a part of the backlash towards him was because of homophobia.

The trashing of Philip Schofield has greater than a whiff of homophobia. Anti-gay prejudice is specific on social media and implicit in a lot of the nationwide media

The former ITV presenter, 61, stated attraction was “no different in the gay world as it is in the heterosexual world” however reiterated he had not “groomed” the person.

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In an announcement shared with the PA news company, Tatchell stated the fallout was a “rank double standard”.

“The trashing of Philip Schofield has more than a whiff of homophobia. Anti-gay prejudice is explicit on social media and implicit in much of the national media,” he stated.

“The age gap between Schofield and the young man is cast as sordid and abusive.”

Schofield instructed The Sun that he and his former lover had met when the person was 15 and he was “maybe” in his mid-50s, however added that the affair started after the person began working at ITV and had been “consensual”.

Lawyers representing Schofield and the person have confirmed these accounts.

“There was never such a massive hue and cry over relationships with much younger women by Leonardo Di Caprio, Al Pacino and Peter Stringfellow,” Tatchell stated.

He additionally identified the 23-year age-difference between former prime minister Boris Johnson and his spouse Carrie Symonds, including: “there was no fuss over their relationship or accusations that Johnson had abused his power position”.

“It’s rank double standards about Schofield’s same-sex relationship.”

In his assertion Tatchell stated that Schofield’s associate “was not a child” once they had begun their relationship and the person had made no criticism towards him.

“Schofield has not committed a crime. He lied to his employer and work colleagues and that is wrong but it is not a criminal offence,” he stated.

What's he performed? He's married and has had an affair with somebody that is authorized to have an affair with. Unless there's one thing else that we've not heard about they need to drop it

“It is a matter between Schofield and his fellow employees and bosses at ITV. It’s nobody else’s business.”

Tatchell’s phrases echo these of actor Rupert Everett, who stated protection of Schofield’s affair was “homophobic” and “outrageous” and needs to be “dropped” by the media.

Everett is voicing a brand new documentary on playwright, actor and director Noel Coward, who was a closeted gay at a time when it was unlawful to be homosexual.

Speaking to Channel 4 concerning the fallout from Schofield’s affair, Everett stated: “What’s he done? He’s married and has had an affair with someone that’s legal to have an affair with.

“Unless there’s something else that we haven’t heard about they should drop it.

“It’s outrageous, this kind of Puritan fascism that’s going on. If it’s just about him having an affair and lying to his agency – why can’t you lie to your agent?”

Everett stated the affair was not the enterprise of anybody however Schofield, not even his former This Morning sofa-mate Holly Willoughby.