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A journalist on Sky News was surprised to find out during a live interview that the man she was invited to debate about misogyny was being paid more than she was for the discussion.
Moya Lothian-McLean was debating Connor Tomlinson, a conservative GB News contributor, about a controversy involving a TV presenter's misogynistic remarks.
At one point during the debate, Lothian-McLean remarked that she was tired of having to come onto TV programs to discuss misogyny. Tomlinson interjected and sarcastically said, "I'm so sorry you're exhausted to be paid to go on air."
Lothian-McLean reacted with surprise.
"Are you getting paid for this?" Lothian-McLean asked. "I'm not getting paid for this. Are you getting paid for this?"
She added: "I'm not being paid for this interview. I came on because I wanted to talk about the problem with misogyny and the degradation of women in public life."
Later, in a video posted by Novara Media, Lothian-McLean said she was initially offered £75 for the interview, but Sky News upped the fee to £200 and apologized to her after the interview. It's unclear when Sky News made the original offer of £75.
Lothian-McLean said in the video she had originally been invited by Sky News to discuss "the misogyny platformed by Laurence Fox," an actor-turned-TV presenter who was recently suspended from GB News for making degrading comments about a female journalist.
Fox had drawn widespread criticism for his remarks on GB News that no "self-respecting man" would ever "climb into bed" with politics reporter Ava Evans.
"That little woman has been fed, spoonfed oppression day after day after day after day starting with the lie of the gender wage gap," Fox said.
The gender pay gap in the United Kingdom has declined slowly over time, but still exists, according to the UK Office for National Statistics.
The gender pay gap for full-time employees was 8.3%, up from 7.7% in 2021, according to the agency. The gender pay gap is also higher in every English region than it is in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the office says.
Sky News did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.
